Posted on 11/29/2011 8:18:12 PM PST by sukhoi-30mki
After 56 Years, Israel Weapons Industries Reveals the New Uzi
The new Uzi Pro is designed for special forces and para-military forces. “There is no technological breakthrough in the light weapons field, but the range of weapons answers every need that arises in battle,” says Uri Amit, CEO of Israel Weapons Industries (IWI)
Since the 1950s, the Uzi submachine gun has been one of the world’s most recognizable weapons. About two million units of the Uzi, manufactured by Israel Military Industries’ (IMI) Magen factory, have been sold around the world. The Micro Uzi, launched in 1990, is a shortened version of the popular gun, and has been used mainly by security and special forces units.
Now, after 21 years, the Uzi Pro, the latest version of the Uzi, is being introduced to the market. Owned by Israeli businessman Samy Katsav, IWI (established as a private company after the Magen factory privatization) developed the Uzi Pro. The Uzi Pro was unveiled at the London DSEi exhibit in September.
According to IWI’s CEO, Uri Amit, though the Uzi Pro uses a 9-mm caliber like the original Uzi, there are many differences between the two guns. The main differences include the ergonomic design, the optics, and a completely different foregrip. When the original Uzi came into use by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), the Uzi was the IDF’s primary weapon. Although major armies around the world (including the IDF) abandoned the 9-mm as their preferred weapon, the Uzi Pro will become the designated weapon for special forces units and para-military police forces.
The Uzi Pro has 4 integral picatinny rails for accessories, and 3 safety mechanisms. The Uzi Pro can work with a silencer, and the bottom-half of the gun is made out of polymer in order to reduce its weight. The weapon is considered comfortable to use by both right and left-handed individuals, and it is also easy to maintain. The culmination of IWI changing their product line in recent years came with the launch of the new Uzi Pro.
Uri Amit noted that IWI developed new models of all their manufactured guns, including the Tavor (the Micro Tavor became the primary weapon of Israel’s infantry units), Ace, Negev, Galil, and Jericho (IWI recently produced the Jericho B) family of weapons, in addition to others. Amit adds that, “The diversity [of the company’s product line] has made IWI one of the world’s leading gun manufacturers.” According to Amit, during the privatization of the Magen arms plant, the plant had only 80 employees and was in debt.
Today, Amit explains that there are about 400 workers at IWI and the company is making a profit with rising sales revenues in dozens of countries. As part of the expansion process, IWI has decided that the Magen factory needs to be relocated from Ramat Hasharon to a new facility in Yavne. The process is supposed to take approximately 3 years.
Trends
Question: As opposed to other security industries in the world, light weapon technology has not significantly advanced over the years, has it?
Amit: “That’s true. Light weapons have not developed at the same pace as other technologies, such as the vision of the “Future Soldier,” which is close to being realized. In many ways, today’s light weapons are not so different from those that were made 100 years ago. For instance, the Kalashnikov (AK-47) is still in mass production along with the Uzi and the Galil, which have been around for dozens of years.
“And yet, we can identify some trends that are occurring in this field. There was a time, a few years ago, when people believed that short-range weapons would be the next big thing, and the 5.56 mm caliber would be the preferred bullet. I believe that the influx in urban fighting had a lot to do with this train of thought. “In recent years though, perhaps because of the War in Afghanistan, much has changed. Today, we see that as far as caliber and optics are concerned, the 7.62 mm caliber used for relatively longer ranges with a higher-precision level has become the preferred choice.
“Today, the focus is more on the equipment that surrounds the soldier. There is a readiness for a more precise weapon for the lone fighter. We think that security forces are only waiting for gun manufacturers to fulfill this new need—we are certainly ready. “IWI invests a lot in the development of light weapons. While there is no technological breakthrough that can alter the world when it comes to light guns, we do have a larger range of guns whereby every need is met. For all intents and purposes, Israel is one of the leading and most advanced countries in this field.”
According to Uri Amit, IWI benefits from the fact that it is part of a collective of companies, which also includes optic companies. Among them are: Meprolight, which develops electro-optic accessories for light weapons; UNISCOPE, which develops periscopes for tanks and other armored vehicles; and SIO, which develops night vision devices. “The synergy between all of these companies is complete. We are actually the only gun manufacturer in the world to have its own optics factory,” says Amit.
Q: Despite the increase in demand for the long-range precision weapon, is future combat still expected to be mostly urban?
“This issue might have been pushed out of the spotlight because of the fighting in Afghanistan, but we have no doubt that the warfare in the coming years will mostly play out in urban areas. In many ways, though the Tavor and the Micro Tavor have become the primary light weapons employed by the IDF, dozens of other armies’ needs match these specific fighting conditions perfectly.”
Oooooh. Stocking stuffer.
A Micro Tavor or M-4 shorty would work better when dealing with suicidal terrorists.
Tacti-Cool Uzi!
hands-find-hands —niiiiiice..!
MUST. HAVE. IT.
I could work with that.
Too many snag angles on it.
Best to watch out for your front hand when firing that thing.
Fancy pistol. One thing to keep in mind, I could hit a volleyball at a hundred meters with one of my newer hunting bows, you probably couldn’t do that with an Uzi...
I want 10 COD.
You are correct about that. In all the excitement, it would be relatively easy to cross the muzzle with your hand. I've shot a mini-Uzi, and a MAC 10 (with nothing more than a strap for a foregrip). Fun, but it didn't strike me as a particularly safe proposition.
I was thinking the same thing. It looks mostly because they slapped on every accessory available. The traditional style w/ out all that extra is pretty efficient but compare it to the MAC 10 which seems a lot sleeker (less reliable though).
Not that there is much to complain about with the UZI, it has proven its worth.
Great observation! You’re more focused on the steak and not the sizzle.
Looks like they’re making Uzis out of plastic now, like everything else. I think I would prefer the original.
I won’t be whole until I own one.
Are those sights actually useful for aiming at anything, or is it strictly spray and pray?
Out to fifty yards they are as effective as a 12 gauge and a little more nimble.
Send 5 or 6 of those 9mm rounds at target quickly and folks will do their best to get out of the way.
Women can shoot 'em well.
Pop a silencer on it and you’ll get a lot more barrel length.
Yeah, and one red-hot silencer.
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