IMBEL Md.97 5.56mm Rifle System

IMBEL Md.97 5.56mm Rifle System

This article is a translation of a PDF file in Portuguese containing pictures and more specifications about the IMBEL Md.97 Rifles system. Unfortunately the PDF file is "protected", and I wasn't able to rip off the good images found therein; if some of yours is able to do it, please explain me how. 
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The new weaponries to find use within the Brazilian Army's Special Operations Brigade and the recently-founded National Public Security Force will be the national-made models from IMBEL - INDUSTRIA DE MATERIAL BELICO DO BRASIL, located in Itajuba, MG (State of "Minas Gerais", since Brazil is a federal Country divided in States, much like the USA).

The origin of the modern assault rifle is dated back to World War 2, when combat analisys (initially from German part) revealed that most of the infantry combats were on distances of less than 400 Metres, while most of the then-issued individual infantry rifles were engineered to hit targets at distances ranging up to 1000 Metres.

As a result of this, a wide spread of smaller-caliber assault rifles had birth; those weapons turned out to be handy and trustable and were used up to the modern days, so to speak the recent Iraq War can be pointed as an example of how the Close Quarters Battles on urban terrain are the most common combat situation to occur in modern warfare. 
Situation in Brazil wasn't different, and IMBEL gained experience in the past by manufacturing several variants of the .7'62x51mm FAL battle rifle for the Brazilian Army, a rifle whose major feature is the extreme reliability in all combat situations. 
Working on this experience as a basis, IMBEL has just launched a new family of rifles chambered in the .5'56x45mm-NATO cartridge, composed by several versions that will first equip the Rapid Reaction Force of the Brazilian Army, and the National Security Force that has been founded as a rapid reaction intervention unit to face against the spread of fierce urban battles that often happen in the major Brazilian metropolitan areas as a direct result of the activities of drug traffickers.

The new Rifle system received the designation of Md.97 (Model 97), and it is made in the versions MD-97L (where "L" stands for "Leve", or "Light"), and the police-addressed MD-97LC, where (where "LC" stands for "Leve/Curto", or "Light/Short"); all in 5'56x45mm-NATO caliber.

The MD-97LC carbine is a short semi-automatic version of the MD-97L assault rifle, featuring reduced weight and dimentions, either fixed or side-folding butt stock that results useful in situations where police personnel requires a handy, yet controllable weapon. It is a semi-automatic, gas-operated, rotating-bolt police patrol carbine using STANAG magazines (30-rounders mainly, but will fit all); it features a muzzle velocity of 780 Metres per Second, weighting 3,4 Kilograms unloaded and without accessories, its measures being 600x190x40mm with stock folded and 850x190x40mm with stock open. Its bullet can penetrate 3,5 Millimetres ballistic plates at distances within 300 metres, and the rifle itself can be equipped with accessories such optical sights, sound suppressors, tactical target designators (visible/IR lasers, tactical lights, etc.) and under-carried grenade launchers. This will be the version equipped by the NATIONAL SECURITY FORCE.

The MD-97L is a lightweight assault rifle with side-folding stock, engineered with the concepts of maximum firepower and weight optimization in mind; as a result, it is an ideal weapon for the infantry soldiers operating in adverse conditions and with restricted logistic support. It is a selective-fire, gas-operated, rotating-bolt rifle that will feed with any STANAD magazines, firing single shots or three-rounds bursts, weighting 3,7 Kilograms unloaded and without accessories, its measures being 740x190x40mm with folded stock and 990x190x40mm with unfolded stock. Its bullet can penetrate 3,5mm Millimetres ballistic plates at distances within 600 metres, and the rifle itself can be equipped with accessories such bayonet, optical sights, sound suppressors, tactical target designators (visible/IR lasers, tactical lights, etc.) and under-carried grenade launchers. This version will be equipped by the Brazilian Army's SPECIAL OPERATIONS BRIGADE.

Above all doubts, this is a good response given by a 100% Brazilian enterprise to the Brazilian needs for better police and military equipments and is a step forward in the efforts made for reducing the disturbing dependence from foreign military products.

TECHNICAL SPECS: 
-Md.97L assault rifle- 
CALIBER: .5'56x45mm-NATO 
MAGAZINE: All STANAG magazines will fit 
MEASURES: 990x190x40mm with stock unfolded / 740x190x40mm with stock folded 
STEP: 7,10 or 12 
WEIGHT: 3,710 Kilograms 
STOCK: Foldable 
BARREL LENGHT: 0,437 Centimetres 
WORKING SYSTEM: Selective-fire Gas-Operated Rotating-Bolt

-Md.97LC police carbine- 
CALIBER: .5'56x45mm-NATO 
MAGAZINE: All STANAG magazines will fit 
MEASURES: 850x190x40mm with fixed stock or open folding stock / 600x190x40mm with stock folded 
STEP: 7,10 or 12 
WEIGHT: 3,330 Kilograms 
STOCK: Foldable or fixed 
BARREL LENGHT: 0,330 Centimetres 
WORKING SYSTEM: Semi-automatic Gas-Operated Rotating-Bolt

MANUFACTURER: 
IMBEL - Industria de Material Belico do Brasil 
Avenida 15 de Março, Casa 1 
Vila da Estrela 
12620-000 – Piquete / SP - BRASIL 
TEL: (0055) (12) 3156-9042/(0055) (12) 3156-9054/(0055) (12) 3156-9030 
FAX: (0055) (12) 3156-9028 
URL: http://www.imbel.gov.br 
E-MAIL: contato@imbel.gov.br

IMBEL Md-97L assault rifle

IMBEL Md-97L assault rifle (above) and IMBEL Md-97LC police carbine with side-folding stock (under).

IMBEL Md-97L assault rifle (under) and IMBEL Md-97LC police carbine with side-folding stock (above); note that the Md-97L assault rifle hereby portrayed has a top-mounted Weaver rail for optical sights

IMBEL Md-97LC police carbines: fixed-stock version (above); side-folding stock version (under).

Photos and information from: Pierangelo Tendas

Website by: E-Image Agency