Vepr
Summary
| Country | 🇺🇦 Ukraine |
| Category | Assault rifle |
| Manufacturer | Kalashnikov-based |
Technical specifications
| Vepr | |
|---|---|
| Fire Rate | 600 rounds/min. |
| Caliber | 5.45 x 39 mm |
| Magazine | 30 rounds |
| Length | 702 mm (27.6 in) |
| Weight | 3.45 kg (7.6 lb) |
| Range | 450 m (1476 ft) |
Description
The Vepr is an assault rifle developed in Ukraine. It was initially designed between 1993 and 1994 and publicly announced in 2003. Work on the bullpup machine gun, based on the RPK chambered in 7.62 × 39, began in 1993 at an artillery base in Nizhyn. Model № 1, a bullpup machine gun, was created in 1994. Subsequently, models № 2 and № 3 were developed based on the RPK-74 5.45 × 39 mm and the AKM 7.62 × 39 mm, respectively. The SKS carbine was also redesigned into model № 4. Following a patent by Anatoly Anatolyev, Vladimir Sheiko, and Andrey Zharkov, documentation was transferred to the Kyiv Radio Plant in 2001. The first Vepr rifle was displayed on 28 August 2003, with ten units produced by 9 October 2004.
The Vepr is a bullpup conversion of the standard Kalashnikov-family design, utilizing the gas-operated, rotating-bolt mechanism of the AK-74. In the bullpup configuration:
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The original furniture is removed.
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A butt plate is fitted directly to the rear of the receiver.
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A polymer cheek rest is added to the receiver cover.
The trigger and pistol grip are relocated forward, in front of the magazine. The original charging handle is removed, and a new arrangement is placed on the left side of the forearm. It retains the AK-74's ability to fire 5.45×39mm ammunition from 30-round magazines at a rate of 600 to 650 rounds per minute. Ballistic performance is expected to be identical to the AK-74 due to the retained barrel length and muzzle brake. The weapon's weight is similar to the AK-74M, and its length is comparable to a folding-stock AK with the stock folded.
Initial development included several prototypes designated models № 1 through № 4, based on RPK (7.62x39 and 5.45x39), AKM (7.62x39), and SKS platforms. The Vepr rifle displayed in 2003 fires 5.45x39mm ammunition. Some versions feature an integral 40mm underslung grenade launcher with a dual trigger setup, where the front trigger operates the grenade launcher and the rear trigger operates the rifle.
Ukraine's Ministry of Defense expressed intentions to acquire thousands of Veprs by 2010, but the weapon was never adopted by the Ukrainian Army. The absence of Vepr adoption contributed to the subsequent creation of the Malyuk.