The IA2 was created by Lieutenant Colonel Paulo Augusto Capetti Rodrigues Porto of the Brazilian Armaments Industry (IMBEL), to replace FN FAL and its variants in the ranks of the Brazilian Army.

The project of a totally new weapon began in 2012, initially named as MD-97 Mk.II, even if it is not a simple modernization of the MD-97, but a totally new rifle. In 2012, the Army commissioned the initial order of 1,500 IA-2 rifles, in the 5.56×45mm NATO and 7.62×51mm NATO model, to be distributed for testing between Various units of the Army, such as the Special Operations Brigade, the Parachute Infantry Brigade and the Jungle Infantry Brigades.

The final product performed over 70 thousand fire shots, and was subjected to endurance tests, sand, dust, high and low temperatures as well as immersion in water, followed by firing. The performance in tests in the jungle environment proved its reliability, as well as its run time of 15 seconds after submersion. Its performance was also tested in parachuting, caatinga and special operations.

In December 2013 the Brazilian Army placed an order for 20,000 rifles at 5.56. In 2016, it was announced that CAEx would be testing five prototypes of the Fz 7.62 version.

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