It should be reliable and lightweight for more convenient and productive use.
This article presents the top 10 best slot machines in the world.
It is being improved by American engineers and may become one of the best slot machines in the world. The Americans called the main advantage of the machine gun the insensible recoil from the shot. The weapon is designed for urban conditions, therefore it has a short firing range - only 500 m. The speed of shots can reach 700 rounds per minute. Ferfrans HVLAR weighs 4.5 kg.
M16– American automatic was developed in the 60s of the 20th century. M16 assault rifles remain the main weapon of the American armed forces to this day. The sighting range of the automatic mechanism reaches 800 m, and the speed of shots is 900 m. The weight of the weapon is 3.4 kg. The machine gun participated in all wars involving the United States, starting with Vietnam War. The weapon is recognized as one of the best in the world.
- a machine gun developed by a Belgian company in 2001. The weapon was developed specifically for combat. It can be used by both right-handed and left-handed people. The weight of the FN F2000 with an empty magazine is 3.8 kg. The target range of the weapon is half a kilometer, and the speed of shots reaches 850 m per minute. The model was used in the Afghanistan War (2001-2014). Currently the machine is used in countries such as Belgium, Poland, Pakistan, India, special units.
HK416
HK416- a machine gun created by German designers in 2004. The advantages of the weapon include: ease of use and smooth recoil. It is impossible not to note the versatility of the machine gun - it can be adjusted to almost any type of combat. The sighting range reaches 600 m, and the rate of fire is up to 850 rounds per minute. The disadvantages of the weapon include the barrel, which can lead the weapon away during prolonged shooting. The machine gun is used by many countries for special units. It is one of the most popular slot machines.
– a universal rifle from an Austrian manufacturer. The first Steyr AUG models were released in the late 70s. Model A3 is more advanced. The target range of the weapon is 650 m, and the rate of fire is up to 750 rounds per minute. The weight of the mechanism without cartridges is 3.9 kg. The operating countries of the Steyr AUG A3 are: France, New Zealand, Morocco and others. This model is one of the most reliable in the world.
was developed by domestic designers in the 80s of the 20th century. Today, weapons are used by units special purpose: Ministry of Internal Affairs, FSB and Armed Forces. The main advantage of the rifle is its noiselessness. It can be easily disassembled and can fit into a case.
The machine allows the use of several types of cartridges, which helps to hit a target that is protected by armor or behind an obstacle. It is possible to install a night sight. The disadvantages include the weapon's sighting range - 400m and a box magazine designed for 20 rounds. Weight without magazine and sight – 2.5 kg. The machine gun was used in the First and Second Chechen War, in the War in South Ossetia, etc.
- Israeli automatic rifle of the 21st century. The main advantages of the model include impact resistance, reliability in extreme operating conditions, and the possibility of both right-hand and left-hand operation. It is also possible to install a night vision device and a grenade launcher. The barrel of the weapon requires the installation of a silencer.
The ergonomics of the model increases the soldier’s chances of not being seen by the enemy. The Tavor is capable of firing up to 900 shots per minute, and its mass is 3.27. A box magazine holds 20-30 rounds, extended magazines hold up to 100 rounds. The sighting range is 500m. The model was developed in 1993. The TAR-21 entered service in 2001 and is still used by troops to this day. The weapon is considered one of the most authoritative rifles of recent times.
– a combat assault rifle was developed jointly by Belgian and American companies in 2005. It won the competition for the best assault rifle for American special forces in 2014. The main advantages of the weapon include low recoil, high accuracy when shooting, versatility and unpretentiousness in any conditions.
The model weighs 3.19. The weapon is capable of firing 625 shots per minute. The sighting range is a maximum of 900 m. The magazine holds 20-30 rounds. Currently used only by US Special Forces. Weapons count one of the best modern and expensive machines.
– adaptive combat rifle, developed by an American company. Initially, it was intended to modernize the M16 family of rifles, but the developers did not stop there and decided to introduce several more new design elements. Top part The receiver of the machine gun is made of aluminum, and the bottom is made of high-strength plastic. The body of the weapon is rough, which allows the weapon not to slip in the hands of a soldier.
All ACR controls are within easy reach, allowing you to instantly assume a firing position. Automatic rifle barrels are similar to sniper barrels and change quickly. The weight of the weapon is 3.18. The effective sighting range is half a kilometer. The magazine holds 30 rounds. This model was developed in 2007. The disadvantages of the rifle include its high price. This is one of the best models, developed by the USA at the moment.
- a new, improved Kalashnikov assault rifle, which allows the fighter to carry out all operations with one hand: change the magazine, pull the bolt, switch the safety. In addition to the telescopic butt, the machine gun has a plastic butt, which can significantly reduce weight. Now it is possible to install the reloading handle on both sides, which is very convenient for using the machine gun both right-handed and left-handed. The weight of the new model is 3.2 excluding the magazine.
The box magazine is designed for 30-60 rounds, and the drum magazine for 95. The machine gun has a sighting range of a kilometer. This weapon is capable of firing up to 650 rounds per minute. The mechanism was developed in 2011 and put into service in 2015. The military greeted him without enthusiasm new model, citing many shortcomings of the invention, so for a long time the weapon was denied testing, which should be funded by the state. However, the new promising machine was chosen due to its light weight and lower price. According to the latest data, this is so far the best machine gun that has been produced in Russia.
