Plastic fantastic: The Beretta ARX160 – Italy's lightweight modular assault rifle

The Beretta ARX160 rifle is designed to give soldiers a next-generation weapon, firing the same Nato rounds but being much lighter to carry thanks to the use of polymer.

Loved by Italian soldiers for being extremely easy to handle, it's also ambidextrous, allowing users to set the rifle up with the cocking handle on the left or right hand side and to adjust the extraction system, so empty cartridge cases can be ejected from either side.

It's simple to disassemble – even for barrel removal – and no tool is required.

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The telescopic stock, adjustable to four different positions, allows the rifle to be adapted to the shooter's needs.

Four Picatinny rails allow for the fitting of a laser, optical sights, and even a torch.

It uses a 30-round magazine with a range of up to 400 metres firing 5.56mm Nato rounds.

Then there's the GLX160 under-barrel grenade launcher, which can be fitted to the ARX160 or used as a standalone weapon.

To reload, the barrel slides forward to allow a round to be inserted. Once the barrel is slid back the weapon is cocked.

The barrel is made from steel, with other parts being polymer, and it fires 40X46mm low-velocity grenades with an effective range of 400 metres.

The rate of fire is limited to the user's reload speed, but a good operator should achieve several rounds per minute.

The grenade and rifle fire can be aimed using the iron sights or with an optic.