Delta Armory DA-A02-ETU ALPHA™ M4A1 RAS AEG

If you're searching for the perfect combination of old-school aesthetics and modern ergonomics, the Delta Armory DA-A02-ETU ALPHA™ M4A1 RAS AEG is one to watch. This ALPHA™ line replica is styled after the US Army issue M4A1 but adds a unique enhanced receiver into the mix along with an ergonomic pistol grip, enlarged trigger guard and CNC Type A flat trigger. 

Boasting full metal construction externally and superb pre-upgraded internals on the inside, the DA-A02-ETU ALPHA™ boasts full metal construction and plenty of pre-upgraded internals, beating out the standard ALPHA™ AEGs with its pre-installed ETU/MOSFET, 16:1 ratio CNC steel gears, high torque motor and plenty of other pre-upgraded internals.

The ETU allows for the fire controls of the DA-A02-ETU to be programmed for burst mode, binary trigger and pre-cocking using only the fire selector and trigger of the AEG, giving you loads of built-in customisation options with no need for aftermarket programmers, apps or other complications.

To deliver your BBs onto target accurately, a 6.03mm tightbore inner barrel is fitted and paired with a rotary HOP-up unit, making this platform the perfect companion to any Airsoft loadout with an emphasis on long range. It goes without saying, you will never need to upgrade this AEG, just add your favourite optic and get busy!

Starting at the front, we can find a pre-installed birdcage flash hider concealing 14mm CCW male barrel threads beneath. This means you can add a tracer or suppressor as soon as you are ready, or an alternative muzzle device to customise the looks of the DA-A02-ETU. The barrel profile matches the real M4A1 rifle perfectly, including its M203 cutout which not only completes the iconic M4A1 look but allows M203 grenade launchers to be mounted to the barrel for a more menacing aesthetic.

The front sight itself is adjustable for elevation using an M4/AR-15 front sight adjustment tool, and for less precise work up close it can be used as an index point for rapid aiming when there is no time to align the sights. Mounted to the bottom of the front sight assembly we have our first sling point, which is a standard alloy footman loop compatible with a wide variety of sling types. This can be paired with any of the 3 rear sling mounting options to fit a two-point rifle sling to take the burden off your arms or allow for easy transitions to a sidearm. The perk of a relatively old-school design is that all the sling points are built in, meaning no extra adapters are needed!

Following the front sight, we come to the handguard assembly which is constructed from a combination of alloy and steel. The KAC RAS style handguards themselves are polymer and are equipped with 20mm Picatinny rails at 3, 6, 9 and 12 o'clock, ready for your mission essential kit to be mounted. The handguards are held in place using a steel handguard cap at the front, and an alloy delta ring at the rear. The handguards are made in two parts, allowing you to remove the lower handguard and mount an M203 launcher to the barrel for some extra firepower.

The receiver of Delta Armory's DA-A02-ETU is a modernised design, complete with machined in gripping texture on the front of the magazine well, ideal for shooting from unconventional positions and angular surfaces across the receiver, giving the old '60s AR design a 21st-century facelift. The trigger guard is also enlarged and built into the receiver, improving strength considerably and following trends in the latest high-end real steel AR-15 rifles. Being an AEG of the ALPHA™ line, this receiver is constructed from alloy, matching the metal to polymer proportions of the real AR-15.

The fire selector is positioned just above the pistol grip and offers 3 modes of fire; SAFE, SEMI and AUTO, with a 90-degree throw between each mode. This makes the selector easy to switch, but not so easy that it can be knocked out of position accidentally. The magazine release is on the right side of the magazine well and is accessible for a right-handed user with the tip of the trigger finger.

Pulling back the charging handle, located at the top rear of the receiver will open the dust cover and retract the mock bolt carrier to allow access to the rotary HOP-up adjuster. This is the latest HOP-up unit design for the M4/AR-15 and provides finer increments of adjustment and holds its setting more effectively when compared to the older gear style HOP-up unit. The charging handle has an extended latch for easier access, allowing even those with thick gloves to access the HOP-up unit, though you may need to take off a glove to turn the adjuster!

The mock bolt catch is located in the centre of the left side of the receiver, and while this is a dummy control which doesn't provide a function it is nonetheless a separate part to maintain the realistic appearance and avoid the tell-tale signs of being a replica. The dummy forward assist is present on the right side of the upper receiver, right where it should be. This control does nothing on an AEG, and some real AR shooters argue it does nothing on the real thing, but it is included on the DA-A02-ETU to keep the rifle faithful to real M4/AR-15 rifles.

The pistol grip of the DA-A02-ETU boasts a refined grip angle for greater comfort when shooting with the stock fully collapsed and in more modern shooting stances. Based on the real steel "Gunfighter mod.3" grip, a modern ergonomic design, each flank of the pistol grip includes fine texturing for perfect wet weather handling. The trigger is known by Delta Armory as the CNC Type A Flat trigger, offering a flat serrated front surface with a short finger ledge, ideal for rapid double taps.