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Over the past centuries, weapons and military equipment continuously evolved. Military necessity led to further technical breakthroughs, all-destructive types of offensive weapons were born, making it possible to strike from distances of hundreds and thousands of kilometers. However, today individual small arms are by no means an anachronism. After all, remote methods of warfare are effective only if the goal of the operation is to destroy the enemy’s industrial and military infrastructure.
Over the past centuries, weapons and military equipment have continuously evolved. Military necessity led to further technical breakthroughs; all-destructive types of offensive weapons appeared, allowing strikes from distances of hundreds and thousands of kilometers. However, today individual small arms are by no means an anachronism. After all, remote methods of warfare are effective only if the goal of the operation is to destroy the enemy’s industrial and military infrastructure.
For the final defeat of the enemy, control of its territory, access to raw materials and industrial resources, and the implementation of humanitarian and other tasks, it is necessary to use infantry and special units that come into direct contact with the enemy. And this is where the protagonist of the war becomes a figure in camouflage with an assault rifle in his hands.
Screenshot from the game Battlefield
History of the issue: how it all began
To begin with, let's define the term “assault rifle” (in Russian terminology - machine gun). So, an assault rifle (in the original assault rifle) - a firearm designed for automatic fire with ammunition that occupies an intermediate position in power between rifle-machine-gun and pistol ammunition. Those. assault rifles do not include models capable of automatic fire, but designed to use pistol ammunition (i.e. submachine guns), as well as automatic weapons using rifle cartridges (automatic rifles).
For the first time, weapons, which, with some stretches, can be classified as assault rifles, were created in Russia by the talented gunsmith V.G. Fedorov. In 1916, mass production of a model began, which the author called an automatic machine. In fact, it was an automatic rifle, but with a sector magazine and chambered for Japanese rifle cartridges of 6.5 mm caliber, which had less power and less power compared to the Russian 7.62x54R cartridge.
recoil impulse. One of the units of the Russian Imperial Army that took part in the battles of the First World War was armed with this weapon.
Fedorov assault rifle: photo from Wikipedia
Pioneers in creating a full-fledged sample assault rifle, who were the ancestors of this class of weapons, are the Germans. In light of the combat experience of the Eastern Front, the German command became aware of the excess power and range of traditional repeating and self-loading rifles in conditions of, as a rule, short ranges of fire contact. Submachine guns, being almost ideal weapons
for short combat, say, in a forest or when clearing trenches and buildings, when firing at a distance of over two hundred meters, they had insufficient power and efficiency.
As a result of the implementation of the technical specifications of the German Arms Directorate for a new automatic carbine, the MP 43/44 was created, later renamed SturmGewehr 44, which literally means “Assault Rifle” in German. Thus, the new German model gave its name to a new class of small arms. The Sturmgever was created for the cartridge developed before the war - in 1938 - by the Polte factory, which, although it retained the standard 7.92 caliber for the Wehrmacht, had a sleeve shortened to 33 mm and a lighter bullet and, in terms of power, occupied an intermediate position between the pistol and rifle cartridges. As a result, the Germans received a fairly successful model, allowing accurate fire with single shots at distances of up to 600 m and providing high density of fire while maintaining acceptable accuracy when firing in bursts at distances of up to 300 m.
In addition, the new assault rifle was intended for mass and cheap production using stamping and casting. The disadvantages of the machine include its not very comfortable grip when shooting prone. In total, before the end of the war, more than 400,000 assault rifles were produced in various configurations, including samples equipped with optical and infrared sights and even such exotic devices as the Krummlauf Vorsatz J curved-barrel device for shooting from around the corners of buildings and in the dead zones of tanks and fortifications. structures.
The appearance on the Eastern Front of new German weapons under intermediate cartridge immediately caused a response from Soviet gunsmiths. In 1943, designers N.M. Elizarov and B.V. Semin created the 7.62x39 intermediate cartridge, which went down in history as the M1943 and became the most common intermediate cartridge in the world. It was for this cartridge that it was first created self-loading carbine Simonov - SKS, and then the legendary Kalashnikov assault rifle.
There is a legend that wanders from one online publication to another that the Kalashnikov assault rifle was copied from the Stg-44 and that German gunsmiths, including Hugo Schmeisser himself, while in Soviet captivity, took part in its development. It is quite obvious that the Kalashnikov assault rifle, not being a direct copy of the Sturmgever, and having a fundamentally different design of many components, was created under the strong influence of German design. By the way, in the memoirs of Kovrov gunsmiths, published in one of the Russian specialized magazines, there is a mention of one interesting fact. It turns out that the first production samples of the AK-47 were significantly inferior in accuracy in automatic fire mode German machine gun and the plant management assigned a large cash bonus to the employee who, when shooting AKs at the shooting range, could significantly improve the previously achieved results. The prize remained unclaimed.
So, it is impossible not to notice that the development and successful use of the Stg-44 assault rifle by Nazi Germany had a strong and direct impact on the development of small arms, because armies of all countries of the world have made weapons of this class the main individual weapon of the infantryman.
