👉 The man-portable weapon, commonly known as the M16, is a semi-automatic rifle designed and produced by the American company Lockheed Martin. It was first introduced in 1968 and quickly became a standard issue weapon for the U.S. military, particularly the U.S. Army. The M16 features a lightweight design, a compact stock, and a modular system allowing for easy attachment of various accessories like scopes, flashbangs, and night vision goggles. Its design includes a bolt-action mechanism for semi-automatic fire and a full-automatic mode for rapid-fire situations. The weapon's reliability, durability, and adaptability to different combat scenarios have made it a versatile and iconic choice in modern warfare.