Beretta AR70/90

Lore & Background

Development of the Beretta AR70/90 began in the 1980s when the Italian Government decided its military and law enforcement agencies needed a new standard service weapon. The rifle was designed to be compatible with other NATO weapons by adopting standard 5.56 mm STANAG loaders, whereas its predecessor, the BM59, derived from the U.S. M1 Garand, was chambered in 7.62 mm (.308). The earlier AR70/223 could not be submitted for trials because NATO had chosen the Belgian 62 gr SS109 cartridge as the new standard for the 5.56×45mm round, and the AR70/223 still ran on the older M193 cartridge. Additionally, a significant defect was discovered: the receiver of the AR70/223 was a pressed steel box with bolt guides pressed in, which would distort and jam the firing bolt under harsh circumstances. These issues led to upgrades that spawned the AR70/90 design.

The first working samples were ready in 1985, and the AR-70/90 was submitted to rifle evaluation trials conducted by Stabilimento Militare di Armamento Leggero di Terni in 1988 and 1989. It competed with a variant of the H&K G41 licensed and produced domestically by Franchi, and the Mod.378 VB-SR, a modified clone of the Galil SAR developed by Bernardelli. There was also intent to request Colt to submit the M16A2, but legal troubles involving Renato Gamba and his company blocked that evaluation. The AR70/90 won the trials and was adopted as the Italian Army's standard assault rifle.

The AR70/90 is manufactured according to 1980s standards, with limited use of polymer plastic parts and using stainless steel whenever possible. It has a carrying handle, a long, bulky barrel, and a hollow stock. It is usually fitted with an ACOG or a red dot optic. Variants include the SC70/90 with folding stock for Alpini troops, and the SCP70/90 for paratroopers with a recoil pad foldable and shorter barrel. A light support weapon variant, the AS70/90, was developed but not adopted by Italian Armed Forces, who instead adopted the Belgian FN Minimi.

Reader's Guide

The Beretta AR70/90 holds significance as the standard service rifle of the Italian Armed Forces for several decades, replacing both the older BM59 and the AR70/223 models across all departments that had adopted them. Its adoption followed a rigorous competitive trial process in the late 1980s, where it outperformed domestic and licensed competitors. The rifle's design reflects the transition to NATO-standard 5.56 mm ammunition and STANAG magazines, aligning Italy with broader alliance interoperability. Its legacy includes a wide range of users beyond Italy, with exports to numerous countries and police forces worldwide. The AR70/90 was eventually supplemented and later replaced by the Beretta ARX-160, which evolved from an upgraded version of the AR70/90 platform developed under the Soldato Futuro program. Between 2008 and 2014, around 30,000 ARX160 A2s were supplied to Italian forces, supplementing the AR70/90 in operations including missions in Afghanistan. The AR70/90 also saw civilian semi-automatic versions marketed, and since January 2018, latest civilian versions have been marketed by Nuova Jager S.r.l., modified from Carabinieri reserves.

Did You Know?

• The AR70/90 was developed to accommodate the NATO-standard SS109 cartridge, replacing the older M193 cartridge used by its predecessor.
• During trials, the AR70/90 competed against a domestically produced H&K G41 variant and a modified Galil SAR clone.
• The AR70/90 has a light support weapon variant called the AS70/90, which could feed from either ammo-belt or standard 30-round STANAG magazines.
• Civilian semi-automatic versions of the AR70/90 have been marketed since January 2018 by Nuova Jager S.r.l., modified from Carabinieri reserves.