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The M27 Automatic Infantry Rifle (IAR) is a light automatic weapon in caliber 5.56×45mm NATO. This weapon is based on the Heckler & Koch HK416 assault rifle. The M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR) is adopted by the USMC (United States Marine Corps) and is designed to increase the machine gunner's maneuverability on the battlefield.

The appearance of the Infantry Automatic Rifle, Automatic Infantry Rifle (IAR) M27, all controls are fundamentally borrowed from the M16 and M4.

The US Marine Corps plans to purchase 6,500 IAR M27s to replace some of the M249 SAW light machine guns currently used by machine gunners in infantry and light armored reconnaissance battalions. Approximately 8,000 to 10,000 M249 SAWs will remain in service with the Marine Corps, to be used at the discretion of company commanders. The United States Army (Ground Forces) has no plans to acquire the IAR M27 yet.

Prerequisites for the emergence of IAR M27

In 1985, the US Marine Corps adopted an automatic infantry squad weapon, the M249 SAW light machine gun. A year after that, the same machine gun was adopted by the US Army.

Fabrique Nationale d "Herstal FN Minimi light machine gun, which was adopted by the USMC and the US Army under the name M249 SAW.

Purchases of the machine gun took place at the level of the Department of Defense, since the weapon was accepted by the army with contract production that the Marines could use. While the belted M249 SAW was a small-sized machine gun and had a large volume of fire, it was relatively heavy weight meant that machine gunners could not equal regular riflemen.

The beginning of the development of an automatic infantry rifle IAR M27

In 1999, the performance specification for the Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR) was issued. In 2000, the 2nd Battalion, 7th Regiment, USMC 1st Division conducted initial, limited IAR trials that confirmed the need for a light automatic rifle. The experience of combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan confirmed the request for these recommendations. After the release of the tactical and technical requirements, six years passed until the selection process went through before the start of the official IAR program, and at the beginning of 2005 a list of necessary capabilities was created.

On July 14, 2005, the Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR) program began when the Marine Corps sent "Requests for Information" to weapon manufacturers. Characteristics required in weapons included (listed but not limited to) -

⦁ mobility and maneuverability;

⦁ similarity in appearance with other rifles in the infantry department, which reduces the chance that the machine gunner will receive Special attention from the enemy;

⦁ facilitating the participation of the machine gunner in operations counterinsurgency and ability to support high level shooting.

The original requirement for a 100-round magazine was changed in favor of a 30-round magazine under current STANAG because, at the start of testing, 100-round magazines were unreliable. The caliber was specified as 5.56×45mm (NATO) to achieve commonality with existing automatic rifles in service.

In 2006, contracts were issued to several manufacturers for weapons samples. Fabrique Nationale d "Herstal presented the IAR FN SCAR variant, Heckler & Koch presented the HK416 variant, and Colt Defense presented its two projects. Companies that tried to compete but were not accepted as finalists for testing included the Land Raval Resources Corporation M6A4 IAR, Patriot Ordnance Factory, and General Dynamics CIS Ultimax 100 MK5 as IAR GDATP.

The main competitor of the M27 is automatic rifle company Fabrique Nationale d "Herstal IAR FN SCAR (type H - 7.62 x 51 mm), the USMC was not adopted.

In December 2009, a Heckler & Koch automatic rifle won the competition and was given a five-month final testing period. In the summer of 2010, it was assigned as the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle, from the designation of the 2nd Battalion, 7th USMC Regiment, which had been conducting initial testing of automatic rifles since 2001.

While the USMC command was optimistic about operational testing, the former commandant of the Marine Corps, General James T. Conway, was skeptical about this weapon. Due to the supposedly reduced firepower at the lower rate of fire that would result from the adoption of the IAR M27. He felt that while the IAR was more accurate, it was unlikely that the M27 could provide superior firepower over the M249 SAW, a belt-fed light machine gun.

The second competitor of the M27 is the Land Raval Resources Corporation automatic rifle - M6A4, indistinguishable from the M4, but has not been tested.

An automatic rifle firing from 30-round magazines requires frequent reloading, and it cannot match the rate of fire of a belt-loading machine gun. In a firefight, team members carrying additional magazines for the M27 may not always be able to supply them to the machine gunner. In addition, the SAW was already a combat weapon. It was also significant that the Army chose not to pursue the IAR concept.

