LMT R-20 Rahe

The LMT R-20 Rahe (lit. 'Hail')^[1] is an assault rifle chambered for the 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge.^[2] It is specially designed and manufactured for the needs of the Estonian Defense Forces (EDF) by Lewis Machine & Tool Company.^[3]

LMT R-20 Rahe
The R-20 slung on an Estonian soldier's shoulder.
Type	Assault rifle
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	2020–present
Wars	Mali War
Production history
Designer	Lewis Machine & Tool Company
Manufacturer	Lewis Machine & Tool Company
Produced	2019–present
No. built	19,000
Variants	See Variants
Specifications
Mass	3.15 kg (6.94 lb) 3.32 kg (7.32 lb) 4.25 kg (9.37 lb)
Length	814 mm (32.0 in) stock extended/ 732 mm (28.8 in) stock folded 891 mm (35.1 in) stock extended/ 808 mm (31.8 in) stock folded 984 mm (38.7 in) stock extended/ 902 mm (35.5 in) stock folded
Barrel length	310 mm (12.2 in) 362.22 mm (14.3 in) 411 mm (16.2 in)
Cartridge	5.56×45mm NATO 7.62×51mm NATO
Action	Gas-operated, rotating bolt (internal piston, not direct impingement) or Short-stroke piston
Rate of fire	700 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity	850 m/s (2,789 ft/s) 900 m/s (2,953 ft/s) 750 m/s (2,461 ft/s)
Effective firing range	500 metres (550 yd)
Feed system	5.56×45mm NATO: 30-round detachable box magazine 7.62×51mm NATO 20-round detachable box magazine

History

Plans were made from 2017 to replace the Galil and the Ak4 in Estonian service.^[1] Among the rifles that competed included the HK416, the SIG Sauer 716 and the LMT MARS.^[1]

Representatives from LMT and the Defense Investment Center signed an agreement on July 2, 2019 to allow Estonia to purchase the new rifles under a €75 million contract.^[4]

The EDF awarded the contract to LMT for the Rahe with initial deliveries made by 2019 for the assault rifles and accessories,^[5] Deliveries were scheduled to be done by 2021 with an option from the company for future modernisation over the next 20 years.^[5] though most Rahes were delivered in 2022.^[3]

The Rahes were fully delivered by 2023.^[1] Milrem LCM and Visible Assets was chosen by LMT to serve as their Estonian partner to help with logistical support.^[5]

Design

Main article: Modular Ambidextrous Rifle System

The standard barrel length of the R-20 is 14.3 in (363 mm), but a 12 in (305 mm) variant designated the R-20 S is also produced.^[6][7]

A modified trigger design allows the trigger safety to be engaged without the hammer being cocked, which is not possible on a standard AR-15 pattern rifle.^[8]

The rifles were ordered with a Shot Counter Grip Module housed within the pistol grip to track parts wear and ammunition consumption with objective digital data. The accompanying reader unit can provide armorers with diagnostic maintenance warnings.^[9]

Variants

Rahe R-20 S

The Rahe R-20 S, the S referring to Short, is a shortened version of Rahe R-20 5.56×45mm NATO series with the barrel length 310 millimeters.^[10] The Rahe Short is designed for urban battles and trenches.

Rahe R-20

The Rahe R-20 is the 5.56×45mm NATO assault rifle and the most common version of the R-20 series used by the Estonian Defence Forces and Estonian Defence League.

Rahe R-20 L

The long 7.62×51mm version of R-20

The Rahe R-20 L, the L referring to Long is a 7.62×51mm NATO precision rifle, based on the MARS-H.^[10] Rahe R-20 L uses a 20-round detachable box magazine. It is also possible to mount telescopic sight and bayonet onto it.

Estonia R20 RAHE Reference Rifle

For civilian customers LMT offers the semi-automatic only Estonia R20 RAHE Reference Rifle in its model range.^[11]

Deployment

The R-20 Rahe replaced the IMI Galil and Automatkarbin 4 rifles in the Estonian Defence Forces equipment, the latter rifles being stored for reserve use.^[12][13]

The new Rahe rifles were used in Mali by the Estonian Defence Forces.^[14]

Users

Estonian soldier with Rahe R20

• Estonia
  • Estonian Defence Forces
  • Estonian Defence League^[12]