AR-M1

The AR-M1 is a Bulgarian assault rifle designed primarily for export. It is a modernized Bulgarian derivative of the AKK, which itself is based on the Soviet AK-47.^[5] The AR-M1 can be chambered for both the 5.56×45mm NATO and 7.62×39mm cartridges.

AR-M1
An Arsenal AR in 7.62x39mm
Type	Assault Rifle
Place of origin	Bulgaria
Service history
In service	2000–present
Used by	See Users
Wars	Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir 2001 insurgency in Macedonia War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) Iraq War Russo-Georgian war Syrian Civil War Libyan Civil War Yemeni Civil War (2014-present)
Production history
Manufacturer	Arsenal AD
Produced	1998 - present
Variants	AR-SF, AR-M4SF, AR-M14SF, AR-M7SFT, AR-M2F, AR-M2T/AR-M2TB, AR-M52T/AR-M52TB, AR-M11F, AR-M8F, AR-M52FB, AR-M1F, AR-M7F, AR-M7T, AR-M75F, AR-M9, AR-M9F,[1]
Specifications
Mass	(without magazine) 3.62 kg (7.98 lb)[2]
Length	930 mm (36.6 in)[2]
Cartridge	5.56×45mm NATO and 7.62×39mm
Action	Gas-operated reloading
Rate of fire	600–700 rounds/min[3][4]
Muzzle velocity	910 m/s (2,986 ft/s)[2]
Effective firing range	600m[4]
Maximum firing range	1,350 m[2]
Feed system	30-round detachable box magazine[4]
Sights	370 mm (14.6 in) sight radius[2]

History

During the late 1950s, the Bulgarian People's Army was equipped with AK-47s imported from the Soviet Union. However, by the early 1960s, the Bulgarian government became interested in producing the AK assault rifle domestically.^[5] Assembly of AKs, initially from imported Soviet parts, began at the Arsenal AD state arsenal in Kazanlak.^[5] By the mid 1960s, the Kazanlak facility was equipped to begin licensed production of the weapon type and its associated parts. Kalashnikov rifles assembled and later manufactured in Kazanlak received the designation AKK.^[5] A derivative with a folding stock was also produced under license as the AKKS.^[5]

After the dissolution of the People's Republic of Bulgaria in the early 1990s, the Kazanlak factory became a joint-stock company known as Arsenal AD.^[5] Arsenal offered several modernized variants of the AKK for export, which were rebranded as the AR series.^[5] The AR pattern rifles are AKKs with different furniture and a few unique features, such as polymer stocks and handguards, as well as several external parts copied directly from the AK-74 including new flash hiders, sights, gas blocks, bayonet mountings and bayonets.^[5] AR-M1 receivers are milled, rather than stamped (unlike the AKM), and are virtually indistinguishable from those of the early pattern Soviet AKs.^[5] A derivative of the AKKS is also offered for export as the ARF.^[5]

Variants

The -F model features a folding stock.

• AR-M1 / AR-M1F - improved AKK copy with a flash suppressor, black polymer stock set, luminous spots on the iron sights and a rail for mounting optics. Chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO and 7.62×39mm.
• AR-M2 / AR-M2F - improved AK-74 copy like the AR-M1/AR-M1F, but with a shortened barrel, AKS-74U front sight base and muzzle booster/flash suppressor hybrid.
• AR-M4SF - extremely short development of the AR-M1 with red dot sight, provision to mount a night vision or laser sight. Chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO^[6] and 7.62×39mm.
• AR-M7F - like the AR-M1, but with an AK-101-style folding stock.
• AR-M9 / AR-M9F - improved AK-74 copy like the AR-M1/AR-M1F, features a thumb-operable fire selector and a different style polymer stock set.^[7]
• AR / AR-F - improved AK-74 copies with black polymer lining and optional luminous sights.^[3][8]
• Trichy Assault Rifle - Indian clone of the AR-M1 series.^[9][10]

Users

An Indian CRPF QRT operator with an AR-M1F41 modified with Israeli FAB Defense accessories.

•  Azerbaijan^[11]
•  Bulgaria: AR-M14SF used by the Military Police.
•  Burundi^[12]
•  Cameroon: AR-M4SF used by the Police.^[13]
•  Egypt^[14]
•  Georgia: 3500 5.45mm AR-M1 rifles imported^[15]
•  Honduras: 5.56mm AR-M4SF used by the Police.^[6]
•  India^[16]
•  Indonesia: AR-M1F used by Tontaipur.^[17][18]
•  Iraq: 751 5.56mm AR-M1F rifles,^[4] also AR-M1s^[19]
•  Ivory Coast^[20]
•  Libya: 11th Lightning Battalion uses AR-M9s.^[7]
•  Niger: Special forces using AR-M52T rifles.^[21]
•  Philippines: Philippine Army confirmed use of AR-M52F assault rifle from Bulgaria during 125th founding anniversary on 23 March 2022, used by First Special Forces Regiment.^[22]
•  Serbia: Arsenal AR.^[23]
•  Somalia: Used by DANAB Brigade.^[24][25]
•  Sudan: AR-M9s^[26]
•  United Arab Emirates: AR-M9s^[26]
•  United Kingdom: AR-M9Fs in 5.56mm NATO, bought as part of Operation Interflex.^[27][28]
•  United States: AR-M1s in 5.56mm NATO, used by the 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment in their role as the opposing force at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center.^[29]
•  Yemen: AR-M9s^[26]

