Analysis: SMG make own places within world armies 80607171

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Military Defense Industry Technology - Sub-Machinegun
 
Analysis: Submachinegun making its own place within world armies
Previously being the main firearm of law enforcement units, the submachinegun (SMG) has paved his way to the battlefield in the recent years. At present, the SMGs that retained the assault rifle layout are popular in almost all world`s armed forces. They are typically issued to special forces and combat crews.
     
Previously being the main firearm of law enforcement units, the submachinegun (SMG) has paved his way to the battlefield in the recent years. At present, the SMGs that retained the assault rifle layout are popular in almost all world`s armed forces. They are typically issued to special forces and combat crews.
     
Russia`s small arms manufacturers have embraced the modern requirements to this type of small arms and developed the Vityaz-SN SMG promoted on the global market by the Rosoboronexport company (a subsidiary of the Rostec state corporation). The PP-19-01 mod.20 Vityaz-SN SMG is designed to engage manpower (including the one wearing body armour) and soft-skin vehicles (cars, trucks, etc.). It fires various types of 9 x 19 mm cartridges. The firearm features a blowback operating scheme. Its trigger assembly allows firing in automatic and semi-automatic modes. The SMG is fed from a box magazine and features a folding skeleton buttstock. A sight can be installed on either upper Picatinny rail or side-mounted attaching lug ('dovetail'). Attaching lugs for a laser pointer, a flashlight or a tactical grip are installed in the lower part of a front-sight base. The SMG can be complemented by a removable silencer and a coupler for two magazines that increases a reloading speed.
     
Previously being the main firearm of law enforcement units, the submachinegun (SMG) has paved his way to the battlefield in the recent years. At present, the SMGs that retained the assault rifle layout are popular in almost all world`s armed forces. They are typically issued to special forces and combat crews.
     
Germany`s leading small arms manufacturer, Heckler and Koch (H&K) offers the MP5, the UMP and the MP7A1 SMGs. The MP5 is believed to be the world`s most popular SMG with over 100 variants developed up to date. The SMG is based on the roller-delayed blowback operating scheme developed by the H&K company. In the basic configuration, the MP5 features the H&K sight mount (not compatible with the Picatinny sights; can be replaced by an upper Picatinny rail), a plastic handguard without Picatinny rails, a non-ergonomic angled grip and a plastic fixed or a metal telescopic buttstock. The MP5A5 is the latest variant offered by the German company on the global market. According to the H&K`s official portfolio, the SMG has a caliber of 9 mm, a magazine capacity of 15 or 30 rounds, a firing rate of approximately 800 rounds per minute, an overall length of 690 mm, a length with folded buttstock of 550 mm, a width of 67 mm, a height of 230 mm, a barrel length of 225 mm, a weapon weight of 3.1 kg (with empty magazine) and a magazine weight of 120/170 g (15-/30-round variant, respectively).

The SMG fires 9x19 mm cartridges in semi-automatic, automatic and burst (3 rounds) modes. H&K also offers the silenced variant of the firearm that is designated MP5SDA6. It features an integrated silencer, while sharing almost the same dimensions with the MP5A5 excluding an extended overall length (800 mm), a slightly reduced barrel length (146 mm) and an increased weight (3.4 kg). Upper, lower and side Picatinny rails can be integrated with the MP5SDA6 as an option. The H&K company promotes a sub-compact modification of the MP5 that is designated MP5KA4. The MP5KA4 is a close-quarter battle (CQB) weapon that can be easily concealed. It lacks any buttstock and features an integrated tactical grip instead of the lower part of a handguard. This variant of the MP5 SMG has an overall length of 320 mm, a width of 55 mm, a height of 230 mm, a barrel length of 115 mm and a weapon weight of approximately 2 kg (with empty magazine). The MP5KA4 can be easily reconfigured in a personal defense weapon (PDW) modification. The MP5K PDW features a folding buttstock and a slightly increased barrel length (148 mm).
     
Previously being the main firearm of law enforcement units, the submachinegun (SMG) has paved his way to the battlefield in the recent years. At present, the SMGs that retained the assault rifle layout are popular in almost all world`s armed forces. They are typically issued to special forces and combat crews.
     
The UMP machinegun is a further development of the MP5 design. It can be chambered for 9 x 19 mm, .40 S&W (10 x 22 mm) or .45 ACP (11.43 x 23 mm) cartridges. Unlikely the MP5, the UMP is based on the recoil operating scheme. In the basic configuration, the UMP features an upper Picatinny rail for sights and a lower one for shooting accessories (including tactical grips), a folding plastic buttstock and a plastic box magazine with a clear window. The SMG fires in semi-automatic and automatic modes. According to H&K, the basic UMP chambered for 9 x 19 mm cartridges has a cartridge capacity of 30 rounds, a firing rate of approximately 600 rounds per minute, an overall length of 695 mm, a length with folded buttstock of 455 mm, a width of 69 mm, a height of 280 mm, a barrel length of 200 m, a weapon weight of 2.35 kg (with empty magazine) and a magazine weight of 150 g. The .40 S&W variant of the UMP features slightly increased height (305 mm) and weapon and magazine weights (2.38 kg and 180 g, respectively), while the modification chambered for .45 ACP cartridges has a reduced magazine capacity (25 rounds), as well as increased height (327 mm) and weapon/magazine weights (2.47 kg and 170 g, respectively).
     
Previously being the main firearm of law enforcement units, the submachinegun (SMG) has paved his way to the battlefield in the recent years. At present, the SMGs that retained the assault rifle layout are popular in almost all world`s armed forces. They are typically issued to special forces and combat crews.
     
