DI MA-1

The DI MA-1^[c] is a family of Myanmar-made assault rifles chambered for 5.56×45mm NATO, produced by the Myanmar Directorate of Defence Industries. They are based on the IMI Galil with some localised modifications produced with assistance from Israel.^[8]

The MA rifles are primarily used by the Tatmadaw,^[9] although it is also seen with the Myanmar Police Force.^[10]

The MA designation on the weapon means Myanmar Army.^[11] The series are sometimes erroneously referred to as the EMERK-3.^[2]

The Tatmadaw was armed with the BA63 (Burma Army 63), the Myanma-made version of the Heckler & Koch G3A3 battle rifle^[12] made under license agreement with West Germany under the Ka Pa Sa factories in partnership with Fritz Werner Industry Ausrustungen-Gmbh (FRG) and the German Technical Corporation Agency.^[13] However, it was considered too heavy for Myanma soldiers to use in jungle warfare.^[7]

A team of engineers from IMI reportedly visited Yangon in 1991, helping with preparing the foundation to manufacture the MA-1s.^[14][15] Reports cite Israel's support of Myanmar in developing the MA-1 despite repeated denials by Israeli officials based in Myanmar, Singapore and Thailand.^[8] According to William Ashton, Israel sought Myanmar out in order to gain international allies due to the constant threat of being surrounded by hostile states in the Middle East.^[8]

The MA-series was first spotted in the early 2000s at numerous Tatmadaw Armed Forces Day parades and demonstrations,^[16][15] replacing the previous Heckler & Koch G3 rifles that were in service.^[7]

By 2009, it was reported that the Tatmadaw was almost fully equipped with the MA series.^[7] MA rifles have also been seen usage by the Karen National Liberation Army,^[17] Shan State Army (RCSS)^[7] and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army,^[18] captured from Tatmadaw forces^[17] or from defecting soldiers.^[19] The Karenni Army has also used MA-1s taken from Myanma soldiers.^[20]

From 2014, the Mk II variant is being used by the Tatmadaw as their standard rifle.^[21]

Plans were made to fully adopt the DI MA-1 Mk. III, but plans are halted due to quality issues.^[22]

In March 2022, the Tatmadaw showcased a new type of the MA-1 Mk. II rifle in the Armed Forces Day parade, which has a telescopic stock and a picatinny rail on the upper receiver.^[4] It was supposed to be shown in public in 2020, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[4]

In May 2023, MA-1 and MA-3s are used by the PDF in the civil war, captured from Myanma soldiers and police officers.^[10]

Serial production started in 2002 after signing an agreement with IMI.^[7] The assault rifles were mostly made at Ka Pa Sa No 1 or DI-1,^[11] a factory located near Inya Lake that serves as the main factory.^[7][23]

The MA-1 rifles are made with ventilated handguards and horizontal charging handles, unlike the Galil which has a vertical charging handle.^[2] Early models (Mk. I) have curved cheekpieces in the buttstocks with later models (Mk. II) omitting this.^[24] MA rifles are compatible with Galil magazines,^[2] although they can use polymer magazines.^[24] Any MA rifle can use a clone of the Type 81 bayonet if a bayonet lug is present.

They were initially introduced with wooden handguards; early models were made with brown polymer furniture and rounded, smooth pistol grips.^[25] Later versions were produced with black furniture and clear cut Galil grips, designated as the Mk II.^[26] It also uses synthetic alloys and plastics in its construction.^[21]

An indicator for a MA rifle that is optimized to fire rifle grenades is the presence of tall iron sights.^[24] The rifles can use the MG-2 rifle grenade.^[5]

In an interview back in 2009 with Sai Sheng Murng, the deputy spokesman of the Shan State Army (RCSS), he mentioned that foreign-made 5.56 NATO ammo cannot be used in the MA rifles while Myanma-made ammo can work with foreign assault rifles chambered in the same caliber.^[7]

The selectors consist of safe, semi-auto and full-auto mode.^[25]

