The primary weapons for infantry soldiers in the modern army are pistols, assault/sniper rifles, shotguns, and grenade launchers. All are multipurpose firearms with selectable firing modes, using a variety of medium-caliber ammunition designed to engage targets at typical combat ranges (about 400 meters). They offer a balance of firepower, portability, and reliability across diverse combat scenarios, becoming the standard infantry weapons worldwide, including for the Thai Army infantry.
Pistols
Semi-automatic pistol Fabbrica d’Armi Pietro Beretta Beretta 92F (9 x 19 mm caliber)
The Beretta 92 is an officer’s sidearm with an external holster. It is known for reliable operation and lighter weight compared to all-steel pistols. Its drawbacks include a stiff trigger and a rather thick grip that can be uncomfortable for small hands, which can be improved by replacing it with a thinner factory grip sleeve.
Semi-automatic pistol Colt/Royal Thai Army Ordnance Department M1911/M1911A1 (.45 inch caliber)
The semi-automatic Colt M1911/M1911A1 in .45 inch caliber is a legendary pistol formerly used by Thai Army and Navy forces. Designed by John Browning and produced by Colt Firearms since 1911, it fires .45 ACP (11 mm) rounds. It is renowned for durability and stopping power, with many variants, and remains popular among civilian and government users, including military and official agencies.
Semi-automatic pistol Colt Government Mk IV (.45 inch caliber)
The Colt Government Mk IV in .45 inch caliber is a semi-automatic pistol developed as a continuation of the M1911 family. It uses .45 ACP rounds and is noted for accuracy and reliability. The Gold Cup National Match Series 80 Mk IV is widely recognized for precision and favored by marksmen. Though its design is older than modern pistols, it remains in demand and well-regarded.
Semi-automatic pistol Royal Thai Army Ordnance Department Star Bonifacio Echeverria model M mod (.45 inch caliber)
The semi-automatic pistol Ordnance Department Star Bonifacio Echeverria model M mod in .45 inch caliber was produced by Star Firearms (Star Bonifacio Echeverria S.A.) of Spain. The Model M is a .45 ACP pistol resembling the M1911 but with a distinctive design. It is known for durability and accuracy, commonly used by police and military units in various countries, and is of interest to collectors.
Shotguns
Shotgun Rossi USA Rossi single shot (12 gauge)
The Rossi Single Shot 12 gauge shotgun is a simple, durable, and cost-effective break-action shotgun. It is suitable for hunters and target shooters seeking a reliable, easy-to-use firearm. Available in both long barrels (for hunting) and short barrels (for self-defense), it usually features a steel barrel and frame with a wooden or polymer stock.
Shotgun Remington Arms Model 870 (12 gauge)
The Remington Model 870 12 gauge is a pump-action shotgun made by Remington Arms Company. It is a versatile firearm widely used for hunting, sport shooting, self-defense, and law enforcement. Known for durability and reliability, it can use a variety of 12 gauge ammunition and feeds from an internal tubular magazine.
Long guns
Long rifle Heckler and Koch HK33/HK33A1 (5.56 x 45 mm)
The Heckler & Koch HK33/HK33A1 is a 5.56x45mm NATO assault rifle developed from the German G3 rifle. It is in service with Thai and Malaysian infantry. Using 5.56mm rounds like the M16, it operates on a delayed blowback system, which leaves characteristic marks on spent casings. It is popular with military and police units and favored in military training.
Long rifle Colt M16A1/A2 (5.56 x 45 mm)
The M16 light machine gun was developed by the U.S. Army in the 1950s and first used in the Vietnam War. Originally designed and produced by Armalite in 1958 as the AR-15, it became a popular semi-automatic rifle in the U.S., resembling today's M16. After Armalite sold the AR-15 design to Colt Firearms, the rifle was developed into the M16 and adopted by the U.S. Air Force in 1964. The Army later developed the XM16E1 variant with a forward assist assembly, adopting it in 1967 as the US Rifle, 5.56mm, M16A1. Variants similar to the M16 have since been produced worldwide.
Long rifle Colt M16A4 (5.56 x 45 mm)
In 1994, Colt further improved the M16A2 with the A3 and A4 variants. The M16A3 can fire in semi-automatic and fully automatic modes. The M16A4 fires semi-automatic and three-round burst modes. The A4 externally resembles the A2 and A3 but features a removable carry handle (flat top receiver) allowing Picatinny rail mounting for accessories, unlike the fixed carry handles on the A2 and A3 models.
Long rifle Israeli Weapons Industries Tavor TAR-21 (5.56 x 45 mm)
The IWI Tavor, originally called the Tavor TAR-21 (TAR meaning "21st Century"), is an Israeli bullpup assault rifle chambered in 5.56×45 mm NATO. Designed and manufactured by Israel Weapon Industries (IWI), it is part of the Tavor rifle family, which has evolved into various configurations from the original design.
