Caracal CAR 816
The CAR 816, also called Caracal Sultan or simply Sultan, is a 5.56×45mm NATO, gas-operated, magazine-fed assault rifle that is produced by Caracal International in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Also recorded as CAR 816 · Caracal Sultan · Sultan
Caracal CAR 816

Wikiemirati · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Name
- Caliber 5.56 mm, CAR 816
- Field
- assault rifle
- Region
- United Arab Emirates
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Documentary summary
The CAR 816, also called Caracal Sultan or simply Sultan, is a 5.56×45mm NATO, gas-operated, magazine-fed assault rifle that is produced by Caracal International in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
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In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Caliber 5.56 mm, CAR 816 • Origin — United Arab Emirates • Type — Assault rifle, Carbine, Personal defense weapon • Is Ranged — yes • Service — 2014–present • Used By — See Users below • Wars — Saudi-led intervention in Yemen • Manufacturer — Caracal International PC 816 V1: Pindad • Production Date — 2014–present • Variants — See #Variants • Weight — 3.4 kg 406 mm barrel 3.3 kg 368 mm barrel 3.05 kg 267 mm barrel 2.92 kg 191 mm barrel • Length — 925 - 406 mm barrel 887 - 368 mm barrel 778 - 267 mm barrel 709 - 191 mm barrel • Part Length — 406 mm 368 mm 267 mm 191 mm • Cartridge — 5.56×45mm NATO • Caliber — 5.56 mm (.223 in) • Action — Short-stroke piston, rotating bolt • Barrels — 1 • Rate — 800 rounds/minute • Velocity — 850 m/s 406 mm barrel • Range — 550 m 406 mm barrel • Feed — 30-round detachable STANAG magazine • Sights — Iron sights or various optics
History
History
The Caracal CAR 816 shares lineage to the Heckler & Koch HK416. On 5 March 2021, Caracal International LLC and PT Pindad Indonesia signed a partnership for joint-production of CAR 816 for the Indonesian military.
Design
Design
The CAR 816 is based on the AR-15 platform ergonomic architecture, but uses a short-stroke gas piston operating system (unlike the AR-15's piston-operated gas impingement system) with a user-adjustable gas system.
Feeding
Feeding
The CAR 816 features a Draft STANAG 4179 compliant magazine well and is fed with STANAG magazines with a standard capacity of 30 rounds. Other STANAG compatible box and drum magazines can be used.
Operation
Operation
The CAR 816 uses a proprietary bolt carrier and a special tungsten granules containing buffer to manage bolt carrier bounce and soften recoil. The CAR 816's chamber is modified, so the rifle is over-the-beach capable to let the rifle fire safely as quickly as possible after being submerged in water. With the help of the three position regulator (normal, adverse conditions and suppressor/silencer settings), the gas system can be adjusted to function reliably with various propellant, projectile, fouling, operating environment and configuration specific pressure behavior. The CAR 816 uses a mil-spec direct trigger. The selector settings are: safe, semi-automatic fire and automatic fire.
Ergonomics
Ergonomics
The CAR 816 handguard features four Picatinny rails, allowing direct accessory attachment onto the mounting points, and can be removed without tools. The CAR 816 basic version features rail mounted flip up rear and front iron sights. The integrated rail on the upper receiver and its continuation on the handguard at the 12 o'clock position allows for the adaptation of various aiming optics. The shoulder stock is a telescoping 6 position type stock which is adjustable for length of pull.
Interoperability with M4
Interoperability with M4
The CAR 816 shares most components with the M4 arms family, with a few exceptions. The M4 carbine profile hammer forged chrome lined barrel has a 178 mm twist rate and features a standard A2-style flash suppressor at its muzzle end. All lower receiver components are interchangeable with the M4 arms family. The amount of movement between the upper and lower receiver is minimized by a tension tube. Due to their complete manufacture in the United Arab Emirates, the arms are not subject to United States’ imposed International Traffic in Arms Regulations, whilst sharing most components with the M4 arms family extensively used by the US Armed Forces.
