After 56 Years, Israel Weapons Industries Reveals the New Uzi

Israel Defense ^ | 27/11/2011 | Amir Rapaport

[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.”

[Datom]

Cool, but what if you had 10 volleyballs at fifty meters?

[mnehring]

It is surprisingly accurate. It is just a fun little thing for the range.

[Dead Corpse]

I can do that at 400 meters with any one of my AR's. 800 with my .308.

Do that with a hunting bow and you will officially have me impressed.

[BCR #226]

I can hit a 10 inch circle at 100 yards with both of my UZI’s set on semi. I haven’t tried it on full auto but I’ll be at the range this week and I’ll try it.

If you know what you’re doing, the UZI can be quite accurate for what it is. With a closed bolt design, it’s very accurate.

On the gun in the OP’s article... that’s ugly. It appears that they took a micro UZI receiver and tapco tacticooled it.

[BCR #226]

I can hit a 10 inch circle at 100 yards with both of my UZI’s set on semi. I haven’t tried it on full auto but I’ll be at the range this week and I’ll try it.

If you know what you’re doing, the UZI can be quite accurate for what it is. With a closed bolt design, it’s very accurate.

On the gun in the OP’s article... that’s ugly. It appears that they took a micro UZI receiver and tapco tacticooled it.

[SJackson]

Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume

If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.

..................

[elhombrelibre]

NICE!

[archy]

A Micro Tavor or M-4 shorty would work better when dealing with suicidal terrorists.

Back around the time of the Israeli occupation of parts of Lebanon, the Israeli Army too the Uzi submachineguns from the Israeli Tank force crews, who are regarded as an elite force among the Israeli milkitary, and for good reason. The idea was that by replacing the 9mm pistol-caliber subguns with a cutdown Galil assault rifle, the Israeli Army ammo supply would be simplified, and the tank crews would be better equipped for other routine duties like guarding roadblock checkpoints and headquarters facilities. The Galils shorty versions, known as Glilon to the tankists were heavier than an Uzi, less managable inside the confines of a tank, and had a bulkier magazine, the pouch for which hung up on the edge of turret and driver's hatches- the earlier Uzi magazines were easily carried in inside pockets of the tankists' coveralls.

So the dislike of the new weapon was made known in subtle ways. Some were run over by tanks, crushed or bent double like a hairpin. Others suffered very bent barrels. Others had parts lost during maintenance. Finally, after nearly a fourth of the new weapons required either rebuilding or outright replacement, it was decided to replace them with cutdown versions of the US-msupplied M16. Surely the finicy tank crews would appreciate that!

Nope. The aluminum and plastic wonder tow was not appreciated. The short barre; threw a horribly huge muzzle flash at night, and the plastic collapsible stocks on the shorties didn't retract fully flushwith the rear of the weapon the way the old Uzi's did, making them again bulky and cumbersome coming out of a tank in a hurry. Which the Istraely tank crews practice with the dedication of Olympic athletes. More broken, bent and ruined rifles resulted. A second issue of shorty M16s was obtained, this time the then-new American M4 carbine. No big difference, and again, the numbers of damaged and destroyed rifles began to add up.

Last I heard, some tank outfits were trying the new Israelu Tavor bullpup 5,56mm carbine. The magazines are about the same size as those of the two 5,56mm predecessors, so once agaiin the new rifles may not be seen as much of an improvement.

But now there's this new Uzi, with an electronic sight and plastic buttstock that's likely pretty easy to remove or break off and throw away. Perhaps it'll be just what the Nahal tank crews have been hoping for....

[archy]

I can hit a 10 inch circle at 100 yards with both of my UZI’s set on semi. I haven’t tried it on full auto but I’ll be at the range this week and I’ll try it.

Try one at night, out of the loader's hatch of an M48 tank, against a guy four feet away on the back deck of the tank behind the turret, hoping to drop a 15-pound satchel charge down the commander's open hatch.

Too close to swing the antiaircraft/antisapper machinegun around, and you've got an Uzi with a full 25-round magazine in your hand, the shorter mag being preferred inside the tank as less likely to snag while getting out.

You have less than three seconds for your eyes to adapt to the dark, identify and acquire your hostile target, and engage, after which you'll be night-blind from the muzzle flash. Full auto magazine dumps are acceptable, so long as you clear your target and discourage any of his friends who might be thinking about trying the same thing. Head shots preferred.

No tank? Try it with a pickup truck, firing from the back end over the cab at a silhouette target fixed to a 2x4 posted verticle to the front bumper.

Hint: it's not as easy as it sounds.

[archy]

I won’t be whole until I own one.

Get yourself a German Leopard II tank. They come with one mounted on the wall by the gunner, and a spare behind the driver's seat.

[archy]

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).

Even the Ruger MP9 was a good bit more ergonomic and less *clunky*, though the stillborn Ruger attempt used its own non-interchangable magazines. That helped kill it.

Not that there is much to complain about with the UZI, it has proven its worth.

They were awfully darned heavy- a loaded Uzi is heavier than a loaded M16A1 rifle. That's not a big deal for us treadheads, but the poor bloody infantrymen who sometimes have to carry everything they have on their backs, it's a big deal.

[Gator113]

Can I make small monthly payments? ;>)

[BCR #226]

No kidding. LOL.

[Travis McGee]

Add screaming high decibels, unbelievable stress, shaking of your whole world, fear of imminent death...

[archy]

Add screaming high decibels, unbelievable stress, shaking of your whole world, fear of imminent death... Other details: working on the third day of the 1973 Yom Kippur War with a scratch pickup crew of reservists and an ex German Army Bundeswehr German/Israeli tank commander who gave the crew commands in German, which worked just fine for me, but not so good for our Israeli Sabra driver. Halt! is pretty universal, tho, and so is the guy with the demo charge and what he figures to do with it.

Happily, the Jordanians didn't cross the frontier and tangle with us, but in some areas where they were with the Syrians, they did.

[archy]

Can I make small monthly payments? ;>)

Natürlich! But no old Reichmarks, please, just gold.

Lots and lots of gold....

[Gator113]

LOL... If I had all of that, I’d be sending this response from a 65’ sailboat located in a beautiful cove off some warm tropical island.......instead of a mountain top where it’s a cloudy 38* outside. ;>)

[Travis McGee]

“What I did during my vacation.”