The US Department of Defense recently shared some photographs of a shipment of M4-pattern 5.56×45mm self-loading rifles arriving at Camp Taji, a base approximately 27km (17 mi) north of Baghdad, which is home to the Qwat al Khasah, the Iraqi Special Forces. From the photographs shared by Department of Defense the M4-pattern rifles appear to have been manufactured by Remington Defense. These rifles are designated the R4 by Remington Defense and follow the basic M4 MILSPEC pattern, with an adjustable buttstock, a quad-rail forend and are select fire.
From the photographs we can see that the large shipment of carbines were shipped in boxes marked with Remington’s logo and one of the weapon’s being examined clearly has the Remington Defense marker’s mark on its lower receiver.
Here’s the technical specification for the R4 (as per Remington):
| CALIBER | 5.56×45mm NATO / .223 Remington |
|---|---|
| FIRE-CONTROL | Semi and Full Auto |
| TRIGGER | 2 stage M4/M16, full auto, 5.5-8.5 lbs |
| BARREL LENGTH | 14.5″ |
| TWIST | 1:7 |
| BARREL MATERIAL | Hammer Forged Carbon Steel |
| STOCK | 6-position collapsible |
| FOREND | Quad 1913 Picatinny Rail |
| SIGHTS | Rear – Flip up aperture or carrying handle sight | Front – Post on fixed A-frame |
| MAGAZINE | 30rd |
| WEIGHT | 7.28 lbs |
| LENGTH | Stock extended – 34.75” (882.65 mm) | Stock retracted – 30.75” (781.05 mm) |
In addition to being under contract for Foreign Military Sales with the US Army, it is also used by the Philippine National Army and Marine Corps.
The US Department of Defense awarded the FMS contract to Remington, along with similar contracts to Colt, FN and Daniel Defense, in July 2018. Here’s the Department of Defense contract award notice, as posted on the 13 July, 2018:
Colt’s Manufacturing, West Hartford, Connecticut (W15QKN-18-D-0105); Daniel Defense,* Black Creek, Georgia (W15QKN-18-D-0106); FN America, Columbia, South Carolina (W15QKN-18-D-0107); and Remington Arms Co., Ilion, New York (W15QKN-18-D-0108), will compete for each order of the $28,482,840 firm-fixed-price contract to fabricate, locate, procure, or otherwise provide 5.56MM North Atlantic Treaty Organization commercial off-the-shelf carbines. Four bids were solicited with four bids received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of July 13, 2019. U.S. Army Contracting Command, New Jersey, is the contracting activity.
The shipment arriving at Qwat al Khasah appears to include several trucks carrying multiple pallet loads of the boxed Remington R4 rifles, while it is difficult to make out the shipment probably contains over 500 rifles.
Sources:
‘Special Forces of Iraq gear up for increased activity’, DVIDS, 03/25/20, <https://www.dvidshub.net/image/6154117/special-forces-iraq-gear-up-increased-activity>
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