on july 4, 1957, fairchild armalite sold a five-year manufacturing license for the ar-10 to artillerie inrichtingen. the ar-10 was invented by eugene stoner in 1955 as a late entrant to the united states army's light rifle trials to replace the m1 garand in us service. it was a revolutionary design in many ways, but lost the competition. it had however caught the interest of foreign militaries which led to armalite's deal with artillerie inrichtingen whose large factory and production facilities were felt could produce the armalite rifle in the large quantities fairchild anticipated would be needed to fulfill expected orders.