The Galil ACE or IWI ACE is an Israeli assault rifle developed and manufactured
by IWI and also produced under license by Indumil, RPC Fort and FAME S.A.C. It
is produced in three calibres: 5.56×45mm NATO, 7.62×39mm, and 7.62×51mm NATO.
The ACE family assault rifles are based upon the mechanism of the IMI Galil, but
using a modernized design and materials to increase its accuracy and lower its
weight, while maintaining the Galil's ergonomics, ease of maintenance and
reliability under battle conditions. Emphasis was placed in particular in
increasing its reliability under adverse and extreme conditions.
It is the main assault rifle of the Colombian army and the Colombian police,
for whom it is manufactured locally under license by Indumil. In addition,
it has been selected as the future standard assault rifle of the Chilean
Army and the Vietnamese army. Design features
= Weight reduction= The original IMI Galil had weighed up to
4.35 kg depending on its variant, and this weight was criticised by the Israel
Defense Forces. The heavy weight was a result of IMI having built the Galil
rifle from a machined all-solid steel billet action in order to increase the
structural integrity and survivability of the weapon.
The Galil Ace has a significantly reduced weight. IWI redesigned the
action to integrate the steel with polymer, which is much lighter than the
fully steel receiver of the original Galil. While the upper receiver is
machined steel, polymer has been introduced to the lower receiver of the
weapon to reduce the gun's weight. = Last round bolt catch=
Another addition by IWI to the original Galil is the last round bolt catch, for
the versions of the ACE in 5.56mm. The bolt hold-open feature is a common
request of military customers, to reduce reloading times during combat.
= Long-stroke piston system= The rifle uses the Galil's long-stroke
piston system. The long-stroke system is found in the M1 Garand, AK 47 and more
recently in the Tavor. = Gas tube=
The gas tube, unlike the AK 47 system, is mounted on the rifle via a dovetail
slide machined on the receiver upper-front block. This avoids any
movement of the gas block that can influence barrel vibration and thus
degrade rifle accuracy. = Port sealing=
IWI have sealed the internal mechanism of the gun, by the addition of a sliding
vertical cover. As a result, the internal mechanism of the Galil is
sealed and protected from the accumulation of dirt or sand.
= Trigger= The IWI Ace adopts the Galil Sniper
trigger instead of the original Galil trigger, in order to improve accuracy
compared to the standard Galil. This is a two-stage trigger, which IWI have
modeled on the two-stage trigger of the M1 Garand.
According to American Rifleman, the two-stage trigger is "clean and smooth
with a 4 lb. 13 oz. trigger pull according to a Lyman digital trigger
gauge." = Barrel=
The barrel is chrome-lined, cold hammer-forged, with a 1:7" twist.
= Accuracy= According to American Rifleman:
"Although this rifle is clearly based on the AK design, it demonstrated a
superior level of accuracy potential compared to several of its cousins. The
best single group [at 100 yards] of 0.83” and five-group average of 0.98”
was produced using the Federal Premium 123-gr. Power-Shok soft-point load”.
Variants The Galil ACE is available in three
calibers with multiple barrel lengths for each type:
Users Colombia - It serves as the standard
issued assault rifle of the National Army of Colombia and the National Police
of Colombia. Manufactured in Colombia by Indumil.
Chile - Selected as the Chilean Army's new 5.56 mm standard-issue rifle. In
2014, the Galil ACE began to be deployed in the Chilean Army.
Haiti: Used by certain Haitian police officers.
Mexico: Used by certain personnel of the Mexican Federal Police
Peru: The Peruvian government has plans to license the Galil ACE, establishing a
factory to produce up to 2000 rifles per month.
Guatemala: 3,000 Model 31 versions used by Guatemala National Civil Police.
El Salvador Honduras - Model 21 used by the army and
air force. Philippines - San Juan City Police uses
ACE 21. South Sudan: Used by the South Sudanese
Armed Forces Vietnam - ACE 31 and 32 have been
selected as the standard-issue assault rifles in the Vietnamese Army, to
gradually replace their current AK-47-derived weapons. IWI has
established a $100 million factory in Vietnam, to produce an unspecified
number of Galil ACE assault rifles for the People's Army of Vietnam.
Ukraine - since August 2014 See also
Military equipment of Israel List of assault rifles
List of battle rifles References
External links Galil ACE assault rifles at Modern
Firearms IWI ACE Webpage.
ACE 7.62x51 Brochure.