LMT R-20 Rahe

LMT R-20 Rahe
The R-20 slung on an Estonian soldier's shoulder.
TypeAssault rifle
Designated marksman rifle (R-20 L)
Place of originUnited States/Estonia
Service history
In service2020–present
Wars
Production history
DesignerLewis Machine & Tool Company
ManufacturerLewis Machine & Tool Company
Produced2019–present
No. built19,000
VariantsSee Variants
Specifications
Mass
  • 3.15 kg (6.94 lb)
  • 3.32 kg (7.32 lb)
  • 4.25 kg (9.37 lb)
Length
  • 814 mm (32.0 in) stock extended/ 732 mm (28.8 in) stock folded
  • 891 mm (35.1 in) stock extended/ 808 mm (31.8 in) stock folded
  • 984 mm (38.7 in) stock extended/ 902 mm (35.5 in) stock folded
Barrel length
  • 310 mm (12.2 in)
  • 362.22 mm (14.3 in)
  • 411 mm (16.2 in)
Cartridge5.56×45mm NATO
7.62×51mm NATO
ActionGas-operated, rotating bolt (internal piston, not direct impingement)
or Short-stroke piston
Rate of fire700 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity
  • 850 m/s (2,789 ft/s)
  • 900 m/s (2,953 ft/s)
  • 750 m/s (2,461 ft/s)
Effective firing range500 metres (550 yd)
Feed system5.56×45mm NATO: 30-round detachable box magazine
7.62×51mm NATO 20-round detachable box magazine

The LMT R-20 Rahe (Literally "Hail" in Estonian)[1] is an assault rifle chambered for the 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge.[2] It is specially designed and manufactured for the needs of the Estonian Defense Forces (EDF) by Lewis Machine & Tool Company (LMT).[3]

History

Plans were made from 2016[4] to replace the IMI Galil and the Ak 4 in Estonian service.[1][5] Among the rifles that competed included the HK416, the SIG Sauer 716 and the LMT MARS.[1] The LMT R-20 Rahe is based on LMT MARS, and is known by the manufacturer Lewis Machine Tools (LMT) as the LMT Modular Ambidextrous Rifle System (MARS) - Light (MARS-L). The New Zealand Army uses the rifle also.[4]

Representatives from LMT and the Defense Investment Center signed an agreement on July 2, 2019 to allow Estonia to purchase the new rifles under a €75 million contract.[6] The total order was 18,340 rifles.[4]

The EDF awarded the contract to LMT for the Rahe with initial deliveries made by 2019 for the assault rifles and accessories.[7] Deliveries were scheduled to be done by 2021 with an option from the company for future modernisation over the next 20 years.[7] In actuality deliveries begun in 2020 and most Rahes were delivered in 2022.[3][4]

The Rahes were fully delivered by 2023.[1] Milrem LCM and Visible Assets was chosen by LMT to serve as their Estonian partner to help with logistical support.[7] The R-20 Ls were used to replace M14 TP2s that were sent to Ukraine as military assistance.[8]

In September 2025, it was reported in the news that all of the Rahe R-20 Ls needed to be sent back to manufacturer for warranty repairs.[9] LMT covered the expenses for repairing the R-20 Ls and replacing defective gas blocks.[9]

Design

Main article: Modular Ambidextrous Rifle System

The standard barrel length of the R-20 is 14.3 in (363 mm), but a 12 in (305 mm) variant designated the R-20 S is also produced.[10][11] The rifles allow for the change of barrels.[4]

A modified trigger design allows the trigger safety to be engaged without the hammer being cocked, which is not possible on a standard AR-15 pattern rifle.[12]

The rifles were ordered with a Shot Counter Grip Module housed within the pistol grip to track parts wear and ammunition consumption with objective digital data. The accompanying reader unit can provide armorers with diagnostic maintenance warnings.[13] As the name suggest, the Shot Counter Grip Module counts the number of rounds fired by the gun.[4]

Variants

Rahe R-20 S

The Rahe R-20 S, the S referring to Short, is a shortened version of Rahe R-20 5.56×45mm NATO series with the barrel length 310 millimeters.[14] The Rahe Short is designed for urban battles and trenches.

Rahe R-20

The Rahe R-20 is the 5.56×45mm NATO assault rifle and the most common version of the R-20 series used by the Estonian Defence Forces and Estonian Defence League. It is the standard issue assault rifle of Estonian Defence Forces.

Rahe R-20 L

The Rahe R-20 L, the L referring to Long is a 7.62×51mm NATO precision rifle, based on the MARS-H.[14] Rahe R-20 L uses a 20-round detachable box magazine. It is also possible to mount telescopic sight and bayonet onto it.

Estonia R20 RAHE Reference Rifle

For civilian customers LMT offers the semi-automatic only Estonia R20 RAHE Reference Rifle in its model range.[15]

Deployment

The R-20 Rahe replaced the IMI Galil and Automatkarbin 4 rifles in the Estonian Defence Forces equipment, the latter rifles being stored for reserve use. Also the Estonian Defense League uses the R-20 Rahe.[16][17][4]

The new Rahe rifles were used in Mali by the Estonian Defence Forces.[18][19]

Users

References

  1. ^ a b c d https://www.forgottenweapons.com/r20-rahe-estonia-modernizes-its-infantry-rifles/
  2. ^ "R20 RAHE Reference Rifle". Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  3. ^ a b "5,56mm automaat R-20". Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Andrew Whyte (14 April 2021). "Defense procurement center: State-of-the art rifle deliveries continuing". ERR Eesti Rahvusringhääling. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  5. ^ "Gallery: Defense Forces introduced new R20 Rahe automatic firearms". ERR. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  6. ^ https://news.err.ee/1115591/gallery-defense-forces-introduced-new-r20-rahe-automatic-firearms
  7. ^ a b c https://www.joint-forces.com/features/43519-new-estonian-lmt-r20-rahe-assault-rifle
  8. ^ https://www.forgottenweapons.com/estonias-much-better-sniper-the-m14-tp2/
  9. ^ a b Mirjam Mäekivi, Marcus Turovski, Vahur Lauri, Valner Väino, Michael Cole (9 September 2025). "All of Estonia's US-made assault rifles undergo warranty repairs". ERR Eesti Rahvusringhääling. Retrieved 15 November 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ "LMT Defense Announces Award with Estonian Defence Forces -". 17 May 2019.
  11. ^ "New Estonian LMT R20 RAHE Assault Rifle". 21 May 2021.
  12. ^ "[TFB GUNFEST] New LMT Rifles, Uppers, and Triggers for 2021 -". 31 January 2021.
  13. ^ "LMT's Shot Counter Grip Module For Military And LE". 18 January 2021.
  14. ^ a b https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/potd-the-r-20-rahe-lmt-defense-in-estonia-defense-force-44814922
  15. ^ "R20 RAHE Reference Rifle".
  16. ^ a b "Defense Forces gets lighter and more accurate assault rifles". 23 July 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  17. ^ https://news.err.ee/1608713023/most-defense-league-members-to-get-rahe-assault-rifles-by-year-s-end
  18. ^ "Defense Forces' new Rahe automatic rifle to make debut in Mali". 18 December 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  19. ^ ERR, ERR | (18 December 2020). "Defense Forces' new Rahe automatic rifle to make debut in Mali". ERR. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
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