Caracal pistol

Caracal F
Caracal F pistol with orange grip insert
Type	Semi-automatic pistol
Place of origin	United Arab Emirates
Service history
In service	2007–present
Used by	See Users
Production history
Designer	Wilhelm Bubits
Designed	2005
Manufacturer	Caracal International L.L.C.
Produced	2006–Present
Variants	Variants
Specifications
Weight	790 g (28 oz) Caracal Enhanced F 750 g (26 oz) Caracal F 700 g (25 oz) Caracal C 650 g (23 oz) Caracal SC
Length	178 mm (7.0 in) Caracal F 167 mm (6.6 in) Caracal C 160 mm (6.3 in) Caracal SC
Barrel length	104 mm (4.1 in) Caracal F 90 mm (3.5 in) Caracal C 86 mm (3.4 in) Caracal SC
Width	28 mm (1.1 in) Caracal F and C 23.5 mm (0.9 in) Caracal SC
Height	135 mm (5.3 in) Caracal F 122 mm (4.8 in) Caracal C 112 mm (4.4 in) Caracal SC
Cartridge	9×19mm Parabellum 9×21mm .357 SIG .40 S&W
Action	Short recoil, locked breech
Feed system	18-round box magazine (9×19mm Parabellum , 9×21mm Caracal F) 16-round box magazine (.357 SIG, .40 S&W Caracal F) 15-round box magazine (9×19mm Parabellum , 9×21mm Caracal C) 13-round box magazine (.357 SIG, .40 S&W Caracal C) 13-round box magazine (9×19mm Parabellum , 9×21mm Caracal SC)
Sights	Fixed iron sights

The Caracal pistol is a series of semi-automatic pistols manufactured by Caracal International L.L.C. a subsidiary of Tawazun Holding from the United Arab Emirates. The Caracal pistol series are the first pistols made in the United Arab Emirates.

Starting in 2002, a team of European weapons designers and experts working in conjunction with the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces started the development of a range of modern pistols and accessories. The research and development team was led by the Austrian firearms designer Wilhelm Bubits who previously had designed the Steyr M pistol.

Before being put into production the Caracal pistol was evaluated through independent tests. These tests were carried out by the Federal German Armed Forces Technical Center for Weapons and Ammunition (WTD 91) in Meppen, Germany which included metallurgic and composite analysis, functional fitness-for-purpose and quality evaluation, endurance firing, environmental exposure, safety and accuracy tests. A certificate was issued by the Bundeswehr Technical Center for Weapons and Ammunition (WTD 91) in May 2006 after the pistol successfully complied with the NATO D14 standard, the German Federal Police Standard and the German Federal Armed Forces Technical Purchasing requirements. These tests are the most stringent test protocols ever devised for a service firearm.

By the end of 2006, Caracal International L.L.C .was incorporated and registered as a company in Abu Dhabi. With that, the foundation of a pistol manufacturing industry was established for the first time in the GCC.

The pistols were unveiled at the International Defence Exhibition, IDEX 2007 in Abu Dhabi.

In February 2007 25,000 Caracal F pistols in 9 mm were ordered by various armies and security forces of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. The Caracal pistol is now the new service pistol of the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Jordan as of April, 2008. The United Arab Emirates and Algeria established on November, 17th, 2008 a joint committee in order to test the Caracal pistol for further adoption by Algeria. The Caracal pistols were originally slated to be introduced into the European market and made available to Austrian customers in early 2009; this was rectified at the IDEX 2009 exhibition, when Caracal announced that an export line to Italy was to be started with "the first samples delivered immediately after the IDEX". The Caracal pistols have been introduced on the Italian civilian/sport shooters market during the 2009 EXA expo (Brescia, 18–21 April 2009), and are being imported by the Italian arms company Fratelli Tanfoglio S.N.C.