ROBOTECH Technical Files
by Pieter Thomassen, with Peter Walker, Chris Meadows and Robert Morgenstern

Designation:

Armelite/Colt
AR-21 5.56mm Assault Rifle

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AR-21 Rifle
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Rick Hunter with AR-21
An RDF recruit crawls with an AR-21 rifle during a training exercise.

The AR-21 was developed in the years after the arrival of the SDF-1, to serve the new United Earth Government in the capacity of a replacement for the multitude of 5.56mm NATO rifles. The AR-21 was often overshadowed in development by innovative bullpup designs, but was found to be the most accurate, rugged, and light by the appropriations board. The AR-21's most interesting features include a magazine that lies flush with the trigger grip, easing fire while prone. To accommodate this, the ammunition in the magazine points upward, rather than forward, requiring a unique rotating feed mechanism. Though some parties considered the AR-21 overcomplex, it was a popular rifle, and served with distinction until replaced by the Wolverine in the 2020s.

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Robotech (R) is the property of Harmony Gold. This document is in no way intended to infringe upon their rights.

Content by Peter Walker and Pieter Thomassen, with Chris Meadows and Rob Morgenstern
HTML by Robert Morgenstern (rmorgens@ieee.org)
Copyright © 2006, 1999, 1997 Robert Morgenstern, Pieter Thomassen, Peter Walker