DI_MA-1

DI MA-1

DI MA-1

Assault rifle

The DI MA-1 is a family of Myanmar-made automatic rifles chambered for the 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge produced by the Myanmar Directorate of Defence Industries (also known as the DI or Ka Pa Sa). The first variation of this weapon, the MA-1 Mk I, was designed in 1990 as an adaptation of the Israeli IMI Galil, an assault rifle manufactured by IMI Systems (formerly known as Israeli Military Industries or Ta'as). Since then it has been adapted into multiple new variants.

Quick Facts Assault Rifle, 5.56 mm, MA-1 Mk.I, Type ...

History

A team of Israeli engineers from IMI reportedly visited Yangon in 1991, helping with the launch of in-country production of the 9x19 mm Uzi sub-machine gun and several small arms models including the MA-1 family of assault rifles.

The MA-series of small arms was first spotted in the early 2000s at numerous national Tatmadaw parades and demonstrations[1] replacing the previous Heckler & Koch G3 rifles that were in service

MA-series was successful enough to out-serve concurrent Burmese small arms design development efforts and continues to be improved in production variants where it is currently in active use by Myanmar's armed forces and police throughout every combat theater of operations in Myanmar.[2]

Variants

MA-1 Mk II

The Mk. II variant saw a polymer that replaced the wooden stock of the Mk. I. It was also often equipped with polymer stocks, pistol grips, and fore-ends as standard issue. The new Mk II's magazine is inspired by the 1981 South African polymer Vektor R4's magazine. By the Myanmar Civil War of 2021 all Mk.I variants were replaced by the Mk. II.[2]

MA-1 Mk III

The Mk III variant is a clone of the QBZ-97 assault rifle by NORINCO. This weapon was developed without permission from NORINCO and thus had to be reverse engineered from existing QBZ-97s in Myanmar. The Mk III differs from the QBZ-97 in that it uses brown polymers with phenolic plastic materials and that it adds a bayonet lug to the barrel to have bayonets mounted underneath.[3]

References

  1. [1]
    Ian McCollum, Rob Stott, Larry Vickers (January 1, 2019). Vickers Guide: Kalashnikov (Volume 2).{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. [2]
    Miles Vining (August 4, 2020). "Seeking Supplies: Developments of Small Arms Production and Industry in Myanmar". Small Arms Survey. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  3. [3]
    Mark Soo. "MA-1 Mk.3". Military Today. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
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