After the Marine Corps Operational Test and Evaluation Activities conducted further testing at MCAGCC Twentynine Palms, Fort McCoy, and Camp Shelby (for dusty, cold, and hot weather conditions, respectively), a limited field deployment of the 458 IAR began with four infantry battalions (according to one for each expeditionary division), as well as one light reconnaissance battalion, all of which deployed to Afghanistan in 2011.

In May 2011, General James Amos of the United States Marine Corps approved the conclusion of the Limited User Evaluation (LUE) and ordered the replacement of the M249 LMG with the IAR M27. Production of approximately 6,500 M27 units was expected to be completed in the summer of 2013 at a cost of $13 million. Each M27 machine gunner was to be equipped with about twenty-two 30-round magazines of the type currently used in M4 carbines, approaching the combat load of the M249 SAW machine gunner; although the M27 machine gunner does not have to carry all 22 magazines.

Another M27 competitor is the General Dynamics CIS Ultimax 100 MK5 automatic rifle (pictured, used by the Singapore Defense Forces).

Individual combat load will be determined at the unit level and is expected to vary by unit based on the results of assessments conducted by four infantry battalions and one light armored reconnaissance battalion that participated in the limited user assessment.

Although program officials knew that switching from the M249 belt machine gun would result in the loss of fire suppression capability, Charles Clark III of the Development and Integration Administration military weapons USMC pointed to significant improvement in M27 accuracy as a significant factor in the decision to replace the M249 machine gun.

Suppressive Fire from Machine Gun Rate of Fire VS Accuracy

The notion that the IAR M27 is a reduced rate-of-fire version of a light machine gun has generated considerable controversy between M249 SAW supporters in the infantry and those advocating a lighter, more agile and accurate weapon sufficient to support section and squad-level offensive operations. . This is debatable; in fact, military officials acknowledge the loss of overwhelming firepower as soon as concerns about the concept were made by General Conway.

With the M249 SAW, fire suppression doctrine is the sound of continuous fire as bullets fired from a machine gun approach an enemy. Although the M249 SAW's fire volume may be greater than that of the IAR M27, it is less accurate. With the IAR, the machine gun doctrine is that with greater accuracy, less fire is needed, fewer rounds need to be used, and machine gunners can stay in combat longer and in other situations.

Another advantage of the M27 over the M249 SAW is that in many ways it resembles the M4 rifle used by the rest of the unit. This makes it difficult for the enemy to identify the machine gunner.

Overview of the combat use of the M27 IAR infantry automatic rifle

The IAR M27 was originally introduced in December 2010. The 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines deployed to Afghanistan in April 2011 with 84 IAR. Former SAW machine gunners initially disliked the M27, but have come to appreciate it over time. The rifle weighed 4 kg (loaded) compared to 10 kg for the M249, which was a significant difference when doing 5 hour missions.

After the first exit, the machine gunners said that it was " two weapons in one”, capable of firing single shots very accurately at a range of 800 meters and at the same distance when conducting automatic fire. It also pairs with standard M16-style rifles, making it difficult for the machine gunner to be identified by the enemy. Battalion Command also showed that the M27 was better at preventing collateral damage, as it was more controlled in fully automatic fire than the M249 SAW.

Concern about the amount of losses was caused by training courses developed in December 2010. With the MWA9 SAW, the idea of ​​suppression was the volume of fire and the sound of a machine gun. With the M27 IAR, the idea of ​​suppression switches to precision fire, as it has long range accuracy and short range fully automatic fire.

The shooters have gone from long-range automatic fire at 700 meters to short-medium strong fire at 200 meters, both in the prone position. Some machine gunners were used as designated marksmen in combat. An M27 machine gunner with one aimed shot has an advantage of three or four automatic shots over a machine gunner armed with an M249 SAW.

Marines who have operated with the M27 are familiar with the M4 style weapon. It is more troop friendly due to its cleaner, lighter system with fewer moving parts and gaps. Machine gunners who have already experienced the M27 IAR in combat believe that the accuracy of small arms will be a huge improvement over the M249 SAW, despite the loss in rate of fire.

