DI MA-1
2002 assault rifle made in Myanmar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The DI MA-1[c] is a family of Burmese-made assault rifles chambered for 5.56×45mm NATO, produced by the Myanmar Directorate of Defence Industries.
| MA-1 | |
|---|---|
.png) A MA-1 assault rifle captured by TNLA fighters in Kyaukme. | |
| Type | |
| Place of origin | Myanmar |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2002–present |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars | |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Yisrael Galili of Israel Military Industries[1][a] |
| Designed | 1991 |
| Manufacturer | Ka Pa Sa No. 1 Myanmar Fritz Werner Industries[b] |
| Produced | 2002–present |
| Variants | See Variants |
| Specifications | |
| Mass |
|
| Length |
|
| Cartridge | 5.56×45mm NATO |
| Action | Gas-operated, rotating bolt |
| Rate of fire |
|
| Muzzle velocity | 950 m/s (3,120 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 400 m (437 yd) |
| Feed system |
|
| Sights |
|
| References | [3][4][5][6] |
The MA designation on the weapon means Myanmar Army.[8] The series are sometimes erroneously referred to as the EMERK-3.[2]
History
The Tatmadaw was armed with the BA63 (Burma Army 63), the Myanma-made version of the Heckler & Koch G3A3 battle rifle[9] 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.[10] 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.[11][12] Reports cite Israel's support of Myanmar in developing the MA-1 despite repeated denials by Israeli officials based in Myanmar, Singapore and Thailand.[13]
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,[8] a factory located near Inya Lake that serves as the main factory.[7][14]
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.[13]
Operational use
The MA-series was first spotted in the early 2000s at numerous Tatmadaw Armed Forces Day parades and demonstrations,[15][12] 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] From 2014, the Mk II variant is being used by the Tatmadaw as their standard rifle.[16] Plans were made to fully adopt the DI MA-1 Mk. III, but plans are halted due to quality issues.[17]
MA rifles have also been seen usage by the insurgent groups, captured from Tatmadaw forces[18] or from defecting soldiers.[19]
MA-1 and MA-3s have been documented in use by the PDF in the civil war since May 2023, with most being captures from Myanmar government soldiers and police officers.[20]
Some MA-3s were reportedly seen in Manipur, where they were confiscated in raids in July 2024.[21]
Design
The DI MA-1 series are based on the IMI Galil with some localised modifications produced with assistance from Israel.[13]
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.[22] MA rifles are compatible with Galil magazines,[2] although they can use polymer magazines.[22]
They were initially introduced with wooden handguards; early models were made with brown polymer furniture and rounded, smooth pistol grips.[23] Later versions were produced with black furniture and clear cut Galil grips, designated as the Mk II.[24] It also uses synthetic alloys and plastics in its construction.[16]
An indicator for a MA rifle that is optimized to fire rifle grenades is the presence of tall iron sights.[22] The rifles can use the MG-2 rifle grenade.[25]
The selectors consist of safe, semi-auto and full-auto mode.[23]
In a 2009 interview, Sai Sheng Murng, deputy spokesman of the Shan State Army (RCSS), 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][26]
Variants
MA-1
Standard assault rifle with a bayonet lug for the option to have a bayonet mounted.[2] 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.[27]
It is reported by convicted porters under the Tatmadaw that Myanma soldiers would write the battalion number on its stock.[28]
MA-2
.png)
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.[27] It has a carry handle, long/heavy barrel and bipod.[23] 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]
MA-3
.png)
Carbine version with a folding metal buttstock.[31] The stock is rarely used due to great difficulty in moving it[27] and to fully depress the lock in order to unfold it.[23] Can be used with suppressors made from AISI-321 stainless steel.[11]
Early models were badly made due to the materials used in its manufacture before they were fully resolved through the Mk II variant.
MA-4
.png)
A version of the MA-1 equipped with an underbarrel grenade launcher (UBGL),[31] known as the BA203 (Burma Army 203).[5]
It is an unlicensed clone of the MKEK T-40.[32][d] The UBGL is permanently fixed, which cannot be removed.
MA-S
Known as Myanmar Army Sniper, a designated marksman rifle variant based on the MA-2.[34] They are used with a PSO-1 scope.[11]
It's chambered in 7.62x51 NATO caliber and fires from a 10-round magazine.[34] There are reports indicating that production may have started as early as 2011 to 2012.[35] It has a total weight of 5.3 kg, a total length of 1140 mm and a barrel length of 620 mm.[34] The rifle has a muzzle velocity of 852 m/s and an effective range of 1000 meters.[34]
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][34] with a PSO-1 scope.[36]
The Mk. II resembles Zastava-based rifles that can take 20-round magazines.[5] It 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.[37]
Mk. II
Pre-2019
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.[23]
Post-2019
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.[38] This variant was publicly shown in 2022 with the Tatmadaw with a telescopic stock and 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]
The new Mk II magazine is based on the South African polymer Vektor R4 magazine.[22] The black moulds used in the newer Mk II variants were allegedly based on moulding materials provided by CAA Industries.[39]
By the Myanmar Civil War of 2021, all Mk. I variants were replaced by the Mk. II.[citation needed]
A variant of the MA1 Mk II known as T1 was seen in the hands of Myanmar Army soldiers since December 2025.[40] Small numbers of them were captured by various rebel forces.[41][42][43]
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