Vepr
Encyclopedia
The Vepr was announced in 2003 as the first indigenous Ukrainian assault rifle
, designed by the National Space Agency of Ukraine. Note that on the Ukrainian Government Portal website (see below in External Links), the Vepr is classed as a sub-machinegun. It is one of several bullpup
conversions of the conventional AK-74
design, along with the Polish Kbk wz. 2005 Jantar
, the Chinese Norinco Type 86S
, the Russian KBP A-91 and OTs-14 Groza, the Finnish Valmet M82
and the South African Vektor CR-21
.
and AK-74
assault rifle
designs, typical of Warsaw Pact
countries. Currently only small number of Veprs are in service with Ukrainian special forces. Recently, as part of ongoing reforms in the Ukrainian Ground Forces
, Ukraine's Ministry of Defense has declared intentions to purchase thousands of Veprs by the year 2010. However, since the political tides in Ukraine are moving towards a NATO and possibly a European Union
membership, and since a well-launched Ukrainian gun manufacturer (RPC Fort
) is offering on the Ukrainian market firearms in "western" calibers such as the Israeli TAVOR assault rifle, NEGEV light machinegun and GALIL sniper rifle, the future of this weapon in Ukrainian service may be in jeopardy. As of 2010 with NATO membership off due to political changes in Kiev the adoption of newer weapons is also off. With the exception of some IAI Tavors used by troops in multinational overseas deployments. Most Ukrainian personnel still use AK-74
s.
, it is, in fact, an interesting yet fairly simple modification of the basic AK-74 system in a bullpup
design, with the following modifications:
ammunition from 30-round magazines at an approximate rate of fire of 600 to 650 rounds per minute, the barrel length remains the same and the muzzle brake has been retained, which suggests that the Vepr's ballistic performance should be identical to that of the AK-74. The weapon's weight is almost the same as that of the AK-74M variant, and its length is comparable to that of a folding-stock AK with the stock folded. The main advantage of the bullpup layout thus lies in the fact that the weapon becomes much shorter and thus easier to store, to carry and to handle in confined spaces. However, the bullpup's overall superiority to conventional rifle configurations, in which the magazine and chamber are in front of the trigger and pistol grip rather than behind, has been questioned, even though the bullpup layout is more and more becoming an industry standard.
, does not favour ambidextrous operation, for three reasons:
series of rifles. A relatively large red dot sight
of Ukrainian production can also be fitted as standard. The latest versions of the Vepr also include an integral 40mm underslung grenade launcher
, with a dual trigger layout in which the front trigger fires the grenade launcher and the rear trigger fires the rifle.
Assault rifle
An assault rifle is a selective fire rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge and a detachable magazine. Assault rifles are the standard infantry weapons in most modern armies...
, designed by the National Space Agency of Ukraine. Note that on the Ukrainian Government Portal website (see below in External Links), the Vepr is classed as a sub-machinegun. It is one of several bullpup
Bullpup
Bullpups are firearm configurations in which the action is located behind the trigger group and alongside the shooter's face, so there is no wasted space for the buttstock as in conventional designs. This permits a shorter firearm length for the same barrel length for improved maneuverability, and...
conversions of the conventional AK-74
AK-74
The AK-74 is an assault rifle developed in the early 1970s in the Soviet Union as the replacement for the earlier AKM...
design, along with the Polish Kbk wz. 2005 Jantar
Kbk wz. 2005 Jantar
The 5.56 mm Kbk wz. 2005 Jantar is a Polish experimental assault rifle. It is configured in a bullpup layout, and was designed by the state-owned Wojskowa Akademia Techniczna, based on the Kbk wz...
, the Chinese Norinco Type 86S
Norinco Type 86S
The Norinco Type 86S is an AKM-type bullpup rifle and that was produced by Norinco. It operates the same way as other AKM-type rifles with a few exceptions. Many major parts are interchangeable with other standard Kalashnikov rifles.-Design:...
, the Russian KBP A-91 and OTs-14 Groza, the Finnish Valmet M82
Valmet M82
The Valmet M82 is a bullpup assault rifle with a Valmet M76 internal design created by Finnish company Valmet.-History:The M82 was introduced in Finland in 1978 and discontinued production in 1986....
and the South African Vektor CR-21
Vektor CR-21
The Vektor CR-21 is a modern South African assault rifle chambered for 5.56x45mm NATO ammunition. It has been designed by Denel Land Systems as a possible replacement for the South African National Defence Force's current R4 assault rifle.The rifle is being marketed for export customers, but no...
.
History
Prior to the development of the Vepr, the personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were equipped mainly with the AKMAKM
The AKM is a 7.62mm assault rifle designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is an upgraded version of the AK-47 rifle and was developed in the 1950s....
and AK-74
AK-74
The AK-74 is an assault rifle developed in the early 1970s in the Soviet Union as the replacement for the earlier AKM...
assault rifle
Assault rifle
An assault rifle is a selective fire rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge and a detachable magazine. Assault rifles are the standard infantry weapons in most modern armies...
designs, typical of Warsaw Pact
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Treaty Organization of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance , or more commonly referred to as the Warsaw Pact, was a mutual defense treaty subscribed to by eight communist states in Eastern Europe...
countries. Currently only small number of Veprs are in service with Ukrainian special forces. Recently, as part of ongoing reforms in the Ukrainian Ground Forces
Ukrainian Ground Forces
The Ukrainian Ground Forces are the land force component of the Military of Ukraine. They were formed from Soviet Army formations, units, and establishments, including three military districts , that were on Ukrainian soil when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1990-92.Between the fall of the USSR and...
