Beginning in 1999, the USMC issued a "Universal Need" Statement for an Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR). Shortly after, the 1st Marine Division's 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines Regiment, conducted initial IAR trials, which confirmed the desirability of a light automatic rifle within Marine Corps Infantry squads. The fundamental difference between a lighter select-fire infantry rifle and a more heavily built automatic rifle is the ability of the latter to maintain sustained continuous fire without stoppages, overheating the barrel or receiver components, or losing accuracy due to barrel swag or decreased longevity due to prolonged fire. Experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan lead to the creation of the program.
The Infantry Automatic Rifle program began in July of 2005 when the Marine Corps sent formal requests for information to various arms manufacturers detailing the desired characteristics in the weapon. These characteristics included: portability, maneuverability, the similarity in appearance to other rifles in the squad ( this was to reduce specific targeting from enemy combatants on heavy gunners), facilitation of the gunner's participation in counter-insurgency operations, and capability of maintaining a maximum volume of fire. An initial requirement for belt-fed or drum magazine capability with a minimum capacity of 100 rounds was later dropped in favor of the traditional 30-round STANAG magazines to achieve commonality with existing rifles in the infantry platoon.
Multiple firearms manufactures such as FN Hernstal, Heckler & Koch, LWRCI, POF, and General Dynamics Armament. After intense testing and fielding, the Marine Corps decided to award the IAR contract to H&K, with Colt being a runner-up. With that being said, the Colt IAR upper receiver is still one of the most incredible IAR variants to be offered and is built to take absolutely anything you can throw at it.
About These
These Colt IAR Upper Receivers are all that is left from the IAR program and is absolutely an incredibly rare piece of Colt memorabilia. Trust me when we say these are going to go quickly and you do not want to miss out on this once in a lifetime opportunity to own a rare piece of history!
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