CIS Ultimax 100

The Ultimax 100 lightweight infantry support weapon was designed in 1977 by American firearms engineer Leroy James Sullivan (Jim Sullivan) whose credits also included the Stoner 63, Ruger Mini-14 and the M16 rifle - all scaled down versions of larger existing weapon systems. Development centered around producing a weapon of high quality that was reliable under battlefield conditions, was portable by a single individual and could bring a good amount of firepower to bear on a target or target area. The resulting weapon system - the Ultimax 100 (or "M100" or "U100") - was introduced into the Singapore Armed Forces in 1982 and has seen operational use elsewhere since. Production was initially handled by the Chartered Industries of Singapore, known collectively as "CIS", and made largely of pressings and stampings with a plastic pistol grip, foregrip and butt for a lighter end-product. In 2000, CIS was acquired by ST Kinetics who now lays claim to the Ultimax 100 line. It is believed that some 80,000 examples have been produced to date with production still ongoing.