During testing, the improved accuracy of the M27 IAR was found to be about an MOA, compared to 4.5 MOA for the M16A4 rifles.

Shops for the M27 IAR rifle

For firing, the M27 IAR uses standard 30-round magazines, according to STANAG. While the shooter typically carries seven 30-round magazines, the M27 IAR machine gunner must carry between 16 and 22 magazines due to his role in order to fully automatic fire.

After Marine Corps testing of the M855A1 Enhanced Performance Round with the M27, reliability issues were identified due to problems firing standard magazines, (30 rounds) with the PMAG 30 GEN M3 neck, which was more reliable with EPR, was approved for use by the Marines in December 2016. M27 machine gunners who receive M855A1 rounds do not experience such problems. Because of its role, high-capacity magazines of 50 to 100 rounds are being studied.

In the middle of the first decade of the 2000s, in order to equip the US Marine Corps (MCC) with a new model of automatic small arms, the IAR (Infantry Automatic Rifle) program was launched. Officially, the goal of the IAR program was to replace the M249 SAW light machine guns at the level of the ILC departments. The IAR program was attended by such well-known weapons manufacturers as Fabrique Nationale (FN), Heckler & Koch (HK) and Colt, where the Belgian and German companies presented their weapons models based on the FN SCAR and HK 416. According to the results of the competition, in December In 2009, the Heckler & Koch model was recognized as the winner, which in 2010 was adopted by the USMC under the index HK M27IAR.

Actually a rifle HK M27IAR is a minor modification of the HK 416 assault rifle, and is no different from it in terms of the design of the main parts. The weapon uses gas-operated automatics with a short stroke of the gas piston, and fires from a closed bolt. On the forearm on the four sides of the weapon and on the upper surface of the receiver are guides of the Picatinny rail type (MILSTD-1913) for attaching any sights and other accessories, including laser sights, flashlights and an underbarrel grenade launcher. At the same time, the HK M27 IAR rifle is regularly equipped with open sights - a front sight and a diopter on folding bases.

To increase the practical rate of fire and density of fire, the HK M27 IAR rifle, unlike the HK 416, has a slightly more massive barrel of increased survivability, and in addition to regular 30-round magazines, it can be equipped with twin drum magazines with a capacity of 100 rounds (from Beta Co) or for 150 rounds (from Armatac). The HK M27 IAR assault rifle is standardly equipped with a retractable telescopic butt, open sights (front sight and diopter) on folding bases, and a bracket for attaching a bayonet to the barrel.

The Infantry Automatic Rifle program, as well as its results, caused a mixed reaction, since instead of a full-fledged light machine gun with belt feed and a quick-change barrel, a conventional machine gun was adopted in US service, albeit with a slightly weighted barrel. Some experts considered the IAR program just an attempt by the USMC to get new assault rifles (carbines) into service, bypassing the political battles and budget debates that would have to go through if the program was announced to replace the M4 carbines, and not the outdated light machine guns.

The performance characteristics of the HK M27 IAR
Caliber: 5.56x45 (.223 Remington)
Type of automation: gas outlet, locking by turning the shutter
Length: 838-937mm
Barrel length: 420 mm
Weight: 3.6kg empty
Rate of fire: 700-900 rounds per minute
Shop: 30 rounds

Your attention is invited to a review of the machine, assembled for the first time by the German weapons company Heckler & Koch in 2004. The assembly of this sample was carried out according to the principle of the Colt (Colt) M4 carbine, and Ernst Mach designed this model. Initially, it was developed as a special plug-in module that could be installed on any lower part barrel boxes from the M4 and M16, but over time, in the process of working on it, it was decided to assemble a full-fledged machine gun. The production of the HK416 was aimed exclusively at the American market.

Tests of the assault rifle were carried out in 2005, they were successful, and the model was put into service in many countries of the world. The assault rifle combines the advantages of the legendary M4 and M16, which have long been used in the US military, which gave the assault rifle its name - HK416. It is worth noting that it is the aforementioned weapons samples, despite the many positive qualities, were the least reliable and adapted to combat tactics. Ultimately, Heckler & Koch gave the Americans exactly what they wanted - their favorite automatic machine is now without unloved, significant flaws. The German model is competitive, it can compete with the latest Russian weapons (AK-12 and A-545) and has every chance of becoming NATO's advanced weapon.

