Development
Development work on a new service rifle (both a standard and carbine variant) adapted to use the intermediate 5.56x45mm NATO cartridge had been undertaken in 1995, however a functioning 5.56 mm rifle and carbine variant had already been available in Radom since 1991, known as the wz. 1991 (a rechambered wz. 1988 Tantal rifle). The new weapon’s specifications were approved in February 1995 and in December the same year, a prototype production batch consisting of 11 Beryl rifles was produced. In 1997 the weapon had been successfully evaluated and adopted into service as the 5,56 mm karabinek szturmowy wz. 1996 ("assault carbine pattern 1996").
The Beryl subsequently became Polish standard rifle. In 2011, there is more than 45,000 in the inventory, which is about half of assault rifles in the Polish Army.
Apart from Poland, 80 Beryls wz.96 and 10 Mini Beryls are used by Lithuania (donated in May 2000 by Poland, including 10 rifles with Pallad grenade launcher). Until 2002/2003 they were equipment of a special forces unit SOJ Aitvaras, operating in Afghanistan.
Read more about this topic: Kbs Wz. 1996 Beryl
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