The development and successful use of the Stg-44 assault rifle by Nazi Germany had a strong and direct impact on the development of small arms
To date, samples of modern assault rifles are classified as third-generation assault rifles (zero includes German MP-43 and Stg-44 assault rifles, first - AK-47, AKM and Czech Vz-58, M-14 (USA) G-3 ( Germany), FAL (Belgium). The main feature of the second generation (which includes the AK-74, American M-16, French Famas, Austrian AUG, etc.) was the transition to smaller caliber cartridges - 5.56x45 and 5.45x39) .
Common features of third generation assault rifles are wide application plastics and light alloys, which makes it possible to significantly lighten weapons and reduce the cost of their production; the use of a modular design, the use of optical and collimator (red dot) sights as the main ones, the possibility of installing a large range of additional equipment, laid down at the design stage: under-barrel and muzzle grenade launchers, tactical flashlights, laser target designators, silencers.
What are they fighting with today?
Let's try to look at the most interesting examples of third-generation assault rifles, both mass-produced and under development.
The Italian rifle-grenade launcher system ARX-160 developed by Beretta includes a 5.56 mm assault rifle and a 40 * 46 mm under-barrel grenade launcher, which can also be used autonomously. The firing range of the grenade launcher is 400m. In addition to the assault rifle and grenade launcher itself, the complex includes the Aspis small arms fire control device and the Scorpio grenade launcher fire control device. The modular design of the complex allows, after replacing a number of parts, to use cartridges of 5.56x45 mm, 5.45x39 mm, 7.62x39 mm, 6.8x43 mm, i.e. in fact, the entire range of intermediate cartridges produced today. The machine is equipped with quick-change barrels of 406 and 305 mm, the replacement of which takes no more than five seconds, the cocking handle can be reinstalled on both sides, and it is possible to quickly change the direction of reflection of spent cartridges. The automation operates on the principle of a gas outlet with a short stroke of the gas piston.
The folding butt of the machine gun has 5 length adjustment positions. There are 4 Picatinny mounting rails for installing additional equipment, 6 belt attachment points. The front and rear sights fold down. Standard coating colors are black and olive. An assault rifle with a short barrel weighs no more than 3 kg and is an ideal combat transformer with the ability fine tuning to suit the needs of a particular shooter.
The complex is the basis for the promising Italian set of combat equipment “Soldato Futuro”. The machine gun has been entering service with the Italian army since 2012 and is offered for export. In particular, the machine version for Soviet cartridge 7.62x39 (magazines from AKM are used), adopted by the special operations forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The HK-416 assault rifle from Heckler-Koch owes its appearance to the desire of this company to enter the American market of military and police weapons. The idea was to create a model that combines ergonomics and appearance the beloved M-16 by all Americans with significantly increased reliability. To achieve this, the direct gas outlet of the M-16 was replaced by a much more contamination-resistant system with a short stroke of the gas piston, the same as on the G-36 rifle.
Heckler & Koch HK-416
The bolt and return mechanism were also improved and a barrel with increased survivability was used. It is curious that at first the HK-416 was developed as a kit of parts for upgrading machine guns of the M-16/M-4 type. At the same time, the barrel with the gas engine, the forend, the receiver and the bolt group were replaced, and replacement of the return spring and buffer was also recommended. In this case, the stock, magazine, trigger mechanism housing with handle and magazine receiver can be used from the old model.
Otherwise, the HK-416 has much in common with its “classmates” - a telescopic stock of adjustable length, quick-change barrels, four Picatinny rails for attaching various sighting devices, laser target designators, tactical flashlights, under-barrel grenade launchers, etc.
The machine gun was adopted by some special units of the US Army, including the legendary counter-terrorist unit Delta Force, the Corps Marine Corps USA, special units of a number of countries and private military companies, where it has proven itself well. It is also known that in the operation to destroy Osama Bin Laden, a team of 6 US Navy SEALs used HK-416 assault rifles. The weapon has high accuracy and accuracy of fire, which, combined with soft and smooth recoil, makes it an ideal tool in the hands of a professional.
in the operation to kill Osama Bin Laden, a team of 6 US Navy SEALs used HK-416 assault rifles
As a result of summarizing the tactical experience gained by the troops of the international coalition in Iraq and Afghanistan, it turned out that standard NATO 5.56 caliber cartridges under certain conditions have insufficient range and penetration. In addition, a light bullet of the SS 109 cartridge at a distance of 400 m with a side wind of 17 km/h has a drift twice as large as that of a bullet of the 7.62x51 cartridge. In light of these findings, the Heckler-Koch company, based on the HK-416 assault rifle, developed the NK-417 automatic rifle chambered for 7.62x51 NATO. The new rifle is available with 4 barrel options of different lengths, and when using “sniper” barrels 40 and 50 cm long and corresponding ammunition, when firing single shots, the rifle demonstrates accuracy in the region of one minute of arc, which allows us to classify this version of the NK-417 as a tactical sniper rifle .
Heckler & Koch HK-417
When talking about third-generation assault rifles, it is impossible to ignore the SCAR complex. FN SCAR Special Operations Forces Combat Assault Rifle) - a combat assault rifle for special operations forces) - was developed by FN-Herstal USA to participate in the competition for a new assault rifle for US SOCOM soldiers, announced in 2003 by the US Special Operations Command. According to the requirements of the competition, the rifle had to, firstly, make maximum use of the principle of modularity, i.e., be easily adaptable for specific tactical conditions, and secondly, be superior in reliability to the standard M-4 carbine. The terms of reference also stipulated that promising samples would have retrofit kits for 7.62x39, 6.8 Rem, etc. ammunition.
