POTD: Beretta ARX160 - U.S. and Italian Naval Forces

Eric B
by Eric B

Photo Of The Day and we take a look at the Beretta ARX160 in action. Here it can be seen aboard the U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey (DDG 105) during a visit, board, search and seizure drill in the Philippine Sea, 2024. The Beretta ARX160 was developed for the Italian Armed Forces as part of the "Soldato Futuro" project and was launched in 2008. Fast forward to 2024, and it still looks modern.

Below: Conducting weapon familiarization training on the M4 carbine with Italians. Is the ARX160 40 times better? Do you think they prefer the ARX160 over the M4, or not? For some reason, soldiers have a tendency to hate whatever rifle they’ve been given and always think the grass is greener somewhere else.


Source: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Greg Johnson.

Eric B
Eric B

Ex-Arctic Ranger. Competitive practical shooter and hunter with a European focus. Always ready to increase my collection of modern semi-automatics, optics, thermals and suppressors. TCCC Certified. Occasionaly seen in a 6x6 Bug Out Vehicle, always with a big smile.

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  • HemngwaysBeard HemngwaysBeard on Aug 30, 2024

    It’s too bad Beretta abandoned the ARX platform. The system had so much potential.

    • TJ102 TJ102 on Sep 03, 2024

      I think after only gaining domestic contracts and then never winning any major international ones (generally losing out to AR based platforms) the writing was on the wall for the ARX platform in a military service rifle context. Beretta looks to want to squeeze what they can out of 'life of type' support with the ARX to the Italian military and a minor civilian market sale but cut their loses and target what the market is asking for.

      A lot of the marketing points they pushed initially may have been cool little features like the quick release barrel and the ability to eject from both sides wasn't something user had specifically asked for in a system. Simplification and accuracy is probably why a lot of these features were dropped on the later ARX200.


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