Month: February 2014

Ukrainian copies of Swiss Brügger & Thomet APR rifles used during protests in Kiev

N.R. Jenzen-Jones During the ongoing civil unrest in Kiev, several images have circulated showing Ukrainian security forces equipped with a range of lethal weapons, including sniper rifles. In addition to the SVD type rifles commonly seen, security forces have been documented using a license-produced copy of one of the Brügger & Thomet APR rifles (as seen

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9M27K Series Cargo Rockets in Syria

Yuri Lyamin with Michael Smallwood From Syria comes another video of interest, this time showing remnants of a cargo rocket which landed near Namar, in the southern governorate of Daraa. The video shows a component of the cargo section of a rocket, likely belonging to a 220 mm 9M27K series rocket (9M27K or 9M27K1, both

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New Pistol Designs out of Libya

Jonathan Ferguson The demand for firearms in Libya has brought to light three handguns so far undocumented, at least in the English-speaking world. At least one of these (pictured below) is available in lethal-purpose form, though based upon a blank firing handgun and possibly also produced in that form. It is a sub-compact design, and

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9M55K Cargo Rockets and 9N235 Submunitions in Syria

Yuri Lyamin with N.R. Jenzen-Jones Update 04/07/2014: It appears that 9M55K cargo rockets and 9N235 submunitions may have been employed in Ukraine. Two interesting videos have surfaced from the area around the town of Kafr Zita, in the northern part of Syria’s Hama governorate. In recent days, heavy fighting has raged between government forces and armed

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Galil ACE Model 21 in South Sudan

Michael Smallwood The image above, a still from an upcoming VICE documentary, shows a Galil ACE Model 21 carbine reportedly in the possession of the Sudanese People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) Air Force. The ACE family is based upon the earlier Galil rifles, with updates to improve ergonomics and offer modern features and accessory mounting options.

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North Korean Helical AK Magazines

By Oryx Blog Team Several new developments in North Korean armaments can be witnessed amongst the recent flow of propaganda released by Pyongyang after Kim Jong-un’s ascension to power.  One such development is what appears to be a new magazine model for the North Korean copy of the AK-74, the Type 88. This new magazine

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9K310 Igla-1 MANPADS captured from rebel forces in South Sudan

N.R. Jenzen-Jones Seen at the bottom centre in the photo above is a 9K310 Igla-1 (NATO designation: SA-16 Gimlet) man-portable air defence system (MANPADS). The weapons pictured were purportedly captured by soldiers of the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) stationed in South Sudan to protect key government installations from rebel forces. The weapons were displayed

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