Beretta AR70

Beretta AR70/90
Italian soldiers of San Marco Regiment with the Beretta SC70/90 rifle (Rome, 2007)
Type	Assault rifle
Place of origin	Italy
Service history
In service	AR70/223: 1972–1990 AR70/90: 1990–present
Used by	See Users
Wars	War in Afghanistan Iraq War Mexican Drug War
Production history
Designer	Beretta
Designed	AR70/223: 1972 AR70/90: 1985
Manufacturer	Beretta
Variants	See Variants
Specifications
Weight	3.99 kg (8.80 lb) (varies slightly)
Length	998 mm (39.3 in) (varies slightly)
Cartridge	5.56×45mm NATO
Action	Gas-operated
Rate of fire	650 RPM (varies slightly)
Muzzle velocity	950 m/s (3,100 ft/s)
Effective firing range	500 m (1,600 ft)
Feed system	30-round STANAG Magazine 100-round C-Mag drum magazine
Sights	Iron/grenade sights

The Beretta AR70/90 is a gas operated self-loading assault rifle chambered for the 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge, and is the standard issue service rifle of the Italian Armed Forces. The weapon is also designed to be fitted with a rifle grenade, and has grenade sights. The AR series comes in many variants such as the AR90, with a wire folding stock, for use by paratroopers.

The Beretta AR70/90 assault rifle was developed in the 1980s when the Italian Government decided that its military and law enforcement agencies needed a new standard service weapon. It was made to be compatible with other NATO weapons by the adoption of standard 5.56mm STANAG loaders, whereas the AR70/90's predecessor, the BM59, derived from the U.S. M1 Garand, was chambered in 7.62 (.308), another NATO caliber which today is considered suitable mostly for sniper or machine gun use. There is a semi-auto version of the AR-70/90 called the AR 70/90S which lacks a flash hider and bayonet mount.

The AR-70/90 is manufactured according to 1980s standards, i.e. with limited use of polymer plastic parts and using stainless steel whenever possible (a Beretta staple). It weighs approximately 4 kg in standard configuration. It has three firing positions (full auto, three-round burst, and semi-auto) and a safe, and has a carrying handle not unlike the Vietnam-era M16, a long, bulky barrel, and a hollow stock. It is usually fitted with an ACOG or a red dot optic.

As of late 2010 the AR70/90 is supplemented in service by the new Beretta ARX-160, a totally new project which sees a great leap forward in soldier-to-weapon interfacing, several major developments in sighting and firepower such as the integrated (and also detachable) grenade launcher GLX-160, and the "Future Soldier Program" integration.