The IMI Desert Eagle is a large semi-automatic pistol chambering the powerful .50 Action Express round, one of the most powerful pistol cartridges in production. It was designed by Magnum Research Inc. of United States, which was refined and manufactured by Israel Military Industries (save for a temporary contract with Saco Defense from 1995 to 1998) until 2009, when production moved to MRI's own facility in United States.