MANILA, Philippines - More than 12,000 brand new rifles delivered to the Army would soon be subjected to ballistic tests.
The 12,657 R4 rifles that arrived from the US last December are part of the 56,843 rifles acquired from the American firm Remington, Army spokesman Col. Benjamin Hao said yesterday.
“This is a world class rifle and our troops are proud to have these things,” he said. “This weapon will help us. It is lighter but more powerful.”
Of the 56,843 R4 rifles purchased from Remington, 24,300 have been distributed to Army units and 19,866 are undergoing ballistic tests. Rifles must undergo tests before they are turned over to troops, Hao said.
The 12,657 rifles delivered last month and the 19,866 rifles undergoing tests would be distributed to soldiers within the year, he added.
Soldiers receiving M4 rifles would turn over their old M16 rifles, which will then be distributed to reservists and government militias.