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Abu Dhabi-based small arms specialist Caracal, a subsidiary of the United Arab Emirates’ EDGE Group, unveiled a new light machine gun (LMG) at the IDEX 2023 defence exhibition, held in Abu Dhabi from 20-24 February 2023.

The Caracal Light Machine Gun 556 (CLMG 556), chambered in 5.56×45 mm NATO calibre, is a belt-fed, fully automatic LMG. Weighing 7.8 kg unloaded without accessories, the weapon is an open-bolt design featuring an advanced long-stroke gas piston system with a rate of fire of 700-950 rpm.

Hamad Alameri, the Caracal CEO, was quoted in a company press release as noting that the CLMG 556 is the first LMG to be developed in the Emirates.

At IDEX 2023 Abu Dhabi-based Caracal unveiled its CLMG 556 light machine gun: the first such weapon to be developed in the UAE. (Photo: Caracal)

“The CLMG 556 has been developed using the latest rapid prototyping and precision manufacturing technology, giving it similar modularity, durability and weight-saving features seen with other Caracal firearms,” the company stated.

The CLMG 556 comes as standard with a five-position telescopic adjustable stock and three-position adjustable cheek piece. For attachments a STANAG 4694/MIL-STD-1913 long rail is positioned at 12 o’clock on the main receiver. The weapon has a fixed iron sight with range adjustment and built-in bipod that has a three-position adjustable height.

The weapon features a hammer-forged, chrome-lined barrel that comes in three different barrel lengths (330.2, 406.4 and 457.2 mm, or 13, 16 and 18 inches) that can be quickly interchanged to improve durability.

Peter Felstead