The Delta Force is a 1986 action film directed by Menahem Golan that follows the actions of the elite US Special Forces unit under the command of Colonel Nick Alexander (Lee Marvin) and Major Scott McCoy (Chuck Norris) that is sent into Beirut to rescue the passengers aboard an airliner hijacked by Lebanese terrorists.
The hijacking plot is loosely based on the real-life 1985 hijacking of TWA Flight 847. The film would spawn two sequels, including 1990's Delta Force 2: The Colombian Connection. This film also marked the final acting role for Lee Marvin.
The following weapons were used in the film The Delta Force:
The main weapon of the Delta Force is the Mini Uzi. Maj. Scott McCoy (Chuck Norris) and Col. Nick Alexander (Lee Marvin) are seen using them. When the Delta Force assault the runway, they are seen using the submachine guns with suppressors. This is one of the earliest appearances of the Mini Uzi in an English language feature film.
Abdul (Robert Forster) uses a Colt M1911 to take control over the plane. Col. Nick Alexander (Lee Marvin) uses an M1911 to take out the terrorist holding the airliner's pilot and crew hostage in the head (Alexander's M1911 has a lowered ejection port - possibly a non-military issue Colt Mk IV Series 70, used as a double for a GI issue M1911A1). It looks to be modified with a selective fire switch on the left side of the pistol, on the slide grip. There is also Delta hammer, instead of the standard Spur hammer on his M1911.
The terrorists and Lebanese militants are all armed AK-47-type rifles in the film. Israeli armorers provided the weaponry for this production, making it likely these are authentic AK rifles, rather than AKM or ARM rifles.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingPoly Technologies AK-47 - 7.62x39mm. Though U.S. productions would use the Poly Tech Legend rifles, most Israeli productions would probably use real milled receiver AK-47s from IDF inventory.Error creating thumbnail: File missingSome of the militants are armed with AK rifles.
Trivia: The Israeli Blank Adapters
Some the rifles have an extended muzzle nut visible. They are the BFAs (Blank Firing Adapters) used mostly by Israeli movie armorers. American movie armorers use blank firing adapters that are either hidden in the barrel or look just like the existing compensators or flash hiders on the issued firearms. Much like the 1988 film The Beast of War, these obvious BFAs indicate that a film was shot in Israel.
Another weapon carried by the terrorists and militants is the AKS-47 rifle with folding stocks. Abdul Rifi (Robert Forster) is notably armed with the rifle during the confrontation with McCoy.
During the film's opening, what appear to be M16A1 rifles are seen in the hands of the Delta Force soldiers at the Desert One staging area during Operation Eagle Claw in Iran in 1980. Similar rifles are seen in the hands of Lebanese militants in Beirut.
Galil ARM rifles are seen in the hands of Delta Force soldiers while at Desert One in Iran, in the first rescue attempt in Algeria, and in Israel when they were preparing for the second rescue attempt. Militants also carry the rifle.
Mounted on the passenger side of the Delta Force's ATVs is the FN MAG. The stock has been removed from the machine gun and it is seen used by both Col. Alexander (Lee Marvin) and Pete Peterson (William Wallace).
Both Maj. McCoy and Bobby (Steve James) are seen using B-300 launchers to take out a militant leader. The B-300 was the Israeli-made precursor to the SMAW. In the film, the Israeli markings on the launcher were covered with tape.
Militants attempt to use what appears to be a B-10 recoilless rifle as the Delta Force raid the hideout. Major McCoy later takes out the team and uses the launcher.
Abdul Rifi initially hijacks the plane armed with an M1911 and a Mills Bomb. A militant also tries to toss one in a stairwell as the Delta Force tries to get the passengers out.
