Ramat HaSharon, Israel, November 2nd. Israel Weapon Industries (IWI), an SK Group member – a leader in the production of combat-proven small arms for law enforcement agencies, governments, and armies around the world – is launching the MASADA line of Striker-based pistols for military, law enforcement, and civilian markets. The first model, the full size 9X19mm MASADA, will be exhibited at Defense and Security Thailand, Milipol (Paris) France, and Expodefensa Colombia.
According to Shlomi Sabag, IWI’s CEO, “We are proud to launch this new line of pistols – the MASADA – following a development process that took several years, based on requests from our customers. The new Striker-based line places special emphasis on operational safety and simplicity of maintenance, as well as a high level of ergonomics and ease of use. The pistol will be available to our customers from Q1/18.”
The MASADA has several advanced safety mechanisms including a firing pin block safety, a clean and crisp trigger reset with a built-in trigger safety, and a fast, easy and safe takedown – with no need to pull the trigger. The pistol can be provided with or without manual safety. It has an easy racked slide with improved front and rear cocking serrations, enhanced ergonomics with the IWI grip angle, and a low barrel axis for reduced recoil. The body has a glass-reinforced polymer frame as well as a polygonal cold hammer forged barrel with a 1:10RH twist rate.
Additional features include fully ambidextrous operating controls and fixed 3-dot tritium illuminated Meprolight night sights. It offers 100% interchangeability with a compatible trigger mechanism housing, reducing maintenance and life cycle costs. The pistol has an overall length of 6.6″ (186.4mm) with a barrel length of 4.1″ (104mm), and with a trigger pull weighing 5.5-7.0 lbs. (2.5-3.175 kg), and a weight without the magazine of 22.9 ounces (650 g). The MASADA will be available in four colors: Sniper Gray, OD Green, Black, and Flat Dark Earth.
ABOUT IWI
Israel Weapon Industries (IWI), located in the center of Israel, is a world leader in small arms for over 80 years. IWI is a member of the SK Group, which comprises companies that develop and manufacture a wide array of defense products for governmental entities, armies, and law enforcement agencies around the world. IWI’s best-known products include the TAVOR, X95 (MICRO TAVOR), and GALIL ACE Assault Rifles, the GALIL Sniper Rifle, the DAN.338 Bolt Action Sniper Rifle, the NEGEV Light Machine Gun 5.56 & 7.62 mm, the legendary UZI SMG in its latest evolution – UZI PRO, and the JERICHO pistols – which have all been considered weapons of choice by military units and top law enforcement agencies around the world, and the new MASADA Stryker-based pistols. The company’s firearms are developed in close collaboration with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF): IWI and the IDF join forces in developing these weapons, whose final configurations are the product of ongoing interaction, field tests, and modifications, resulting from combat requirements and experience. All IWI weapon systems comply with the most stringent military standards (MIL-STD) and ISO 9000 standards.
ABOUT SK GROUP
SK Group is a privately held technology and innovation holding company specializing in global frontline defense, and paramilitary solutions, marine infrastructures and property development. SK Group provides small arm systems, electro-optic and laser solutions, imaging systems, naval solutions and more. Drawing on Israel’s innovation and field-proven solutions, SK’s companies offer a powerful track record of technology, experience and excellence.
For more information on IWI, please visit: www.iwi.net. Further information about SK Group is available at www.sk-g.net.
I respect the fact that Israel needs to provide its own arms, but … other than that … this story is a major snooze.
I am looking forward to the MASADA and hope to see future joint projects from both IWI and SKgroup.
Here here!