At the rear of the receiver, we come to the steel CQD style sling plate, which offers ambidextrous functionality with single-point slings; perfect for left or right-handed shooters. The steel construction of the sling plate practically guarantees even if you mount a massive rifle scope, PEQ box and RunCam, the sling plate will be strong enough to support the weight. Following the sling plate, we come to the good old AR buffer tube, constructed from alloy and offering 6 adjustment positions for the pre-installed stock, or any other M4/AR-15 AEG stock you choose to mount!

The stock itself is a crane-inspired design with a slimline form and a comfortable angled cheek rest, featuring a QD sling socket on either side, together with conventional "footman loops", aka sling slots. With a rubber butt plate featuring lattice checkering, this slimline crane stock stays solidly in your shoulder in any weather conditions but can be swapped for alternative M4/AR-15 AEG stocks if you want to change up the looks or have a preferred stock in mind for your build.

The buffer tube also serves as the battery compartment for the DA-A02-ETU. To access the battery compartment, you will need to pull the stock adjustment lever (located on the bottom of the stock) out and hold it in place, after which you can slide the stock off the buffer tube, revealing a Deans/T-Plug battery connector inside. We recommend a 7.4V 1300mAh LiPo in stick configuration for the DA-A02-ETU though you may need to keep the stock extended to fit this battery inside. Delta Armory recommends a LiPo battery measuring 1.4 x 1.9 x 10 cm approximately for full functionality of the sliding stock.

The internals of the ALPHA™ series boast more than their fair share of pre-upgraded parts, and there are even more present in this, the ETU version.

Inside the version 2 gearbox, we are treated to CNC 16:1 ratio steel gears running on 7mm bushings, an SHS piston with a full rack of steel teeth, an SHS tappet plate for reliable feeding, and a CNC aluminium piston head, cylinder head and nozzle for maximum long term durability. The cylinder is also CNC machined from steel, as is the spring guide.

These ultra-strong CNC parts are powered by a high-torque motor with Neodymium magnets, kept in check by the ETU/MOSFET system. The result is an incredible trigger response and rate of fire, with more than enough range to compete with the big boys out in the woods. The party trick of the ETU/MOSFET is the ability to program the fire controls for burst mode, binary trigger and pre-cocking, giving this incredibly cost-effective setup some functions usually reserved for platforms twice this price!

If you love a new meets old combination with a robust full metal build and thoroughly pre-upgraded internals, the Delta Armory DA-A02-ETU ALPHA™ M4A1 RAS AEG should be right up your street. With no compromise on the inside and a realistically hefty external build, the DA-A02-ETU is ready for any skirmish challenge it faces!

Features

• Full metal construction - Realistically hefty
• 6.03mm Tightbore inner barrel - Great accuracy potential, 363mm length
• 14mm CCW Male threaded outer barrel - Tracer/suppressor ready
• Flip-up iron sights pre-installed - Mounted to the top rail, press textured buttons to flip up
• RAS 20mm Picatinny quad-railed handguard - 20mm Picatinny rails at 3, 6, 9 & 12 o'clock
• 20mm Picatinny railed receiver - Ready for a red dot sight or rifle scope
• Unique receiver design - Angular surfaces, gripping texture on the front of the magazine well
• Enlarged trigger guard - Easy access for gloved or ungloved shooters
• Ergonomic pistol grip with reduced grip angle - Great for modern shooting stances, very comfy
• Ambidextrous sling plate - Mount a single-point sling on the left or right side
• Extended charging handle latch - Easy access to the HOP-up unit for adjustment
• Rotary adjustable HOP-up unit - Easy to adjust in fine increments, holds its setting well long-term 
• 6-Position M4/AR-15 buffer tube - Adjust the stock to suit your body type perfectly
• Low-profile Crane style stock - QD sling point in each side, buffer tube battery compartment 
• Rear wired - Deans/T-Plug connector - Recommended battery: 7.4V 1300mAh LiPo in Stick config.
• Reinforced version 2 gearbox - 
  • SHS Piston with steel full tooth rack
  • SHS Tappet plate
  • CNC Aluminum piston head
  • CNC Aluminium cylinder head
  • CNC Aluminium nozzle
  • CNC Steel cylinder
  • CNC Steel quick change spring guide
  • CNC Steel 16:1 gearset
  • 7mm bushings
  • Programmable ETU/MOSFET system 
• Compatible with M4/AR-15 AEG magazines - Plenty of spares available

Package Includes

• Delta Armory DA-A02-ETU ALPHA™ M4A1 RAS AEG
• 120rnd Mid-cap magazine