"The AR-18. Perhaps one of the most underrated assault rifles of all time. Nobody bothered to get any because the AR-15 was so good, that nobody really gave it the love it needed to be any good. Except for my cousins in Ireland. That thing was their girlfriend."

-Jennifer "Jenny" McClellan, CEO of McClellan Security Corporation, Paternian Army (formerly).

The Armalite AR-18/180 is an American assault rifle designed to appeal to nations who wanted 5.56mm assault rifles at a lower price than the AR-15-style rifles such as the M16. Like how the AR-15 was a scaled-down AR-10, the AR-18 was a scaled-down AR-16.

While working similarly to the AR-15, it's main difference was the use of a gas-piston instead of direct impigment, and sought to work around the AR-15 patent, which Colt held. The rifle would also be produced by Sterling Armaments Company in the UK and Howa Machinery Company.

Unlike the AR-15, the AR-18 did not see the widespread popularity of its cousin, seeing use with the security forces of Haiti, Botswana, and Swaziland. It would also form the basis of the HK G36 and Enfield L85, and contribute to the development of the Howa Type 89 assault rifle.

It's most famous use was in Northern Ireland during The Troubles, where it became the most powerful rifle in the Provisional IRA's arsenal. It would use this rifle to such a great effect that it was known as the "Widownaker". It's legacy thus was cemented with the Provisional IRA, one of the many groups who tore Northern Ireland apart with violence.