Leaning Westward: Galils for Estonia
This video delves into the history of the Galil rifle's adoption and service by the Estonian military. Following their independence in 1991, Estonia sought a standardized rifle chambered in 5.56mm NATO to align with NATO standards. A tender in 1994 led to offers from Vektor (South Africa) and IMI (Israel), with Estonia ultimately purchasing approximately 12,000 Galils from IMI, including both full-length AR types and compact SAR carbines. These rifles served as primary infantry weapons and were issued during deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2008, the Galils underwent significant modernization with upgrades like quad-rail handguards, Aimpoint optics, and custom charging handle extensions. They remained Estonia's service rifle until the adoption of the LMT R20 in 2019. The video thanks the Estonian Defense Forces Supply Battalion for providing access.