In 2004, it was announced that the winner of the competition was FN-Herstal USA with rifle-grenade launcher systems, which were later standardized as the Mark 16 / Mk.16 SCAR-L and Mark 17 / Mk.17 SCAR-H.
US SOCOM weapons program manager Troy Smith emphasized that the design SCAR rifles was carried out with the active assistance of the special forces themselves, and the peculiarity of the SCAR rifles is that they are special forces weapons that embody many years of combat experience. After the signing of the agreement on the initial stage of production, military tests were carried out in various climatic zones, in which Navi Seals operators, US Marine Special Forces soldiers and Army Rangers took part.
Fn SCAR Mk 17
The SCAR family of rifles, in addition to two “basic” options - the “light” rifle Mk.16 SCAR-L (Light) chambered for 5.56x45mm NATO caliber and the “heavy” rifle Mk.17 SCAR-H (Heavy) chambered for more powerful 7.62x51mm NATO ammunition , includes the Mk 13 Mod 0 or FN40GL - a 40mm grenade launcher that can be used as an under-barrel grenade launcher for either variant, or used independently.
Fn SCAR Mk 13
Both basic configurations offer the possibility of installing barrels of various lengths, which determine their tactical purpose. There are three standard options - "S" (Standard), "CQC" (Close Quarters Combat) - a shortened machine gun for close combat, and "SV" (Sniper Variant) - a sniper weapon. The manufacturer emphasizes the principle of modularity of its design - 82% of the parts, of which there are only 175, can be used in weapons of both calibers.
Varieties of Fn SCAR Mk 16
The steel magazine for the MK-16 is interchangeable with the magazine for the M-4 carbine, although, according to the developer, it is of better quality. Chromed barrel and overall quality manufacturing guarantees a high service life of the assault rifle. The automatic weapon with a short stroke of the gas piston, in addition to low sensitivity to contamination, guarantees the machine increased stability when firing. The principle of double-sidedness is fully implemented: the safety tab and the magazine release button can be activated on both sides, the cocking handle can be installed on both the right and left sides. The stock, folding to the right, is adjustable in length with locking in six positions. A slightly lower rate of fire compared to other rifles contributes to greater stability of the weapon when firing.
Fn SCAR System
The rifles are currently being mass-produced and have entered service with the 75th US Ranger Regiment. However, for a number of reasons, US SOCOM abandoned the use of the Mark 16 / Mk.16 SCAR-L, purchasing instead 7.62 mm SCAR-H assault rifles with upgrade kits for 5.56x45 ammunition. However, the high combat and operational qualities of the SCAR family of rifles have contributed to their widespread use in the armed forces of countries around the world.
What is Russia fighting with?
The much-advertised AN-94 "Abakan", although it demonstrated record accuracy in the fire mode in bursts of two rounds, otherwise has no advantages over the AK-74, moreover, being an extremely complex and expensive design to manufacture, unsuitable for arming soldiers - conscripts.
AN-94 "Abakan"
AK 100 series assault rifles, the development of which began at the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant in the early 1990s, were initially created as commercial weapons designed for foreign markets. The weapon, created on the basis of the AK-74, is its variant for the most common intermediate cartridges in the world: 5.56x45 NATO, 7.62x39 and 5.56x45.
AK-101
- The AK-101 is an assault rifle for the widely used NATO 5.56x45 ammunition and, according to the developer, demonstrates better accuracy in burst mode than the M-16 A2.
- The AK-103 uses the well-deserved 7.62x39 (M1943) cartridge, is compatible with the magazines of old AK/AKM assault rifles and is intended to replace them.
- AK-102, 104 and 105 are small-sized assault rifles, built on the basis of their full-size versions and somewhat superior in their combat and operational characteristics to the AKS-74u. They are distinguished from the “basic” models by a shortened barrel with a special muzzle flash suppressor and a modified sighting bar, which has markings only up to 500 m.
AK-105
All AK 100 series are equipped with a side rail for mounting optics. Black polyamide is used to make the stock, fore-end, pistol grip and magazine body, which is why AKs of the 100th series abroad received the commercial name “Black Kalashnikov”. The largest buyer of the 100th series AK to date is Venezuela, with which a contract was concluded for the supply and licensed assembly of 100,000 AK-103 units. A batch of AK-102s was also acquired by Indonesia.
AK-102
AK series 100, although they are commercial successful project, represent only a cosmetic modernization of the AK-74 and are not without its shortcomings. The most significant drawback of the AK family of assault rifles is the difficulty of placing optical sights on them. The problem is primarily due to the fact that at the top of the weapon, where the optics should be installed, there is a detachable receiver cover and gas tube. The side rail with a dovetail mount, which is found on all AK-74m assault rifles, does not solve the problem, since in case of incomplete disassembly, the sight must be removed to clean the assault rifle or eliminate delays when firing. After installing it, naturally, the weapon must be brought back into normal combat. In addition, the sight installed on the AK-74m does not allow the stock to be folded. The sector safety-translator of fire modes on AK family assault rifles is inconvenient, “loud” and causes a lot of complaints.
