Final answer:
The M-16A2 rifle is gas operated, magazine-fed, and air cooled.
Step-by-step explanation:
The characteristics that best describe the M-16A2 rifle are:
- Gas operated: The M-16A2 rifle is gas operated, which means it uses the gas produced from firing a round to cycle the firearm and chamber the next round.
- Magazine-fed: The M-16A2 rifle is magazine-fed, meaning it uses detachable magazines to hold and feed ammunition into the firearm.
- Air cooled: The M-16A2 rifle is also air cooled, meaning it does not require an external cooling system and relies on air circulation for cooling.