Colombia's new rifle prototype gets upgrades

Colombian state-owned company Indumil unveiled a new prototype of what could become the first rifle completely designed and developed in the country. (Erich Saumeth Cadavid)

Colombian state-owned company Indumil unveiled a new prototype of what could become the first rifle completely designed and developed in the country, according to a new image obtained by Janes.

Since last May, when the first images of the new rifle were leaked, improvements have been introduced, which can be observed in the new prototype, based on a new image obtained by Janes. The new weapon will replace rifles currently in use by the Colombian armed forces, such as the IWI/Indumil Galil AR; the ACE series (22, 21, and 23); and the Tavor-21, all chambered in 5.56×45 mm.

Among the improvements, the redesign of the rearsight stands out. It appears to be removable, facilitating replacements or upgrades. Likewise, its AR-15-style grip also appears to be detachable, suggesting improvements in modularity and ergonomics. On the other hand, the casing deflector is noticeably larger, improving operational tolerance. A reduction in the number of screws optimises rifle assembly and maintenance. An adjustable gas block has been introduced, allowing use even with suppressors, increasing tactical versatility and demonstrating improved ergonomics with a design adapted to different operational scenarios.

For more information, please seeColombia invests USD15 million in rifles, ammo .