In 1963, SIG and Beretta began a joint development of the SIG SG 530. In 1968, Beretta decided to cease development with SIG, with the latter developer choosing to continue work on the SG 530. Beretta instead pursued development of its own off-shoot of the SG 530, using the information and experience they had gained from the project. The result was the Beretta AR70, which externally resembled its parent weapon, the SG 530, while differing in the internal firing mechanism/locking system.