Overview of the advantages and disadvantages of HK416

1. Excellent modularity and inclusiveness - the machine is suitable for a different nature of hostilities.
2. High accuracy and accuracy of fire, which makes it possible to use the HK416 like a sniper rifle.
3. The machine fits perfectly in the hands, due to the supply of weapons with a T-shaped handle, and the damper, saved from american rifle M16, provides the opportunity to achieve soft recoil.
4. The rifle is not subject to rusting processes.
5. Combines ergonomics and convenience.
6. Amazing lightness of construction.

True, the last point is in some way a disadvantage. The design of the HK416 uses mainly aluminum alloys, which at first gives the machine some fragility in the hand. Yes, and the barrel can somewhat lead away from the line of sight when firing in long bursts.

Modifications and versions of HK416

In principle, almost all manufacturers of small arms automatic weapons do not “reinvent the wheel”, but upgrade the existing weapons the lineup. Even in the concept of weapons of the 21st century, continuity from previously used machine guns and rifles is clearly visible. As regards the introduction of new types of weapons into operation and experiments in the field of modernization of existing weapons, the United States occupies the first place. That is why the US market in the world arms market is dynamically developing, promising, and mainly arms manufacturers around the world are counting on it. Heckler & Koch GmbH from Germany is no exception, having presented its development to the market - the hk416 assault rifle.

On the basis of this rifle, such types of automatic weapons were made as:

• hk23 (HK556) - civilian self-loading version of hk416;
• hk M27 IAR - an infantry automatic rifle developed on the basis of the hk416 D16.5RS and equipped with a weighted barrel;
• hk416A5 - is a more advanced version of the hk416 rifle. It was presented to the public in 2013. Distinctive features is a modified stock, pistol grip, magazine shaft, trigger guard, controls and gas regulator;
• hk417 automatic rifle chambered for a much more powerful 7.62x51 mm NATO cartridge;
• hk416C - ultra-compact version with a nine-inch barrel (228mm), shortened recoil buffer tube and compact retractable stock;

This list can be continued, but instead of listing the numerous options for this weapon, imagine short review what exactly was improved and changed by German designers.

Overview of the structure and capabilities of the HK416

The barrel box is made of aluminum alloy, the magazines of the machine are made of steel. The forearm is made in such a manner that the barrel is hung cantilever, and on all four sides of the forearm there are Picatinny rails used to install various sights. Ammunition assault rifle is a box magazine for two to three dozen rounds. There is also an extended magazine for a hundred rounds of STANG type. To improve the quality and ease of use, the gas exhaust system used in the M16 has been replaced by a much more reliable, easy-to-use and less sensitive to pollution circuit with a short stroke of the gas piston. Both the return mechanism and the shutter were improved.

The assault rifle is equipped with a diopter sight and a multi-position telescopic buttstock similar to the M4. HK416 fires up to six hundred and forty rounds per minute. Issues with excessive overheating when firing bursts, which was typical for the M4, were fixed. The barrel of an assault rifle of the highest survivability is made using the so-called method. cold forged, which allows him to withstand almost twenty thousand shots in total.

To date, the HK416 rifle is rightly considered one of the best weapons of the present time and is successfully operated in many countries of the world, such as Armenia, Indonesia, Italy, France, Turkey and, of course, the USA. The rifles also participated in such military conflicts as the war in Afghanistan, the Iraqi war and the Tuareg uprising, and the US Navy SEAL team used the HK416 during the operation to destroy Osama bin Laden, the founder and manager of the terrorist Islamist organization Al-Qaeda.

Video: shooting from HK416

If you have any questions - leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them.

The M27 IAR assault rifle is in service with the US Marine Corps.

In the middle of the first decade of the 2000s, in order to equip the US Marine Corps (MCC) with a new model of automatic small arms, the IAR (Infantry Automatic Rifle) program was launched. Officially, the goal of the IAR program was to replace the M249 SAW light machine guns at the level of the ILC departments.

