Although it was subsequently replaced by the Galil assault rifle in regular Israeli military service, the Uzi submachine gun, created in Israel in 1954, is a durable and iconic weapon with significant export success.
The Uzi submachine gun was designed in Israel in 1954 by engineer officer Capt. Uziel Gal, commissioned by Israel Military Industries to create a new SMG for the Israel Defense Forces. It was inspired by the Czech CZ 25 and was made to be cheap to produce, easy to fire, simple to service, and dependable. The Uzi proved to be ideal for urban and close-quarters combat and achieved major export success. While it was eventually replaced by the 5.56mm Galil assault rifle in regular Israeli military service, it continued to be used by special forces, armored crews, and auxiliary services until the 2000s and is still sold on international markets. The weapon’s pistol grip and magazine housing make it well-balanced and easy to reload, and an additional safety feature requires the grip hand to depress a button before the weapon will fire.
