Beretta ARX160
The Beretta ARX160 is an Italian modular assault rifle manufactured by Beretta. Developed for the Italian Armed Forces as part of the Soldato Futuro program, the ARX160 was launched in 2008 as a commercial weapon system independent from the Soldato Futuro ensemble, complete with a companion single-shot 40×46mm NATO low-velocity grenade launcher, called the GLX160, which can be mounted underneath the rifle or used with an ad hoc stock system as a stand-alone weapon.
In late 2015, Beretta introduced the Beretta ARX200 chambered in 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge.
History
The Beretta ARX160 was launched in 2008 as a commercial weapon system and was developed for the Italian Armed Forces as part of the layered Soldato Futuro program. The current program aims to replace the older Beretta AR70/90 as the standard assault rifle for the Italian Armed Forces.The project started as an evolution of the Beretta AR 70/90 and Beretta SC 70/90 and was initially presented as a simple update of the construction materials and addition of small changes to the Beretta AR 70/90. Later a more elaborate prototype was then introduced, which introduced a stock that was not foldable but adjustable in length and the cocking lever in the upper front position, a feature however not comfortable during use. Subsequent developments led to the definitive version of the ARX160, which is currently in production and has supplanted all the three versions its predecessor, the AR 70/90.
The Italian Army ordered a first batch of 800 weapons in 2008 for field trials in Afghanistan, which was followed by orders for 11,500 units in 2010 and 10,000 in 2012. Between 2008 and 2014, there were around 30,000 ARX160 SFs that are chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge that have been supplied to the Italian Army, Italian Navy, Italian Air Force and Italian Special Forces.
In 2012, Beretta introduced the 7.62×39mm configuration of the ARX160, and on the same year Beretta also introduced the ARX160 A2 which is currently in use with the Italian Army and Special Forces.
In 2013, Beretta introduced the ARX160 A3, which features improvements to its original design. The improvements includes a redesigned handguard with an improved heat ventilation and an extended Picatinny rail on its bottom, and an improved pistol grip design.
In 2014, the Italian Ministry of Defence allocated US$2.7 million to Beretta for the development of the ARX200 battle rifle. Also, the Italian Armed Forces has announced a possible requirement for 1,170 rifles chambered in 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge.
In late 2015, the Beretta ARX200 battle rifle was introduced and is being supplied to the Italian Army. It is a distant derivative of the ARX160 modular assault rifle. It has passed the following military and environmental tests; cold and hot temperature, temperature and humidity, ice, salt fog, heavy rain, salt water, sand and dust, mud, unlubricated, double feeding proof, and barrel obstruction proof.
Foreign interest
The Beretta ARX160 was one of the five Phase II contenders in the United States Army Individual Carbine competition to replace the M4 carbine. The Individual Carbine competition was cancelled before a winning weapon was chosen.In February 2013, the Argentine Army received an ARX160 rifle and GLX160 grenade launcher for evaluation for their special forces. In December 2016, state-owned Argentine arms manufacturer Fabricaciones Militares signed a deal with Beretta to produce the ARX200 under license. No news of the arrangement have surfaced since then. It is unknown if the agreement has been cancelled, though likely.
The Indian Army tested the ARX160 as a replacement for the INSAS rifle. The tender was retracted in June 2015.
The ARX160 A3 was one of the 5 finalists of the French Army tender to replace the FAMAS, eventually won by the German-made HK416.
In January 2019, the Romanian Armed Forces have chosen the ARX160 A3 to replace the old PM Md.1963 and PM Md.1986 of the Romanian Land Forces. Production was expected to start in autumn 2019 at Uzina Plopeni of ROMARM. As the project failed to materialize at Plopeni, it was moved to the Cugir Arms Factory in 2023. The factory could start its operations on the Beretta project at the end of August 2024.
Design
The Beretta ARX160 departs from the previously issued AR70/90 on several points. It is composed of an upper and lower receiver, both manufactured mostly from polymer, and operates through a short-stroke piston system. It is chambered in either 5.56×45mm NATO or 7.62×39mm cartridge. Feeding is through STANAG magazines for the 5.56×45mm NATO configuration and AK-47 or AKM magazines for the 7.62×39mm configuration. Other calibres, including 5.45×39mm and 6.8mm Remington SPC were planned.It features an ambidextrous safety, magazine release, bolt release and charging handle. The rifle is equipped with Picatinny rails and a foldable telescopic stock. The rifle also possesses the ability to change which side spent casings are ejected, as well as a quick-change barrel which can be removed and replaced in seconds without any tools.
The lightweight barrel is chrome lined and manufactured by the hammer forging process at the Beretta factory in Gardone Val Trompia, Lombardy. Barrel lengths for this rifle are 16 in for its standard barrel, and a 12 in barrel for special operators. The flash hider has 5 radial cuts and 4 smaller cuts to control muzzle climb in automatic firing. Barrels have a 1:7 twist to fire NATO standard ball and tracer rounds. The non-free-floated barrel is easily removed simply by pulling on slide levers and pulling it out. The bayonet lug, designed by Beretta in association with Extrema Ratio for the Extrema Ratio Fulcrum E.I. bayonet is positioned above the barrel rather than underneath it.
However, on the ARX160 A3 the bayonet lug is repositioned under the barrel and it ditches the proprietary bayonet lug design meant for mounting the Extrema Ratio Fulcrum E.I. bayonet for a redesigned bayonet lug that is compatible with the M9 bayonet. On the ARX160 A3 issued to the Italian army the Extrema Ratio Fulcrum E.I. bayonet has been replaced by FKMD Oplita bayonet. The newly designed bayonet lug on the ARX160 A3 is also compatible with the existing Extrema Ratio Fulcrum Ranger bayonets that have always been the standard-issue bayonets of the Alpine Paratroopers. Thus it negates the need to switch over to the Extrema Ratio Fulcrum E.I. bayonets.
The ARX160 operating system is unique in that the piston moves almost, while other systems move fractions of an inch. The piston follows the bolt carrier almost all the way rearward, resulting in low gas pressure levels and a less sudden and more constant push on the carrier group.
It has the ability to eject the empty shells out of either in the right side or left side for ambidextrous operation. The bolt has seven lugs and an extractor on the left and right, with no ejector. The extractors are spring-loaded and which way cases are ejected is selected by pressing a case through a small hole located past the port. It is small and optimised for the tip of a bullet to fit. The ejection port is open on both sides and directs shells at a 45-degree angle from the barrel. The cocking lever is on the bolt carrier and can be positioned on either side by pulling it out, swinging it through the ejection port, and pushing it in to secure it in place.
It features a standard back-up iron sights that are made of the same polymer as the weapon's receiver. The front sight post is adjustable for windage and elevation and the rear peep sight has six positions to fire in increments from 100 to 600 meters. The primary optical sight is the Aimpoint ACIES, a domestic version of the Aimpoint CompM2. Telescopic sights, night vision systems, vertical forward grips, and other accessories will be available through the Soldato Futuro program.