, Ukraine's Ministry of Defense has declared intentions to purchase thousands of Veprs by the year 2010. However, since the political tides in Ukraine are moving towards a NATO and possibly a European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
membership, and since a well-launched Ukrainian gun manufacturer (RPC Fort
RPC Fort
Fort is a Ukrainian weapons manufacturer from Vinnytsia, Ukraine.-History:...
) is offering on the Ukrainian market firearms in "western" calibers such as the Israeli TAVOR assault rifle, NEGEV light machinegun and GALIL sniper rifle, the future of this weapon in Ukrainian service may be in jeopardy. As of 2010 with NATO membership off due to political changes in Kiev the adoption of newer weapons is also off. With the exception of some IAI Tavors used by troops in multinational overseas deployments. Most Ukrainian personnel still use AK-74
AK-74
The AK-74 is an assault rifle developed in the early 1970s in the Soviet Union as the replacement for the earlier AKM...
s.
Design
Although the Vepr has been proclaimed as a revolutionary upgrade to the AK-74AK-74
The AK-74 is an assault rifle developed in the early 1970s in the Soviet Union as the replacement for the earlier AKM...
, it is, in fact, an interesting yet fairly simple modification of the basic AK-74 system in a bullpup
Bullpup
Bullpups are firearm configurations in which the action is located behind the trigger group and alongside the shooter's face, so there is no wasted space for the buttstock as in conventional designs. This permits a shorter firearm length for the same barrel length for improved maneuverability, and...
design, with the following modifications:
- The standard gas-operated, rotating-bolt AK-74 mechanism is removed from its furniture and a new butt plate is mounted directly on the rear of the receiver;
- A polymer cheek rest is fitted to the receiver cover;
- The trigger and pistol grip are placed in front of the magazine;
- The cocking handle is removed from the bolt carrier and a new cocking handle arrangement is placed on the left side of the forearm.
Common characteristics with the AK-74
The weapon still fires 5.45x39mm5.45x39mm
The Soviet 5.45×39mm cartridge is a rimless bottlenecked rifle cartridge. It was introduced into service in 1974 for use with the new AK-74 assault rifle. It gradually supplemented then largely replaced the 7.62x39mm round in service....
ammunition from 30-round magazines at an approximate rate of fire of 600 to 650 rounds per minute, the barrel length remains the same and the muzzle brake has been retained, which suggests that the Vepr's ballistic performance should be identical to that of the AK-74. The weapon's weight is almost the same as that of the AK-74M variant, and its length is comparable to that of a folding-stock AK with the stock folded. The main advantage of the bullpup layout thus lies in the fact that the weapon becomes much shorter and thus easier to store, to carry and to handle in confined spaces. However, the bullpup's overall superiority to conventional rifle configurations, in which the magazine and chamber are in front of the trigger and pistol grip rather than behind, has been questioned, even though the bullpup layout is more and more becoming an industry standard.
Right-handed use
The Vepr's only serious readily-visible drawback seems to be the fact that its layout, as that of the British SA80SA80
The SA80 is a British family of 5.56mm small arms. It is a selective fire, gas-operated assault rifle. SA80 prototypes were trialled in 1976 and production was completed in 1994....
, does not favour ambidextrous operation, for three reasons:
- Like the AK-74, the weapon still ejects to the right, which becomes a problem because a right-ejecting bullpupBullpupBullpups are firearm configurations in which the action is located behind the trigger group and alongside the shooter's face, so there is no wasted space for the buttstock as in conventional designs. This permits a shorter firearm length for the same barrel length for improved maneuverability, and...
weapon, held left-handed, presents the ejection port directly against the operator's face; - Notably, the standard Kalashnikov-type combined safety lever / fire selector lever arrangement has not been revised. In the original weapon, the selector lever was noted for its relatively uncommon safe-auto-semi options sequence (rather than the typical safe-semi-auto), but the only real problems were that the lever was made (in)famous for its characteristic "Kalashnikov Clack" and it could not be operated without letting go of either the pistol grip or the forearm. The use of the same selector lever in a bullpup configuration adds further problems: the lack of any other form of fire selector device, which would ideally be placed as close to the trigger as possible, results in awkward handling with the weapon shouldered, especially when holding it left-handed;
- The cocking handle is still placed to one side, now favouring right-handed operators but making it difficult to work the cocking handle with the right hand while holding the weapon left-handed.
Accessories
The Vepr includes adjustable open sights and a conventional side mount, on the left, for day or night scopes. The front sight is strikingly similar to that of the American M16M16 rifle
The M16 is the United States military designation for the AR-15 rifle adapted for both semi-automatic and full-automatic fire. Colt purchased the rights to the AR-15 from ArmaLite, and currently uses that designation only for semi-automatic versions of the rifle. The M16 fires the 5.56×45mm NATO...
series of rifles. A relatively large red dot sight
Red dot sight
A red dot sight is a common classification for a type of non-magnifying reflector sight for firearms that gives the user an aimpoint in the form of an illuminated red dot...
of Ukrainian production can also be fitted as standard. The latest versions of the Vepr also include an integral 40mm underslung grenade launcher
40 mm grenade
The 40mm grenade is a military grenade caliber for grenade launchers in service with many armed forces. There are two main types in service: the 40×46mm, which is a low-velocity round used in hand-held grenade launchers; and the high-velocity 40×53mm, used in mounted and crew-served weapons. The...
, with a dual trigger layout in which the front trigger fires the grenade launcher and the rear trigger fires the rifle.