The US Colt Manufacturing company offers the 9 mm Colt Submachine Gun (CSMG) that is actually a derivative of the well-known M4 carbine rechambered for pistol cartridges. Its layout and ergonomics are almost identical to the carbine`s ones excluding a shortened barrel and a new straight box magazine made of metal. The CSMG is fitted with a Picatinny rail modular system that allows installation of almost all sights and shooting accessories. The M4`s pistol grip, controls and telescopic buttstock have been retained. According to the Colt Manufacturing`s official portfolio, the CSMG is chambered for 9 x 19 mm Para cartridges. The firearm has a weight of 3.04 kg, an overall length of 743 mm, a length with folded buttstock of 660 mm, a barrel length of 266 mm, a firing rate of 700-950 rounds per minute and an effective firing range of 100 m. Colt offers two variants of the CSMG, namely R0991 and R0992: the former fires in semi-automatic and automatic modes, while the latter - in semi-automatic and burst ones.
     
Previously being the main firearm of law enforcement units, the submachinegun (SMG) has paved his way to the battlefield in the recent years. At present, the SMGs that retained the assault rifle layout are popular in almost all world`s armed forces. They are typically issued to special forces and combat crews.
     
The Italian Beretta Defense Technologies company (BDT, a subsidiary of Beretta Group) promotes its Mx4 Strom SMG intended for special troops that is based on a blowback operating scheme. The firearm can be used in confined spaces, owing to its slim design. The weapon`s receiver is made of polymer. The Mx4 features a pistol layout with the magazine located behind the trigger assembly. The SMG has an upper Picatinny rail for sights, folding iron sights and a fixed buttstock. According to the BDT company, the Mx4 Strom SMG has a caliber of 9 mm, a magazine capacity of 15, 17, 20 or 30 rounds, a barrel length of 312 mm, an overall length of 647 mm, an overall height of 262 mm (with magazine), an overall width of 63 mm and a weight of 2.48 kg (unloaded). The SMG fires 9 x 19 mm Para cartridges in semi-automatic and automatic modes.
     
Previously being the main firearm of law enforcement units, the submachinegun (SMG) has paved his way to the battlefield in the recent years. At present, the SMGs that retained the assault rifle layout are popular in almost all world`s armed forces. They are typically issued to special forces and combat crews.
     
The Swiss Sig-Sauer company offers its new MPX SBR submachinegun primarily intended for the US market. It features an ergonomics that drastically resembles the one of the M4/M16 family. The firearm is based on a gas short-stroke piston operating scheme and works from a fully closed and locked rotating bolt. The MPX SBR submachinegun features ambidextrous controls, an upper Picatinny rail for sights, a KeyMod handguard with advanced ventilation and a plastic box magazine (not compatible with the STANAG standard). The SMG can be fitted with 114 mm or 203 mm barrel depending on the requirements (both barrels are fitted with a muzzle break). According to the official portfolio of the Sig-Sauer company, the MPX SBR has a weight of 2.5 kg or 2.7 kg (depending on barrel), a height of 203 mm, an overall width of 60 mm, an overall length of 552 mm or 654 mm (depending on barrel), a barrel length of 114 mm or 203 mm and a cartridge capacity of 30 rounds. The SMG fires 9 x 19 mm Para cartridges in semi-automatic and automatic modes.
     
Previously being the main firearm of law enforcement units, the submachinegun (SMG) has paved his way to the battlefield in the recent years. At present, the SMGs that retained the assault rifle layout are popular in almost all world`s armed forces. They are typically issued to special forces and combat crews.
     
Belgium`s FN Herstal continues to promote its popular P90 SMG. The latest modification of the weapon has retained the blowback operating scheme and the configuration of the original model with a 50-round clear plastic magazine located above its trigger assembly. The P90 features ambidextrous firing controls, an integrated collimator sight (replaced by an upper Picatinny rail in the P90 Tactical configuration), side Picatinny rails for weapon accessories, a downward case ejection system. A laser pointer can be integrated with the P90`s lower tactical grip. The SMG can be complemented by a silencer. According to the FN Herstal`s portfolio, the P90 SMG (in both standard and tactical configurations) has a caliber of 5.7 mm, an overall length of 505 mm, a barrel length of 264 mm, a cartridge capacity of 50 rounds, an empty weight of 2.8 kg, a loaded weight of 3.1 kg, a firing rate of 850-1,100 rounds per minute and an effective firing range of 200 m. The SMG fires the SS190-family of 5.7 x 28 mm cartridges in semi-automatic and automatic modes.
     
Previously being the main firearm of law enforcement units, the submachinegun (SMG) has paved his way to the battlefield in the recent years. At present, the SMGs that retained the assault rifle layout are popular in almost all world`s armed forces. They are typically issued to special forces and combat crews.
     
Czech Republic`s Ceska Zbrojovka - Uhersky Brod (CZ-UB) company promotes its Scorpion Evo 3 A1 SMG (it has almost nothing in common with the legendary Scorpion 61 SMG that is also produced by CZ-UB) on the global market. The manufacturer says that the Scorpion Evo 3 A1 features an advanced ergonomics, a good balance, ambidextrous controls, four Picatinny rails for sights and shooting accessories, a polymer receiver and a folding plastic buttstock. The weapon fires from a closed bolt and is fitted with a bolt catch. The SMG is fed from a box magazine made of clear plastic. According to the CZ-UB`s official portfolio, the Scorpion Evo 3 A1 has a weight of 2.77 kg, a cartridge capacity of 30 rounds, a width of 60 mm with unfolded buttstock and 85 mm with folded one, an overall length of 675 mm and a barrel length of 196 mm. The SMG can be chambered for 9 x 19 mm Para or 9 x 21 mm cartridges and fires in semi-automatic, automatic and burst modes.
     
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