The IAR program was attended by such well-known weapons manufacturers as Fabrique Nationale (FN), Heckler & Koch (HK) and Colt, where the Belgian and German companies presented their weapons based on the FN SCAR and HK416. According to the results of the competition, in December 2009, the Heckler & Koch model was recognized as the winner, which in 2010 was adopted by the USMC under the M27 IAR index.

In fact, the M27 IAR assault rifle is a minor modification of the HK 416 assault rifle, and does not differ from it in terms of the main parts. The weapon uses gas-operated automatics with a short stroke of the gas piston, and fires from a closed bolt. On the forearm on the four sides of the weapon and on the upper surface of the receiver are guides of the Picatinny rail type (MILSTD-1913) for attaching any sights and other accessories, including a laser pointer, flashlights and an underbarrel grenade launcher.

At the same time, the M27 IAR is regularly equipped with open sights - front sight and diopter on folding bases. Butt M27 IAR - telescopic sliding, multi-position. On the barrel there are seats for attaching a bayonet-knife. To increase the practical rate of fire and density of fire, the M27 IAR, unlike the HK 416, has a slightly more massive barrel of increased survivability, and in addition to regular 30-round magazines, it can be equipped with twin drum magazines with a capacity of 100 or 150 rounds.

The Infantry Automatic Rifle program, as well as its results, caused a mixed reaction, since instead of a full-fledged light machine gun with belt feed and a quick-change barrel, the US adopted a conventional assault rifle, albeit with a slightly weighted barrel. Some experts considered the IAR program just an attempt by the USMC to get a new weapon into service, bypassing the political battles and budget debates that would have to go through if the program was announced to replace the M4 carbines, and not the exhausted light machine guns.

Specifications rifle M27 IAR

Caliber: 5.56×45 (.223 Remington)

Weapon length: 937/838 mm

Barrel length: 419 mm

Weight without cartridges: 3.6 kg.

Rate of fire: 850-900 rds / min

Magazine capacity: 30 rounds

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Rifle M27 IAR Infantry Automatic Rifle (USA-Germany)

The M27 IAR is a 5.56 mm infantry automatic rifle based on the NK 416 assault rifle.

The Infantry Automatic Rifle program was started by the US Marine Corps in the early 2000s. The main goal of the program was to replace obsolete M249 SAW light machine guns. The following companies took part in the competition for the creation of the machine: FN, Colt and Heckler-Koch. The German firm Heckler-Koch (NK) became the winner. Thus, it was the German version of the IAR that was adopted by the US Marine Corps in 2009 under the designation M27 IAR Infantry Automatic Rifle.

Experts say that the M27 IAR Infantry Automatic Rifle is a minor modification of the NK 416 assault rifle, created by the same German company (Heckler-Koch). It is worth noting that the NK 416 was designed on the basis of the M4 and M16 rifles, which is reflected in the name of this model.

The main components of the M27 IAR and NK 416 models are very similar. The main difference between the M27 IAR and the NK 416 is a more massive barrel, as well as the fact that in addition to the basic 30-round magazines, the new machine can be equipped with twin drum magazines for 100 rounds (from Beta Co) or 150 rounds (from the company Armatac). The M27 IAR is equipped with a retractable telescopic buttstock, open sights (front sight and diopter) on folding bases, as well as a bracket for attaching a bayonet to the barrel.

The M27 IAR rifle uses gas-operated automatics with a short stroke of the gas piston. Shooting from the M27 is carried out from a closed shutter. A three-position fuse-translator of firing modes makes it possible to shoot both single shots and continuous bursts. The barrel of increased survivability is made by cold forging, which allows it to withstand more than 20,000 shots. The receiver is constructed from aluminum and the magazines from steel.

The main advantages of the M27 IAR Infantry Automatic Rifle model include:
- modularity and versatility, which allows you to adjust the weapon to fit different kind fight,
- high accuracy and accuracy of fire,
- soft and smooth recoil when shooting,
- resistance to corrosion.

The M27 rifle has replaced the standard M4 carbines and M16 assault rifles, establishing itself as a more reliable and convenient modern weapon. The M27 IAR assault rifle is more accurate than the M4; and better maneuverability compared to the M16. Also, the new rifle has a large service life. The M27 IAR Infantry Automatic Rifle assault rifle is currently in service with the US Marine Corps.