Semi-automatic sniper rifle Knights Armament SR-25 (7.62 x 51 mm)
The SR-25 sniper rifle from Knight's Armament, with 'SR' standing for Stoner's Rifle, resembles an M16 but is larger, sharing over 60% of parts. It is compatible with M16 components. Designed to fulfill sniper roles like protecting troops through rapid, accurate fire against unseen targets, it overcomes limitations of bolt-action rifles, which reload slowly. The SR-25 is highly regarded for accuracy and durability. Its AR15/M16-like design allows quick firing and magazine changes. It uses 7.62x51 mm NATO ammunition with 10 or 20-round magazines. There are two models: the standard SR-25 with M16 stock and the SR-25K (Carbine) with an adjustable M4-style stock.
Long rifle NARAC556
The NARAC556 is developed and improved from the Colt AR-15 family of rifles used by the Thai Army, Navy, Air Force, and National Police in various models such as the M16A1, M16A2, M16A4, Colt Commando (CAR-15), and M4. It operates with a short-stroke gas piston system, featuring a rotary selector for firing modes, a free-floating upper barrel assembly, and a standard AR-15 lower receiver. It accepts 5.56 mm NATO magazines with a 30-round capacity. The fire selector has three positions: safe, semi-automatic, and fully automatic. Controls for magazine release and bolt catch are ambidextrous. It is robust, weather-resistant, lightweight (2.9 kg unloaded), with low recoil, accurate, and agile. About 80% of its parts are produced in Thailand. Sixteen prototype rifles passed testing by the Ministry of Defense's Ordnance Equipment Standards Committee, including durability tests with over 6,000 rounds fired. The Ministry procured models with 20" and 14.5" barrels, entering service as the MOD 963 rifle and MOD 963 AR assault rifle, respectively.
Semi-automatic sniper rifle Israeli Weapons Industries Galil Sniper (Galatz) (7.62 x 51 mm)
The GALIL rifle was originally developed to use NATO 7.62mm ammunition but later evolved into four versions (ARM, AR, SAR, Micro) chambered in 5.56 mm. The latest GALIL model capable of using NATO 7.62mm rounds was developed as the GALATZ 7.62mm sniper rifle.
Bolt-action sniper rifle SIG-Sauer SSG 3000 (7.62 x 51 mm)
The SIG-Sauer SSG 3000 sniper rifle was designed and manufactured by SIG Sauer in 1992 for military and law enforcement use. It comes in older and newer models; the older has ventilation holes on the body, while the newer does not. The rifle is made of lightweight polymer plastic, with an adjustable cheek rest and a grip sized for comfortable handling. The safety switch can be quickly changed. The bolt operates smoothly without jamming. The rifle is easy to assemble and can be fitted with optics and a bipod.
Machine guns
Light machine gun Fabrique Nationale M249 (5.56 x 45 mm)
The Fabrique Nationale M249 (5.56 mm), also known as the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW), is the U.S. military's standard light machine gun. Developed from Belgium's FN Minimi, it uses 5.56x45 mm NATO rounds. It is a gas-operated, lightweight, and powerful automatic weapon supporting infantry fire. Variants include M249 Para, SPW, and Mk 46, customized for special forces.
Light machine gun Fabrique Nationale Minimi (5.56 x 45 mm)
The FN Minimi (Fabrique Nationale Minimi) is a 5.56x45 mm light machine gun developed by FN Herstal of Belgium. Designed by Ernest Vervier and introduced in the late 1970s, it is widely known as the M249 SAW in the U.S. military. It is valued for reliability, light weight, and the ability to feed ammunition from both belts and magazines, providing effective automatic support fire for small infantry units.
Light machine gun Israeli Weapons Industries Negev (5.56 x 45 mm)
The IWI Negev light machine gun chambered in 5.56x45 mm is produced by Israeli Weapons Industries (IWI). It emphasizes mobility and primarily uses 5.56x45 mm NATO rounds. It can be belt-fed from M27 boxes (150 or 200 rounds) or magazine-fed from 30-round STANAG magazines or Galil magazines. The feeding mechanism allows ammunition input from the left belt feed and magazine from the receiver base, providing flexible ammo loading options for infantry.
Grenade launchers
Grenade launcher US Army Springfield Armory M79 (40 mm)
The M79 is a 40 mm grenade launcher with origins dating back to post-World War II and the Cold War era. The U.S. Army developed it to fill the gap between hand-thrown grenades, which could only be thrown a few dozen meters, and the 60 mm mortar, which has longer range but is less mobile because it is fired from a fixed position. The 40 mm grenade launcher fires rounds approximately 15-30 meters, with impact fuzes designed to detonate upon hitting a target, enhancing user safety compared to hand grenades, which arm after a delay once the safety pin is removed. This reduces risk to the user, especially new soldiers.
Grenade launcher mounted on Colt M4 rifle M203 (40 mm)
The Colt M203 40 mm is an under-barrel grenade launcher that is lightweight and single-shot. It fires tactical support munitions and is attached to rifles like the M16 or M4. It accepts various ammunition types, including fragmentation, buckshot, smoke, and illumination rounds. The M203 is a pump-action launcher with a separate trigger and sights designed by AAI to work with the M16 front sight for aiming. It is a short-range weapon typically fired in an arcing trajectory for targets at medium distances. The U.S. ordered 600 XM203 units for Vietnam War trials. Accepted into service in 1969, it has similar range and blast radius as the M79 but weighs half as much. A skilled operator can fire 36 rounds in under three minutes, providing potent firepower for small infantry units to decisively suppress enemies.