The Colt MARS (mini-assault rifle system) was an experimental, scaled-down variant of the M16 rifle tested by Colt as a personal defense weapon (PDW) around 1997. It was chambered for the experimental 5.56×30mm MARS cartridge.
In 1997, Colt tested an experimental mini-assault rifle system based on the M16 design as a personal defense weapon (PDW), which was chambered for the experimental 5.56×30mm MARS cartridge.