Ukrainian assault rifle in seeks markets

Months ago information surfaced that one of Ukraine’s twenty-some specialized design bureaus is developing a modernized version of the Kalashnikov automatic rifle. This was confirmed on August 28. The new weapon’s designer, Director of the Precise Machine Building Research Center Oleksandr Seliukov, appeared before journalists with a Vepr (Wild Boar) in hand. We were unable to learn either from Mr. Seliukov or independent expert (by all accounts, related to the Ministry of Internal Affairs) Serhiy Halushko where and by whom this automatic firearm, which has not yet passed all the required technical tests, was produced. Mr. Seliukov himself claimed that another $500,000 is needed to put the Vepr into serial production.

However, this is not the only important thing. For example, Russian media representatives were far more concerned about observation of intellectual property rights by Ukrainian designers, as well as, logically enough, about some resemblance with the well-known AKM-47. As it turned out, the Vepr and the Kalashnikov have roughly the same number of similar and distinguishing elements. What gives the Ukrainian automatic rifle an apparent edge is that the Vepr weighs 200 grams less, is free of the AKM’s 43 components and a butt, and is shorter, which makes the Vepr easier-to-use in close-quarter fighting. The magazine, designed for thirty standard 5.45 x 39 mm cartridges, is located behind the handgrip and the trigger, which allows one to use the rifle with one hand. The handgrip itself is placed in the Vepr’s center of gravity, which substantially eases the recoil and makes it possible to fire in short bursts and achieve accurate hits — solving the problem of the barrel’s upward and right-hand deviation. The sighting systems consists of three main elements (front sight, peep-sight, and collimator) and can accommodate, if necessary, an optical sight. By simple manipulations, the Vepr can be easily adjusted for a left-hander. This means that, according to the theory of close-quarter fighting tactics, assault troops will be able to surround a house with terrorists from both, not only the right, sides. The extension overlaps the barrel practically at full length, which makes the shooter safe from burns.

Another advantage of the Vepr is that, like the Kalashnikov, it will be able to fire even after being immersed in mud. The disadvantage is that both weapons will not necessarily hit the target after such immersion. It will be noted that the Ukrainian assault rifle costs about $100. This makes it premature to claim that the AKM has found another serious rival on the firearms market. According to the Center of Army, Conversion, and Disarmament Research, about 1000 companies do a total $4 to $6 billion of business annually on the world market, with American and European weapons accounting for 70% of global sales. In other words, the market is quite tight. Supposedly, the Vepr can so far count on (in addition to Ukraine, of course) markets in Central Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Capturing the latter two markets, however, seems rather problematical. There are ample grounds to believe that, for example, in Western Africa there are about 6 million firearms (60% of them held by civilians). Moreover, as informed sources in Sierra Leone told The Day’s correspondent, an automatic rifle costs about $20 in that country. This makes it extremely unlikely that the Vepr will make its way to the jungles of Africa.

So far, the designers hope to cash in on a large order involving “several tens of thousands of rifles,” which is quite cost-effective because R&D cost them $100,000. Another hope is publicity generated by Ukrainian peacekeepers and border guards armed with the Vepr.