References

1. "Comparative Table for 7.62x39 mm ARSENAL Assault Rifles - Arsenal JSCo. - Bulgarian manufacturer of weapons and ammunition since 1878". www.arsenal-bg.com.
2. "5.56x45 and 7.62x39 mm AR-M1 - Arsenal JSCo. - Bulgarian manufacturer of weapons and ammunition since 1878". www.arsenal-bg.com.
3. "7.62x39 mm AR - Arsenal JSCo. - Bulgarian manufacturer of weapons and ammunition since 1878".
4. Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (28 October 2006). Iraqi Security Forces: Weapons Provided by the US Department of Defense Using the Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Fund (PDF) (Report). SIGIR-06-033. pp. 8, 17. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 30, 2017.
5. Brayley, Martin (June 1, 2013). Kalashnikov AK47 Series: The 7.62 x 39mm Assault Rifle in Detail. Marlborough: The Crowood Press. pp. 45–59. ISBN 978-1847974839.
6. "Police Small Arms Arsenals in the Northern Central American Triangle". Small Arms Defense Journal. Vol. 7, no. 5. 4 December 2015.
7. Jenzen-Jones, N.R.; McCollum, Ian (April 2017). Small Arms Survey (ed.). Web Trafficking: Analysing the Online Trade of Small Arms and Light Weapons in Libya (PDF). Working Paper No. 26. p. 53. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 16, 2017.
8. "7.62x39 mm AR-F - Arsenal JSCo. - Bulgarian manufacturer of weapons and ammunition since 1878".
9. ""Trichy" Assault Rifle Gaining Traction Among Indian Law Enforcement". 19 April 2018.
10. "Indian assault rifle giving stiff competition to latest Russian AK". The Times of India. 5 February 2020.
11. https://www.flickr.com/photos/39955793@N07/7999918704/%5B%5D
12. https://www.flickr.com/photos/usarmyafrica/4324781393/%5B%5D
13. "Photos - AK and its derivatives in action". A Military Photos & Video Website. 19 March 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2023.^{[better source needed]}
14. https://www.dw.com/en/egypt-gunmen-launch-deadly-attack-on-coptic-church/a-41968020%5B%5D
15. Jenzen-Jones, N.R. "UN small arms trade register". Archived from the original on 2018-09-15. Retrieved 2018-09-15.
16. "Equipment of the Indian Army's Infantry soldier | ADU MEDIA". ADU. 2020-10-27. Retrieved 2021-10-09.
17. https://batam.tribunnews.com/2018/02/16/inilah-tontaipur-kostrad-pasukan-elite-tni-ad-jago-kubur-diri-pakai-pelepah-daun-pepaya%5B%5D
18. http://indonesiaeliteforces.tripod.com/id13.html%5B%5D
19. Picture of an Iraqi soldier with an AR-M1^{[better source needed]}
20. de Tessières, Savannah (April 2012). Enquête nationale sur les armes légères et de petit calibre en Côte d'Ivoire: les défis du contrôle des armes et de la lutte contre la violence armée avant la crise post-électorale (PDF) (Report). Special Report No. 14 (in French). UNDP, Commission Nationale de Lutte contre la Prolifération et la Circulation Illicite des Armes Légères et de Petit Calibre and Small Arms Survey. p. 97. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 18, 2012.
21. Lionel, Ekene (30 March 2023). "Nigér special forces fielding Bulgarian made AR-M52T assault rifles". Military Africa. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
22. Philippine Army Official Facebook page
23. "Војска Србије | Званични веб-сајт Војске Србије". Archived from the original on 2016-03-25.
24. https://www.caasimada.net/ciidanka-danab-iyo-kuwii-gadoodsanaa-oo-shabaab-kala-wareegay-deegaano/%5B‍%5D%5B%5D
25. https://www.hadalsame.com/2019/04/27/danab-teaches-us-loyalty-to-our-country/%5B%5D
26. Jenzen-Jones, N.R. (31 January 2016). "Bulgarian AR-M9 & AR-M9F rifles supplied by UAE to allied forces". The Hoplite.
27. "How Britain is training up Ukrainian troops in the UK". YouTube. 17 February 2023.
28. "Ukrainians Training with Bulgarian Arsenal AKs". The Armourer's Bench. 5 February 2023. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
29. "USAREUR OpFor ~ Men In Black In 2014 - Pt1". Joint Forces News. 31 August 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2022.