Current users
Current users
• Ethiopia - carbine variant used by the Republican Guard. • Indonesia - PC 816 V1 in used with Kopassus, Kostrad and the Indonesian Marine Corps • United Arab Emirates - 80,000 assault rifles for the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces
Failed bids
Failed bids
• India: 93,895 carbines ordered in September 2018. The order was cancelled in September 2020 in favour of domestically developed carbines under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Later that month Caracal offered to manufacture the weapons in India. In 2022, Caracal responded to a tender for procurement of 4.25 lakh carbines for Indian Armed Forces. • South Korea - Considered by Dasan Machineries as a candidate to replace the Daewoo Precision Industries K1 used by the Republic of Korea Army Special Warfare Command. Instead, Dasan Machineries submitted the DSAR-15PC as a domestic design became a tender requirement.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Caracal CAR 816 SPECIFICATIONS. caracal.ae.
- 2.Defence Security Asia. Is the Malaysian Army on the Verge of Adopting the CAR 816 Rifle ??. 23 July 2023.
- 3.Caracal Wins India 5.56mm Rifle Contract. Small Arms Solutions, LLC.
- 4.israelifirepower.com. Global Arms: Car816 assault rifle – UAE's lethal desert killer.
- 5.The Sig MCX Multi Caliber Carbine: A Proper Way to Design an External Piston AR - Small Arms Review. September 2016.
- 6.Caracal Wins India 5.56mm Rifle Contract - Small Arms Solutions. October 2018.
- 7.Pindad. PT. Pindad (Persero) - Disaksikan Menhan, Menkomarves & Menteri Energi dan Infrastruktur UEA, Pindad Tandatangani Perjanjia. www.pindad.com. March 2021.
- 8.sadefensejournal.com. The Caracal CAR816: The New Desert Assault Rifle. 2016-09-02.
- 9.Mitzer, Stijn. Emirati Small Arms in Ethiopia. Oryx Blog. 4 October 2021.
- 10.Hunk47 (@Hunk471) on X.
- 11.Farmer, John. Garuda Shield holds annual exercise between the Indonesian National Armed Forces and U.S. Military. dvidshub.net. 30 August 2025.
- 12.Yarborough, Justin. Super Garuda Shield 25- Airborne Jump into Baturaja, Indonesia. dvidshub.net. 26 August 2025.
- 13.Gladi bersih HUT ke-80 TNI ANTARA Foto. antarafoto.com. 3 October 2025.
- 14.BRIGADE MARINIR TNI AL RAIH JUARA III PARADE DAN DEFILE PADA UPACARA HUT KE 80 TNI. pasmar1.tnial.mil.id. 5 October 2025.
- 15.Gulf News. UAE firearms manufacturer Caracal sees huge growth potential. 26 February 2015.
- 16.Pubby, Manu. Carbines, Anti Air Systems for Indian Army to be made in India after MoD cancels import. The Economic Times.
- 17.Arun, Matthew. UAE's Caracal Offers to Manufacture CAR 816 Assault Rifles in India. DefPost Dead link. July 2025.
- 18.Pubby, Manu. UAE firm selected for carbines in talks with Indian defence majors to set up plant. The Economic Times.
- 19.Can the Govt's Latest Effort to Acquire Crucial Carbines Pay Off After Multiple Failed Attempts?. thewire.in.
- 20.UAE based Caracal back in race, responds to Indian Army tenders. Financialexpress. 2022-11-08.
- 21.생산제품
- 22.office_zzam. South Korea Special Forces select Dasan Machineries DSAR-15P as future. www.armyrecognition.com. 2020-06-16.
- 23.DASAN MACHINERIES CO., LTD. www.da-san.co.kr.
- 24.Hong, Heebum. Show Report: ADEX 2023 – Small Arms Defense Journal. sadefensejournal.com. 11 December 2023.
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