Common ASEAN military weapons to be used in 26th AARM competition

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 25): Common ASEAN military weapons to be used in 26th AARM competition

Infantry weapons, widely used by Southeast Asian militaries, will be used in the upcoming ASEAN Armies Rifle Meet on Nov. 28.

"Weapons (that will be) used by Army shooters for this AARM 2016 are the 7.62mm machine gun, 5.56mm M-16 automatic rifle, 5.56mm carbine rifle and 9mm pistol," Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) public affairs office chief Capt. Alberto Caber in a interview with PNA Friday.

The weapons were selected for "commonality" as the militaries of the 10-member ASEAN are familiar and adept with these weapons, he added.

"The said weapons are widely used by the respective state member Armies," Caber added.

The shooting area, which will be used in the Nov. 28 to Dec.7 AARM competition, is owned and maintained by TRADOC with headquarters in Capas, Tarlac.

At present, the AARM is divided into five competing events namely pistols for men, pistol for ladies, carbine, rifle, and machine gun.

Around 600 marksmen will participate in this annual shooting event.

"The machine gunner has an assistant gunner who is also the armorer. It is a heavy weapon, has a tripod, to establish better firing position used by foot soldiers during security operations," Caber said.

The difference between the 5.56mm M-16 and 5.56mm carbine rifle is the length of the barrel. The former is measured 20 inches while the latter is 16.5 inches, otherwise called as "Baby Armalite".

"9mm pistols are agreed by the Army shooters to be the handgun of the ARMM 2016. For the Philippine Army shooters, participating in this event, 9mm pistols are ARMSCOR made," Caber added.

ASEAN is composed of Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Brunei Darussalam, the Philippines, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=943168