Non-Subscriber Extract
NATO countries finalise plans for a standard rail adaptor system
By Andrew White
20 May 2009
Leading NATO nations have finalised plans for a standard rail adaptor system to replace the United States-designed MIL-STD 1913 Picatinny attachment.
Used to accommodate multiple ancillaries for a variety of infantry weapons ranging from pistols to grenade machine guns, the NATO Accessory Rail (NAR), conforming with the new modernisation agreement STANAG 4694, was approved by the Land Capability Group 1 Dismounted Soldier (LCG1-DS) on 8 May.
It will be forwarded to the NATO Standardisation Agency and then onto individual NATO nations, which will test the NAR system for final ratification. Nations contributing to the development included Canada, Germany, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden and the US.
Designed in conjunction with a number of weapon specialists including Aimpoint, Beretta, Colt Canada, FN Herstal and Heckler & Koch, the NAR system has full compatibility with current US MIL-STD-1913 specifications, also known as the Picatinny rail.