SR 88

For State Route 88 or State Road 88, see list of highways numbered 88.

The SR 88 (Singapore Rifle 88) is an assault rifle designed and manufactured in Singapore by Chartered Industries of Singapore (CIS, now ST Kinetics).^[1]

SR 88
Type	Assault rifle
Place of origin	Singapore
Service history
In service	1984–2000[1]
Used by	See users
Wars	Bougainville conflict Solomon Islands conflict
Production history
Designer	Chartered Industries of Singapore (CIS, now ST Kinetics)[1]
Designed	1978[1]
Manufacturer	• CIS: 1982–2000[1]
Produced	• SR 88: 1988-1995[1] • SR 88A: 1990-2000[1]
Variants	See variants
Specifications
Mass	• SR 88: 3.68 kg (8.11 lb)[1] • SR 88A/Carbine: 3.7 kg (8.16 lb)[1]
Length	• SR 88: 912 mm (35.9 in)[1] • SR 88A: 960 mm (37.8 in)[1] • SR 88A Carbine: 810 mm (31.9 in)[1]
Barrel length	460 mm (18.1 in)[1]
Cartridge	5.56×45mm NATO[1]
Caliber	5.56 mm (0.22 in)[1]
Barrels	Single barrel (progressive RH parabolic twist, 6 grooves)[1]
Action	Gas-operated long-stroke piston, rotating bolt
Rate of fire	• SR 88: 750 rounds/min[1] • SR 88A: 800 rounds/min[1]
Feed system	30-round STANAG Magazine[1]
Sights	Iron sights[1]

Development

Following the poor sales of the SAR 80, and with their involvement with the Sterling SAR-87, CIS came up with an improved design – the new SR 88. Many of the parts and mechanisms are similar to its predecessor. Later production models were further improved with higher quality materials including a new handguard and buttstock, this version was designated the SR 88A.^[2]

The SR 88A was built in two versions, the standard model and the latest carbine model which is a heavy-duty mil-spec version with a shorter barrel and a retractable butt-stock popularly called today as the "baby ultimax" because of its overall shorter length and function and frame similarities with the Ultimax 100. Its magazine catch will accept a regular M16 magazine and a C-mag which is also used in M16 rifles.^[1]

Design details

It uses long-piston-stroke, gas-operated action with a rotating bolt. The gas piston and gas cylinder are chromium-plated. The gas system features a three position gas regulator – two open positions, for normal and harsh conditions, and one closed for launching of rifle grenades.^[1]

The barrel is equipped with flash hider, which also serves as a rifle grenade launcher. The lower receiver is an aluminium forging, and the upper receiver is made from stamped steel.^[1]

Furniture (stock, pistol grip, handguards) is made from plastic materials. The standard stock is of fixed type, but the SR 88 is also available with a side-folding stock. The side-folding carrying handle is mounted at the forward end of the receiver.^[1]

Variants

SR 88

Standard rifle variant.^[1]

SR 88A

Improved variant of above.^[1]

SR 88A Carbine

Carbine variant for use by paratroopers.^[1]

Users

• Bhutan: Royal Bodyguard of Bhutan^[3]
• Papua New Guinea: Papua New Guinea Defence Force^[4] and Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary with the SR88A.^[5]
  • Bougainville: Used by Bougainville Revolutionary Army. Captured from Papua New Guinea Defence Force.^{[citation needed]}
• Philippines: Philippine Marine Corps Rifles donated by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to the PMC.^[6]
• Singapore: Singapore Armed Forces.^[7]
• Slovenia: Slovenian Armed Forces.^{[citation needed]}
• Solomon Islands: Royal Solomon Islands Police Force^[4]
• Somalia^[8]

See also

• List of 5.56×45mm NATO firearms
• List of assault rifles
• AR-18
• ArmaLite AR-100