Overview[]
The MA-1 (also known as the EMERK-3) is a Burmese assault rifle, developed from the Galil AR platform.
Development[]
During the 1990s, the Myanmar Directorate of Defence Industries, which itself is a large domestic weapons producer for Myanmar, was seeking a replacement to modernize their military small arms. Until then, all branches of the military were using domestically produced licensed copies of the HK G3A3, known as the BA-63 series as well as the newer MA-11 assault rifle.
Coincidentally, around the same time as the notion to update the military catalogue, Israel Weapon Industries (IWI), was actively seeking to increase Israel's overseas allies, specifically in the Southeast Asia region. Due to this, IWI would offer assistance on development of a new rifle.
It would eventually be settled that the Galil AR platform would be the basis of the firearm, and thus giving Myanmar a license to produce their own version, with modifications as fit to local environment.
Design[]
Essentially, the MA-1 assault rifle is a licensed copy of the Galil AR, with domestically-produced modifications to match the needs of soldiers in the local environment. Most notably, of which, are the external replacements done to the overall furniture of the rifle.
The handguards were replaced with larger, laminated wooden pieces, with ventilation holes. A fixed-stock would also replace the Galil series' original "skeleton" folding stocks, possibly for better stabilization of the rifle. Utilizing laminated wood was a trend that would carry-over with later variations of the MA-1 as well.
Another interesting design change when compared to the original Galil, is the rear sight. Instead of utilizing folding/flip-up iron sights, the MA-1 utilizes a fixed rear sight, which is welded to the dustcover itself.