The 100th series AKs, although a commercially successful project, are only a cosmetic upgrade of the AK-74 and are not without its shortcomings
To eliminate these and other shortcomings and generally “modernize” the design, the Izhmash concern developed the AK-12, which means “Kalashnikov Automatic 2012.” Although the weapon uses classic automatics with a long stroke gas piston, its design has undergone major changes. The trigger mechanism was redesigned, the bolt group and receiver were updated. The receiver cover, which now has increased rigidity, is mounted on hinges and can be tilted up and forward to disassemble and clean the machine gun. These measures made it possible to achieve a constant position of the cover relative to the barrel, which makes it possible to install optical, collimator and night sights on the Picatinny rail located on the cover.
The bolt cocking handle has been moved forward and can, at the shooter’s request, be moved to the left or right side. The fire switch safety now has a different design - it is placed on both sides of the weapon and has four positions - “safety”, “single shooting”, “fixed bursts of 3 shots”, “automatic fire”.
A bolt delay has been added to the design of the weapon, which allows for faster reloading. The folding telescopic stock has a height-adjustable pad and butt plate, which allows you to customize the machine gun to the anthropometric data of a particular shooter. Other innovations of the machine include an abundance of picatinny rails, located, in addition to the receiver cover, also on the upper pad of the forend and on its side surfaces, rifling and bullet entry of the barrel modified to improve accuracy; a new muzzle brake-compensator that allows firing foreign-made muzzle grenades. The manufacturer promises versions of the AK-12 for different ammunition - from 5.56x45 and 7.62x39 to 7.62x51 NATO. The machine gun can be used both with standard magazines of the appropriate caliber, and with a new four-row magazine with a capacity of 60 rounds.
What does Ukraine produce?
As a result research work to modernize the Kalashnikov AK-74 assault rifle, the Scientific and Technical Center for Precision Engineering introduced the Vepr assault rifle in 2003. The machine gun is configured according to the "bullpup" scheme (with mechanics in the butt) and retains the reliable automatic functioning scheme of the AK-74. The developer states that the Vepr is “a quarter shorter than the AK, 200 g lighter and has twice the accuracy.” Cocking handle
and the safety can be moved to either side, while the cocking handle, made as a separate unit, is motionless when firing. It is proposed to standardly equip the assault rifle with a Ukrainian-developed collimator sight. Instead of the forend, it is possible to install a GP-25 under-barrel grenade launcher. The weapon's disadvantages include the inconvenience of changing the magazine (which is typical for all models arranged according to the "bulpup" scheme) and the inconvenient location of the fire mode translator far behind the pistol grip fire control. The Vepr was addressed primarily to special forces soldiers and Ukrainian peacekeepers, but never entered service.
In 2010, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine was presented with a new machine gun "Malyuk" (aka Vulkan-M) developed by the Artillery Armament Design Bureau, Kiev. The product is also a bullpup weapon, generally repeating the general concept of the “Vepr”, but with some improvements in terms of ergonomics. The machine gun is equipped with a Picatinny rail and can be equipped with various sighting devices. At the customer's request, Ukrainian-made mufflers can be installed. The machine gun did not arouse interest either from the Ukrainian defense department or from foreign customers.
In 2008, the Ukrainian scientific and production association of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine "Fort" (Vinnitsa) entered into an agreement on the licensed production of the Tavor series of small arms developed by the state-owned Israeli company IMI (Israel Military Industries). The Tavor Tar-21 family of weapons is modular and consists of several samples built on the basis of one main design. The system includes: a standard assault rifle Tar-21 with a barrel length of 465 mm (in Ukraine standardized as “Fort 222”), STAR-21 (CTAR - Commando Tavor Assault Rifle) - a modification with a barrel shortened to 375 mm, intended for special forces ("Fort-221") and a compact machine gun used as a self-defense weapon for vehicle crews - "Micro Tavor" MTAR-21 with a 330 mm barrel, as well as a "Sniper" version - STAR-21 (STAR - Sharp Shooting Tavor Assault Rifle ) - an assault rifle equipped with a bipod and an optical sight (standardly equipped with a 4x ACOG sight).
Tavor MTAR-21, photo: WikipediaThe body of the weapon is made of high-strength polymers in combination with light alloys, and in some places reinforced with steel inserts. Tavor barrels chambered for the NATO 5.56*45 cartridge, produced in Ukraine, are supplied from Israel, where they are made by cold forging. Barrels for "Fort 221" assault rifles chambered for 5.45x39, manufactured at industrial base NPO "Fort" in Vinnitsa using its own technology. The trigger mechanism provides firing in two modes - single fire and a burst of arbitrary length. Sights normally consist of a collimator sight with an integrated laser designator. The sight illumination turns on automatically when the bolt is cocked and turns off when the machine gun is unloaded. During testing, Tavor assault rifles demonstrated good maneuverability, which is especially important when fighting in urban conditions, increased impact resistance and reliability when used in emergency conditions. The weapon is comfortable when shooting offhand and demonstrates good accuracy.
Fort-221
On December 23, 2009, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted a resolution on the adoption of the Security Service of Ukraine, the State Security Administration, the State border service and the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine assault rifle "Fort-221", "Fort-222" and submachine guns "Fort223/224". These samples did not arouse interest in the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, because NATO 5.56x45 ammunition, for which Tavor/Fort was originally designed, is not produced in Ukraine. In this regard, the management of NPO Fort announced the start of preparations for its own production of 5.56x45 cartridges. Somewhat later, a version of the Tavor / “Fort-221” was created chambered for the 5.45x39 cartridge, which is produced in Ukraine at the Lugansk Cartridge Plant.
