United States Sturm, Ruger & Co.
AR-556
Ruger's AR-15 pattern semi-automatic rifle using direct-impingement operation, introduced in 2014, chambered in 5.56 NATO.
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗
💲 ≈ $989 (public figure)
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
US ITAR-controlled
Export needs U.S. State Dept (DDTC) approval; end-use & re-transfer restrictions apply.
Channel: Foreign Military Sales (FMS) or Direct Commercial Sale
Fielded & proven
Operator data not public
Status: active.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
Unit cost known; one-shot / small-arms class has no meaningful O&S tail to model.
Interoperability
Competitive field
82 comparable systems from 30 other manufacturers
Counted in the WeaponSpecs database: rifles built by another manufacturer. A count of what this catalog holds, not a survey of the whole market. See the alternatives →
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Caliber Bore diameter of the main gun or rifle. Larger throws heavier projectiles; not simply better, ammunition commonality matters. | 5.6 mm |
|---|
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 0.9 m |
|---|---|
| Width Overall width, matters for rail/road transport of vehicles. | 0.06 m |
| Height Overall height. Lower profile is harder to spot and hit for ground vehicles. | 0.2 m |
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 3 kg |
| Barrel length Barrel length, longer improves muzzle velocity and accuracy, shorter improves handling. | 409 mm |
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Unit cost Approximate flyaway/unit cost where public. Defense pricing varies hugely by contract, offsets and configuration. Lower is cheaper. | $989 |
|---|
Specifications compiled from public Sturm, Ruger & Co. and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-04.
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Tula Arms Plant AEK-971 Frequently asked questions
How much does the Sturm, Ruger & Co. AR-556 weigh? +
The Sturm, Ruger & Co. AR-556 has a combat weight of 3 kg.
How much does the Sturm, Ruger & Co. AR-556 cost? +
The Sturm, Ruger & Co. AR-556 has an approximate unit cost of 989 USD. Defense pricing varies by contract, offsets and configuration, treat this as directional.