Standard assault rifle with a bayonet lug for the option to have a bayonet mounted.^[2] It's reported by convicted porters under the Tatmadaw that Myanma soldiers would write the battalion number on its stock.^[27]

The bipod was not made standard with the MA-1s with the cleaning kit stored in a hollow space in the buttstock. The MA-1s are not equipped with a pistol grip-type safety system.^[28]

Light machine gun version with a heavy barrel and a bipod mounted.^[29] It was originally developed without the idea of using a drum magazine, relying on standard capacity magazines,^[30] but it can be used with drum magazines.^[5]

The handguard has two rows of ventilation holes that are parallel to the barrel.^[28] It has a carry handle, long/heavy barrel and bipod.^[25]

The bipods used are thin-based for Mk. I versions, but the Mk. II versions are seen with bipods that are cloned from those used for the M60 GPMG.^[5]

Carbine version with a folding metal buttstock.^[31] The stock is rarely used due to great difficulty in moving it^[28] and to fully depress the lock in order to unfold it.^[25] Early models were badly made due to the materials used in its manufacture before they were fully resolved through the Mk II variant.

A version of the MA-1 equipped with an underbarrel grenade launcher (UBGL),^[31] known as the BA203 (Burma Army 203).^[32] It is an unlicensed clone of the MKEK T-40.^[33][d]

The UBGL is permanently fixed, which cannot be removed.

The Mk. II variant saw the use of polymer to replace the black stock of the Mk. I.^[5] It was also often equipped with polymer stocks, pistol grips, and fore-ends as standard issue.^[25]

The newer Mk II variants were shown overseas at the 2019 Defense and Security exhibition in Bangkok, Thailand, which was visited by Min Aung Hlaing.^[35] This variant was publicly shown in 2022 with the Tatmadaw with a telescopic stock and picatinny rail on the upper receiver.^[4] The new Mk II magazine is based on the South African polymer Vektor R4 magazine.^[24] The black moulds used in the newer Mk II variants were allegedly based on moulding materials provided by CAA Industries.^[36]

By the Myanmar Civil War of 2021, all Mk. I variants were replaced by the Mk. II.

Known as Myanmar Army Sniper, a designated marksman rifle variant based on the MA-2.^[37] It's chambered in 7.62x51 NATO caliber and fires from a 10-round magazine.^[37] There are reports indicating that production may have started as early as 2011 to 2012.^[38]

It has a total weight of 5.3 kg, a total length of 1140 mm and a barrel length of 620 mm.^[37] The rifle has a muzzle velocity of 852 m/s and an effective range of 1000 meters.^[37]

The MA-S consist of a Mk. I and Mk. II version. The Mk. I resembles a Dragunov that can take 10-round magazines^[5][37] with a PSO-1 scope.^[39] The Mk. II resembles Zastava-based rifles that can take 20-round magazines.^[5]

The Mk. II has a picatinny rail under the gas block to install a bipod.^[5] It comes in two colors; green or black furniture.^[5] A version of the Mk. II in a camo finish was on display at the 2019 Defence and Security arms fair.^[5]

There is a MA-S variant made for Tatmadaw soldiers participating in overseas shooting competitions such as the ASEAN Armies Rifle Meet.^[40]

•  Myanmar: Widely used by the Tatmadaw and the Myanmar Police.

• Karen National Liberation Army
• Karenni Army
• People's Defence Force (Myanmar)
• Shan State Army (RCSS)
• Ta'ang National Liberation Army

• Johnson, Gary Paul; Nelson, Thomas B. (2016-12-15). The World's Assault Rifles. Ironside International Publishers. ISBN 9781619846012.
• Roodhorst, Cor (2015). The Kalashnikov Encyclopedia: Recognition and Weapon Forensic Guide for Kalashnikov Arms and Derivatives II: Italy–Russia. Netherlands: Roodhorst Publications. ISBN 978-90-9027549-9.

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