GALIL ACE-23 and FN MINIMI MK3

The General Command of the Colombian Armed Forces has announced procurement of new assault rifles – the Indumil GALIL ACE-23, which has been manufactured in Colombia under Israeli license for around a decade.

Originally designed in 1974, the GALIL equipped the Israeli Defence Force for decades, until it was replaced by more modern, smaller calibre versions. The ACE-23 is a variant manufactured in Colombia since 2008; it weighs less than 3.5kg, features a 35-round magazine and has a 700rpm cyclic rate of fire. With this purchase, Colombia continues to pursue its objective of replacing its old GALIL with the more modern weapon.

The Colombian Army has also acquired eight new 5.56mm FN MINIMI MK3 light machine guns under an $87,920 (€72,540) contract with Belgium’s FN Herstal. The weapon features some modifications aimed at optimising ergonomics and user handling characteristics. These include a five-position adjustable stock with a folding armrest and a hydraulic shock absorber that allows stabilisation of the rate of fire while reducing recoil. In addition, it has a new set of three-position adjustable bipod handguards and three Picatinny MIL-STD 1913 rails. A new feed tray and thermal protector were also designed for operator safety.

Santiago Rivas and Florencia Lucero Heguy in Buenos Aires for MON