IMBEL MD-2/MD-3 assault rifle

IMBEL MD-2 rifle (MD-3 rifle in the insert below)
IMBEL MD-2 rifle (MD-3 rifle in the insert below)

 

Specification Value
Full text name IMBEL MD-2/MD-3 assault rifle
Caliber cartridge 5.56x45 NATO, .223 Remington
Action type select-fire
Trigger type sa
Overall length, mm 1010
Length, folded, mm 764
Barrel length, mm 453
Weight empty, kg 4,4
Magazine capacity, rounds 30
Cyclic rate of fire, rounds/min 700

The MD-2 assault rifle was developed by IMBEL (Industria de Materiel Belico do Brasil). Development began circa 1982, first prototype, named MD-1, appeared in 1983 and final version, named MD-2, came out circa 1985 and later was adopted by Brasilian military.

MD-2 started as a simply scaled down FN FAL rifle (manufactured in Brasil under license as IMBEL LAR), but during the design time the FAL locking system (tilting block) was replaced by M16-type rotating bolt. The receiver design is, however, still very similar to FAL.

MD-2 is a gas operated, selective fire assault rifle, with rotating bolt locking. Trigger group is mounted into the pistol grip unit, which is hinged to the receiver and folds down and forward for disassembly and maintenance. MD-2 featured side-folding metallic buttstock, MD-3 rifle is similar to the MD-2 but has fixed plastic buttstock. MD-2 uses any M16 style magazines.