Italian Army Switches to New Assault Rifle: Beretta NARP

The Italian Army has begun transitioning to a new assault rifle, the Beretta NARP. It has already begun to be supplied to the Special Operations Forces and is expected to rearm the entire army in the future.

This was reported by Armi e Tiro, citing a statement by the Chief of the General Staff of the Italian Army, Carmine Mazielle.

In his pre-Christmas speech, the Chief of the General Staff officially confirmed the start of the Beretta Narp assault rifle’s entry into service. Initially, it will be received by the Special Operations Forces, and later by all Italian Armed Forces.

“Technology, remember… is never an end in itself, but always a means: a means to achieve something. People are always more important than technology: the best weapon system for the army is always people. Deliveries of the new Beretta Narp rifle, probably the best assault rifle in the world today, have begun to the Special Operations Forces. It was developed in collaboration between Beretta and the Special Operations Forces and will arm the entire army… deliveries have already begun,” he said.

The new assault rifles will replace the Beretta AS 70/90 and, probably, the newer ARX160, which were adopted in the 1990s and 2000s, respectively.

NARP

The NARP (New Assault Rifle Platform) is said to be a modern platform with ergonomics similar to AR platforms, but “with a battle-proven mechanism developed by Beretta.” Currently, the assault rifle uses 5.56 mm caliber ammunition, but the company’s plans also include the implementation of versions in other calibers, in particular 7.62×51 and 6.5 Creedmoor.

According to Milmag, the upper receiver is equipped with a bolt carrier and reloading handle, similar in appearance to the AR-15. The rifle can be equipped with barrels 11.5 inches (292 mm), 14.5 inches (368 mm), and 16 inches (406 mm) long. The rifling pitch is 1:7″, and the muzzle has a 1/2 × 28 thread.

The gas system is a short-stroke piston with an adjustable gas block. The adjustment facilitates the use of a silencer, which may explain the manufacturer’s claim of reduced recoil. Access to the gas system is possible from the front, and no tools are required to disassemble it.

The barrel is surrounded by a handguard attached to the receiver using an M-LOK interface, and the upper part has a MIL-STD-1913 rail.

The lower receiver is equipped with ambidextrous controls similar to those on the AR-15. Trigger mechanisms with automatic and single/automatic fire modes are available; single-stage and two-stage triggers are available.

Other technical characteristics:

• Overall length with stock in full extension (14.5″ barrel) — 888 mm
• Overall length with stock folded — 806 mm
• Width — 78 mm
• Weight (with empty polymer magazine) — 3.3 kg

No tools are required to disassemble the rifle, and both boxes are connected with fixed pins. The manufacturer notes that the rifle functions correctly even without lubricants, which may indicate the use of special coatings on moving parts.