Fateh rifle

Lore & Background

The early version of the Fateh rifle revealed in 2014 featured a telescopic shoulder stock that could be collapsed or retracted, constructed entirely of metal except for a plastic cheek piece and butt pad. The first models were equipped with 20-round magazines, while later variants used 30-round magazines; the weapon also appears to accept 40-round magazines and M16-style magazines.

The Fateh is chambered for 5.56×45mm NATO ammunition and uses a gas piston system, with a tiny tube attached to the barrel assembly to recycle gas from each discharged bullet. An upper rail mount stretches almost the entire length of the weapon, providing space for detachable optics and sights. The receiver resembles that of the Remington ACR, and the muzzle brake is similar to the M16 rifle. Accessories such as vertical grips, bipods, laser pointers, or tactical lights can be attached.

The Fateh was developed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Ground Forces (IRGC) and was initially introduced as a prototype in 2014. However, the Iranian military discontinued the rifle in 2016.

Reader's Guide

The Fateh rifle represents a brief attempt by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Ground Forces to field a modern assault rifle chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO, a standard Western cartridge. Its design incorporated features common to contemporary rifles, such as a full-length Picatinny-style rail, a telescoping stock, and compatibility with STANAG magazines, suggesting an intention to align with NATO-standard accessories and ammunition. The weapon's resemblance to the Remington ACR and its use of an M16-style muzzle brake indicate foreign design influences. Despite these modern attributes, the Iranian military discontinued the Fateh in 2016, only two years after its prototype was revealed. The reasons for its discontinuation are not recorded in available notes, but the short production span and limited adoption by the IRGC Ground Forces mark the Fateh as a relatively obscure and short-lived entry in Iranian small arms development. Its legacy is primarily as a footnote in Iran's efforts to develop indigenous infantry weapons, demonstrating a capability to produce a competitive design that ultimately did not enter sustained service.

Did You Know?

• It was chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO and used STANAG magazines.
• The early prototype had an all-metal telescopic stock with a plastic cheek piece and butt pad.