Fort-224
What are they fighting in the ATO zone?
So what are the Ukrainian military and their opponents armed with in the ATO zone in the South-East of Ukraine? The most popular weapon is still the Kalashnikov assault rifle different modifications. In the hands of our soldiers and national guardsmen are both AK-74 and older assault rifles of the AK/AKM/AKMS family, which are believed to provide some advantages when conducting combat operations in the forest zone due to the lesser tendency for the 7.62x39 cartridge bullet to ricochet at shooting through branches.
The separatists are armed even more variegatedly - in addition to Kalashnikovs of various modifications, they have a variety of exotic weapons, probably brought into the conflict zone from Russian warehouses long-term storage. These are pistols PPSh machine guns and even PPD (!), SKS carbines and DP light machine guns. The GRU Spetsnaz groups of the General Staff of the Russian Army operating on the territory of our country, for the most part, use standard AK-74m assault rifles. So, despite the abundance of technically advanced third-generation models on the world market, our soldiers still clutch in their hands the well-deserved Kalashnikov assault rifle, nicknamed by the troops Kalash and, sometimes, a little familiarly, Kalashyan.
During World War II, close-quarter fire density was achieved with submachine guns when they were available. However, combat experience has revealed the need for a new type of small arms that would make it possible to reliably hit targets not only at short but also at medium ranges. A pistol cartridge could not be used in such a weapon due to its low power, but a rifle cartridge was not suitable either, again due to its power, but it was already too high. The solution to the situation was an intermediate cartridge between a pistol and a rifle and the weapon in which this cartridge is used. Thus, a new type of individual small automatic weapon appeared, designed to destroy enemy personnel in close combat and capable of creating a high density of fire - an assault rifle.
The assault rifle is the main individual small arms weapon of modern infantry. Currently, assault rifles have calibers ranging from 5.45 mm to 7.62 mm. The capacity of modern magazines ranges from 20 to 30 or more rounds. Assault rifles can fire both in fully automatic mode - in bursts and in single shots, while some models have a firing mode in short bursts with a cutoff of 2 or 3 shots. The effective firing range of assault rifles averages up to 600 m. Almost all assault rifles have the ability to mount a bayonet, install optical, night or collimator sights, as well as fastenings underbarrel grenade launcher caliber from 30 to 40 mm. Many models also allow you to fire rifle grenades, which are placed on the barrel and fired with a blank or even live cartridge.
Next, you need to decide on some points of terminology. The term "automatic carbine" is the most technically correct in relation to such models as the German Stg.44 and the Soviet AK. This term characterizes an automatic rifle with reduced weight and dimensions. For example, the French Ribeirol automatic carbine Carabine Mitrailleuse 1918 caliber 8×35 SR and the German MKb.42(W) Walther for the first adopted and mass-produced intermediate cartridge 7.92×33, developed by Polte. Examples of automatic rifles chambered for a rifle cartridge are the American Browning BAR M1918 caliber 7.62x63 and the Soviet ABC-36 caliber 7.62x54R.
The term “assault rifle” (German: Sturmgewehr or English: Assault rifle), introduced by Adolf Hitler as the name of the Haenel automatic carbine designed by Hugo Schmeisser, which was later given the designation Stg.44, initially had a propaganda meaning, but later it became widespread distribution in various states in relation to the entire family of individual small arms automatic weapons chambered for an intermediate cartridge, including such models as M16A4, HK G36, Beretta ARX-160, SIG SG-550, MSBS Radon and FN SCAR. The term “automatic”, introduced in the USSR and used to designate the Fedorov automatic rifle and even the PPSh-41 submachine gun, is in circulation only in Russia and the so-called “post-Soviet space”. At the same time, along with the designation of weapons, in colloquial speech this term applies to such electronic-mechanical devices as coffee machines and slot machine, while the term “automatic carbine” much more accurately corresponds to and describes a certain class of automatic weapons.
The term "automatic" itself was introduced in the 1920s. Russian gunsmith Frolov to designate “machine gun carbines” designed by Fedorov. Initially, in post-war years, there were still differences between an assault rifle (automatic carbine) and an assault rifle, if we consider this issue in relation to the dimensions of the weapon and the types of cartridges used. So, if in the USSR it was an AK, quite maneuverable for close combat, chambered for the 7.62x39 intermediate cartridge, then NATO adopted assault rifles chambered for the 7.62x51 rifle type cartridge, which had long length and mass, such as FN FAL and . Powerful and long-range, but bulky weapons could not replace a submachine gun in close combat, for example in street battles or dense thickets. Therefore, in the West, submachine guns lasted in the armed forces for quite a long time until they were completely replaced by assault rifles chambered for the small-caliber intermediate cartridge 5.56x45.
Modern assault rifles, according to the current classification in Russia, belong to the second generation of automatic rifles, which are individual small automatic weapons designed for firing in bursts. Generations are divided according to the cartridge used. Assault rifles chambered for powerful rifle-type cartridges, for example 7.62x51 NATO, belong to the first generation. It also includes such models as the Belgian assault rifle FN FAL, American M14 and AR-10, and German. The second generation includes assault rifles that use “intermediate” cartridges - 7.62x39, 5.45x39 and 5.56x45 NATO. Weapons chambered for an intermediate cartridge have the following advantages: less recoil force; ease of automatic fire control; smaller weapon weight; less weight of ammunition carried by a fighter.
