ICS IDF Defender AR AEG

If you appreciate iconic 20th-century firearms designs, the ICS IDF Defender AR AEG should be on your shopping list! An authentic full metal build with plenty of steel in the mix and all the details of the real thing replicated perfectly, the IDF Defender AR is inspired by the real steel Galil AR, the simplified version of the Galil ARM intended to be issued to standard infantry.

The ICS AR replica is a near-perfect match for the real thing, down to its modernised polymer handguard, flip-up mock night sights, and ambi-friendly upturned charging handle and realistically hefty full metal build bristling with steel parts. Whether you're a stickler for the details or simply want something that feels like the real deal, the ICS IDF Defender AR AEG will put a smile on your face!

Starting at the front, we come to the Galil AR-style multi-port flash hider, constructed from alloy. This muzzle device is a perfect match for the real thing, showing ICS does not compromise when it comes to completing the realistic look. If you have other ideas about what to mount to your barrel, you'll be happy to learn that the flash hider mounts to 14mm CCW male threads, meaning tracer units, suppressors and alternative flash hiders are a go!

Moving rearwards, we come to the gas block/front sight assembly, which includes a mock bayonet lug and the front sight assembly. The front sight is fully adjustable with the included sight adjustment tool. The alternative sight setup is a flip-up high-vis white dot iron sight which pairs with the flip-up rear white dot open-sight, replicating the flip-up night sights of the real steel rifle. This is a great touch for realism, but also means you have a quick aiming option for CQB built right into the rifle, along with the usual aperture iron sights for long-range engagements.

The handguard itself is made from strong high density polymer and is a perfect match for the real rifle. Each side features linear gripping grooves to improve wet-weather handling. Aftermarket rail handguards are not available for this rifle currently, as far as we know, but that's not a bad thing, as the polymer AR handguard makes the front end light and agile to sweep between targets, not to mention their on-point realism.

Above the handguard, we can find the gas tube, which is constructed from alloy with the appropriate vent ports at the top front. The battery compartment is underneath the top cover, in the same place as with "top wired" AK AEGs, and can be accessed by pressing the button at the rear of the top cover and lifting it free. We recommend either a 9.6V 1600mAh NiMh in AK stick configuration or a 7.4V 1300mAh LiPo in AK Slim stick configuration, depending on your preferences.

The top cover is constructed from stamped steel and provides the mounting point for the rear iron sight. This sight is adjustable for windage via the screw on the left side and provides two apertures for aiming, a wide one for low light and a fine one for accurate semi-auto shooting in bright conditions. The sights are one of the aspects of the AR design which give it the edge over the AK, offering a much longer sight radius for greater accuracy and aperture sights as opposed to open tangent sights, often credited with being easier to use at long ranges.

On the right side, we can find the charging handle, located in classic AK style but with an ambi-friendly upwards turn to allow it to be accessed from each side. The altered charging handle is a big part of the Galil AR-style look, being one of the most recognisable Israeli enhancements to the AK platform. In Airsoft AEG form, the charging handle doesn't need to be pulled to load the first round; instead, it provides access to the slider-adjustable HOP-up unit. The HOP-up unit allows you to tune the ARM for your chosen ammo weight, looking for the flattest possible trajectory.

The receiver is constructed from alloy and looks a bit like an AK if you squint. The standard AK fire selector switch remains, offering 3 modes of fire indicated with authentic engraved Hebrew markings. Like the AK, the first mode is full auto with the lowermost position offering semi-auto, but unlike the AK, the left side of the grip includes an ambidextrous thumb selector which links to the AK selector via an internal mechanical linkage. The left-side selector is a little harder to use than the standard AK selector, but it is a great alternative option for those who aren't yet accustomed to the AK's weird manual of arms.

The magazine release is positioned at the bottom of the receiver, mimicking the AK platform, but is enhanced with an extension on the right side so a right-handed shooter can drop a spent magazine with the trigger finger for speedier reloads. There is also a prominent extension on the magazine release assembly, designed to protect the extended magazine release from snags and accidental actuation. Just like the AK, this mag release is accessible from either side of the AR, meaning left-handed shooters won't need any new techniques to master it!

A significant improvement over the AK pistol grip, the Galil-style pistol grip is an ergonomic design which forms the basis for many enhanced aftermarket grips offered for the AK platform. With a built-in palm rest at the base and a comfortable front strap with rounded edges to reduce hot spots, this grip won't cause the usual long-term use fatigue that standard AK grips can, and should also be easier to hold onto in wet weather.

At the rear, we come to the side folding stock, which allows the AR to fit into smaller gun bags while remaining a full-length rifle and benefiting from a full barrel length. The stock design is taken straight from the FAL Para rifle, a fantastic design with a simple folding procedure and ample strength.

To fold the stock, simply push down on the stock body, bracing on the bottom of the folding mechanism. To deploy the stock, push down on the stock body once again, and you can swing it back into position. The lack of buttons, catches, or any other fiddly bits is what makes this stock design so impressive, though it is also rock solid either when folded or deployed and provides plenty of grip thanks to its textured butt plate.

Inside, you will find a basic but functional internal set-up patterned after the Tokyo Marui AK-47 AEG, meaning a slider-adjustable HOP-up unit and version 3 gearbox with an alloy shell. The gears are of an 18:1 ratio and constructed from steel, running on 7mm bushings for reduced friction and stress. ICS is known for its reliable internals, and though they may be basic, the internals of the AR are fully upgradable with TM spec parts, so the performance seekers aren't left out.

Whether you're working on a retro IDF loadout or you're a fan of rare national rifles which don't get the attention they deserve in Airsoft, the ICS IDF Defender AR AEG is one to watch. A solid build front to back with plenty of upgrade potential and solid performance as it comes, the IDF Defender AR makes a great, unique alternative to an AK!

Features

• Full metal construction
• Large proportion of steel parts - Appropriately hefty and realistic
• Authentic Hebrew markings - Just like the real thing!
• Polymer ribbed "AR" handguard - Completes the modernised Galil look
• Aperture iron sights - Fully adjustable, long sight radius, two rear apertures for aiming
• Flip-up white dot open iron sights - Replicates the night sights of the real thing, great for quick aiming
• Ambi-friendly charging handle - Accessible from either side with a bit of practice
• Slider adjustable HOP-up unit - Behind the mock bolt, accessible when it is held back
• Ambidextrous fire selector - AK-style selector on the right, thumb selector on the left of the grip
• Ambidextrous magazine release - AK style, but more protected
• Ergonomic pistol grip - The basis for many modern ergonomic grip designs
• Side-folding skeleton stock - Steel folding mech and stock tang, ideal for storage and transportation
• Version 3 gearbox:
  • Alloy shell
  • Steel 18:1 gears
  • 7mm bushings
• Top wired: Mini-Tamiya connector - Recommended battery: 7.4V 1300mAh LiPo or 9.6V 1600mAh NiMh
• Compatible with ICS TOD/IDF Defender magazines - NOT compatible with AK mags!

Package Includes

• ICS IDF Defender AR AEG
  • 2 x 300rnd High-capacity magazines
  • Sight adjustment tool
  • Spare fuse
  • User manual