By: Friedrich Seiltgen
Copyright © 2024
ABOUT BERETTA
In 1526, Mastro Bartolomeo Beretta (1490 – 1565/68) of Gardone received 296 ducats as payment for 185 arquebus barrels sold to the Arsenal of Venice.
The highly discriminating Republic of Venice chose Beretta products because of their excellence. As the Beretta name became synonymous with uncompromising quality, design, materials, construction, and performance, word spread beyond the Italian borders, establishing a tradition that has carried over, uninterrupted, through fifteen generations of Berettas.
The trade secrets and attention to detail that Jacopo (1520/25 – …) inherited from his father Bartolomeo were passed on to his son Giovannino (1550 – post-1577), then to his grandson Giovan Antonio (1577 – post-1649) – on and on from one century to the next.
In the early 1800s, Pietro Antonio Beretta (1791 – 1853), despite difficulties arising from constant wars and foreign domination, traveled throughout Italy to demonstrate the superior quality of his products and collect orders. Pietro Antonio’s son Giuseppe (1840 – 1903) continued the arduous effort begun by his father, creating new opportunities for the company through international distribution.
In the early 1900s, Pietro (1870 – 1957) took the company reins, introducing modernized manufacturing methods, many patents for mechanisms, and simplified construction, consequently establishing Beretta, the first Italian firearms maker, as one of the most modern firearms production facilities in the world. The sons Giuseppe (1906 – 1993) and Carlo (1908 – 1984) continued the modernization process, securing the company’s multinational character with commercial and production activity in numerous European countries and the United States. These efforts created successful military, law enforcement, and private ventures.
Today, under the leadership of Ugo Gussalli Beretta and his sons Pietro and Franco, Beretta embarks on the 3rd Millennium with the benefit of centuries of experience. That experience, combined with investments in technology, organization, and growing product lines, has prepared Beretta for the demands of the 21st-century global market. Quality Without Compromise. This core value of total commitment to quality was established by Bartolomeo Beretta almost five centuries ago and continues to be the bedrock of Beretta today.
THE NARP
“We are excited to launch our New Assault Rifle Platform and offer our military customers a product that is specifically designed for their needs. Thanks to close interaction with elite forces, we designed a weapon with unparalleled performance that marks an important step forward in the evolution not only of Beretta’s Defense department but in the entire defense industry. This product is a valuable tool that can help our customers stay safe and mission-ready” ~ Carlo Ferlito, CEO and GM at Beretta Italy and VP of Beretta Defense Technologies (BDT).
The Beretta NARP results from direct input from Italian Special Forces units. While the NARP features the ergonomics of the AR-15, it is not an AR pattern rifle. Introduced in three variants, the NARP will be the first step of a completely new portfolio of battle weapons.
THE RECEIVER & FURNITURE
Unlike the Beretta AR-160, the upper and lower receivers are 7075 aluminum, and there is a long STANAG 4694 mounting rail on top of the upper receiver with room for optics. It is designed for ambidextrous handling with controls on both the left and right sides. The rifle is finished with Cerakote.
The telescopic buttstock is M4 compatible, and a folding stock version will be available. Unlike the AR pattern rifle, the NARP’s recoil spring is in the upper receiver, which allows a full range of buttstocks to be fitted.
The modular, lightweight handguard is equipped with M-LOK interfaces for lights and lasers and can be removed quickly by a single latch on the right-hand side. The gas system can also be stripped quickly.
The proprietary freestanding pistol grip can be mounted at various angles on the lower and is also M4 compatible.
THE BOLT & BARREL
It is equipped with a prismatic bolt carrier with a rotating bolt system, which minimizes vibration and reduces fouling. The captive bolt group can be removed from the rear of the upper receiver without removing the charging handle.
The NARP uses a highly reliable short-stroke gas system, which is crucial for military applications. It has a 2-position (normal and suppressed) adjustable gas port that can be accessed through the window cutout in the forend.
The barrel lengths are 11.5″, 14.5″ or 16 inches, with a newly designed 3-prong muzzle device to reduce flash signature. Some configurations will be equipped with Beretta-designed and manufactured 3D-printed Inconel B-Silent suppressors.
SPECIFICATIONS
Type: Short Stroke, Gas Piston
Caliber: 5.56 x 45mm
Magazine Capacity: 30 Rounds
Sights: None, STANAG Rail
Barrel Length: 11.5″, 14.5″ or 16 Inches
Overall Length: 35 Inches
Weight: 7 Pounds
MSRP: N/A
URL: www.beretta.com
THE VERDICT
The NARP, with design input from the Special Operations troops, promises to be a hit. Future additions include 300 BLK and 6.5 Creedmoor, other barrel lengths, possibly a burst group fire control unit, and a civilian version soon.
That’s all for now, folks! Please keep sending in your questions, tips, and article ideas. And as always – “Let’s Be Careful Out There.”
Friedrich Seiltgen is a retired Master Police Officer with 20 years of service with the Orlando Police Department. He conducts training in Lone Wolf Terrorism Counterstrategies, Firearms, and Active Shooter Response. His writing has appeared in RECOIL, Soldier of Fortune, The Counter Terrorist Magazine, Off Grid, American Thinker, Homeland Security Today, and The Journal of Counterterrorism & Homeland Security International.
Contact him at [email protected].