The world's first automatic rifle was created in Russia during the First World War - it was a Fedorov assault rifle chambered for a 6.5 mm rifle-type cartridge. However this weapon for a number of reasons it did not become widespread. The second step towards the development of machine guns was made in the Third Reich, during the Second World War. By 1944, the StG.44 assault rifle was developed there for the 7.92x33 intermediate cartridge. But the truly widespread assault rifle and one of the most famous and popular in the world was the Soviet Kalashnikov AK assault rifle. Further, in 1963, the M16 rifle was adopted into service in the United States as a new small-caliber and low-impulse cartridge with the military designation M193 or 5.56x45, developed by Sierra Bullets based on the .222 Remington hunting cartridge. One variant of this cartridge, created in Belgium in the 1980s, with a heavy bullet, under the designation SS109, was adopted as the standard 5.56 mm NATO cartridge. However, this was nothing new.
Talented Russian gunsmith V.G. Fedorov began work much earlier on weapons chambered for a cartridge of reduced caliber and power than standard rifle cartridges for bolt-action rifles, self-loading rifles, light and heavy machine guns. Fedorov deduced a pattern of caliber reduction when switching to a qualitatively new weapon with new ballistics requirements. The 5.56 mm cartridge made it possible to increase the firing efficiency at ranges up to 300-400 meters, with a slight decrease sighting range, since a bullet with a higher initial speed had a more flat (flat) flight trajectory at these firing distances. After the adoption of the M16 assault rifle chambered for this cartridge into service by the US Armed Forces, the USSR developed its own small-caliber intermediate cartridge 5.45x39 and a weapon system for it - the AK-74 automatic carbine (machine gun) and the RPK-74 light machine gun.
Assault rifle cartridges are available with various types of bullets. Fire from this weapon is carried out at various targets, including light shelters and enemy equipment, and therefore its ammunition includes cartridges with an ordinary bullet with a steel core, with tracer bullets, with armor-piercing incendiary and other special bullets. The intermediate cartridge bullet must have good stopping and penetrating effects. The combination of a high stopping effect of a bullet with a penetrating one has become most relevant with the large-scale introduction of various types of body armor into the Armed Forces around the world. Bullets of modern intermediate cartridges penetrate steel helmets at ranges up to 800 m, body armor of 2-3 protection classes - up to 400-500 m.
Currently, in the development of assault rifles there is a desire to maximize the improvement of a number of their characteristics, which are extremely important for combat effectiveness. Among them are ergonomics, modularity, accuracy and accuracy of fire, service life, the ability to mount a wide variety of types of sights and additional equipment.
Improving ergonomics is necessary so that a fighter can fire the first shot as quickly as possible or transfer fire to another target, with the maximum probability of hitting a point target with the first shot or the first short burst, and carry the weapon as long and comfortably as possible. This is achieved by introducing into the design of the weapon adjustable elements of the butt and its length, comfortable ergonomic handles, improved balance, a more convenient location of the translator-safety, more effective sighting devices, as well as reducing the dimensions and weight of the weapon itself without compromising shooting accuracy and firepower.
The modularity of a modern assault rifle is necessary due to the constantly changing battle conditions in various conflicts and during special operations. Modular weapons equipped with standard Picatinny mounts allow you to install a variety of sights - from optical and night sights to collimator sights and laser rangefinders, as well as attach a front grip handle, bipod and tactical flashlight to the weapon. In addition, modern assault rifles, such as the FN SCAR-H chambered for 7.62x51 NATO, after replacing the necessary components - bolt, barrel, lower receiver with magazine receiver, can use other cartridges - 7.62x39 M43 and 6.8 mm Remington SPC . Barrel replacement requires a minimum of tools and can be accomplished in a few minutes in the field.
The accuracy and accuracy of fire in the newest assault rifles are increased not only by improving the quality of the barrels, but also by a set of measures, including the use of collimator and optical sights of low magnification and the same improvement of ergonomics by introducing butts adjustable in length and height. Increasing the service resource is achieved by using modern materials and alloys created using the latest achievements in this field. Most modern assault rifles have the ability to mount various types of optical, night and red dot sights, laser rangefinders and laser designators, in addition to iron sights. Some examples, such as the Steyr AUG, HK G36 and FN F2000, are equipped optical sights low magnification as the main sighting devices. Sights and equipment of various types are mounted on weapons using standard Picatinny rail mounts. On modern machines In addition to various types of sights, foregrips, bipods and tactical lights can be installed. Plus, many front grips are designed as folding bipods, which allows the shooter to quickly adapt his weapon for shooting aimed shooting from a stop.
The latest assault rifles have versatility in terms of handling by both right-handed and left-handed fighters, which is realized by the ability to quickly move the cocking handle to both the left and right side of the weapon, as well as by placing the magazine release button on more than one , and on both sides of the weapon. Modern assault rifles are equipped with a bolt stop mechanism that stops the bolt in the open position when all the cartridges in the magazine are used up. The bolt stop levers are placed so that the shooter can control them regardless of the grip of the weapon. Reducing the weight of weapons is achieved by the widespread use of composite polymers and light alloys, in particular in the production of receivers and stocks.
Disputes about the adoption of a small-caliber intermediate machine gun cartridge into service in the Soviet Union are still ongoing. Opponents of the small-caliber cartridge blame it for the supposedly small stopping effect and penetrating power of the bullet, talking about the superiority of the old 7.62x39 cartridge in these qualities. In local conflicts, indeed, they often prefer old 7.62-mm AKMs to weapons chambered for small-caliber cartridges, since they also have mass quantities All over the world, cartridges with a wide range of bullet types are produced - from armor-piercing and tracer to armor-piercing incendiary. While for the AK-74 and other models of the 5.45-mm caliber the choice of types of cartridges is limited, and modern 5.45x39 cartridges under the designation 7N22 with an armor-piercing bullet are supplied mainly only to special-purpose units.
However, the use of weapons is more large caliber justified only at short shooting distances and in street battles, when clearing buildings, since 7.62 mm bullets have a less flat flight path than small-caliber and high-speed 5.45 mm bullets. It is much easier to hit a target with a 5.45 mm caliber weapon, and this is a very tangible advantage. Moreover, when firing from automatic 5.45-mm carbines, it is much easier to control the weapon if the fire is fired in bursts, which is especially important during urban battles at short and ultra-short distances. But for these purposes the most suitable are Russian models chambered for 9x39 (SP-5, SP-6, PAB-9), such as the new small-sized assault rifle SR-3PM, 9A-91 and AK-9. This weapon has the ability to hit an enemy protected by NIB or light shelters at a distance of urban combat up to 400 meters (in practice - up to 200 meters), while having a high stopping effect of the bullet, which is extremely important at extremely short distances. But such models only complement the main model adopted for service.
Assault rifles are the most widely used small arms in modern armed forces, and modern complexes individual weapons are often automatic grenade launchers, combining automatic small arms, “artillery” in the form of an under-barrel grenade launcher with a fragmentation shot and an electro-optical system in the form of a day/night television sight, a laser range finder and a ballistic computer that automatically sets the aiming target in the lens mark according to the range to the target, and is also used for programming remote fuses 20mm grenade. However, such complexes, although effective, are very expensive weapons, and, moreover, have not yet proven themselves reliable and convenient in real battles. Therefore, at present and in the near future, the improvement of already long-produced and proven assault rifles continues, and work is also underway to create new models based on already familiar design solutions, supplemented the latest developments and the use of the latest materials and production technologies in combination with the above-mentioned modern requirements for this type of small arms.
Currently, there is a need to replace the existing and currently used small-caliber intermediate cartridges due to the insufficient stopping effect of their bullets. One of the promising Russian developments is the latest AK-12 automatic carbine, combining improved ergonomics, increased shooting accuracy and service life, and also has the ability to mount modern sights and equipment. However, the main caliber will remain the same 5.45x39.
This section contains information about slot machines. This is one of the most common types of small arms, which appeared almost immediately after the end of World War II. A combat machine gun is an individual weapon capable of creating a significant density of fire. This weapon is designed for an intermediate cartridge, has a large-capacity magazine, a high rate of fire and can conduct both single fire and automatic fire. In this section you can learn about the history of the development of these weapons, as well as about new machine guns in the world.
The term "automatic" is common in Russia and former republics USSR, in the West such weapons are called differently. If we talk about US assault rifles, then their M16 is designated as an automatic rifle. In other countries, such weapons are often called automatic carbines. Currently, machine guns or automatic rifles are the main weapon of most armies in the world.
In the same way, in Russian literature, submachine guns from the Second World War are often called machine guns. Although, of course, this is wrong.
It should be said that the history of the creation of automatic weapons began back in late XIX centuries. However, successful samples suitable for mass production were never created at that time. The issue of rapid-fire individual weapons arose especially acutely during the First World War: the military wanted to increase the firepower of infantry units in the attack.
If we talk about Russian assault rifles, one of the first examples of this weapon to be mass-produced was the Fedorov assault rifle. Although, it would be more correct to call this weapon an automatic rifle. It was serially produced under the 6.5×50 mm rifle cartridge. In total, several thousand Fedorov assault rifles were produced.
After the end of the World War, active work began on the creation of submachine guns that used a pistol cartridge. However, this weapon had a lot of disadvantages and limitations. During the next war, the Germans created an intermediate cartridge and developed the Sturmgewehr 44 assault rifle for it. It was a fundamentally new type of weapon that combined a significant firing range and high rate of fire. Gradually, submachine guns lost their importance; today they are mostly used as police weapons.
Already in 1943 Soviet designers began developing a domestic analogue of an assault rifle. In 1949, this work ended with the adoption of the AK-47 assault rifle; today it is the most famous example of small arms. The image of this weapon is even on the state emblems of some states.
After its creation, the AK-47 was modernized more than once. Creation of new models based on legendary weapons continues today.
Currently, various modifications of the AK are the main assault rifles of the Russian army.
Today, designers are working more on improving ammunition and various attachments for such weapons. No fundamental changes in the design of automatic rifles have been observed. The design of the AK and M16 has remained virtually unchanged over the past few decades. This also applies to other most famous examples of such weapons. Today, these weapons are simply made more convenient for the fighter, improving its ergonomics, reducing weight and using new sights.
So designers and manufacturers are trying to combine two concepts: an assault rifle as a mass-produced inexpensive weapon and an effective modern instrument of war.
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