VHS
Summary
| Country | 🇭🇷 Croatia |
| Category | Bullpup assault rifle |
| Manufacturer | HS Produkt |
Technical specifications
| VHS | |
|---|---|
| Fire Rate | 750 rounds/min. |
| Caliber | 5.56 x 45 mm OTAN |
| Magazine | 20 - 30 rounds |
| Length | 760 mm (29.9 in) |
| Weight | 3.0 kg (6.6 lb) |
| Range | 300 m (984 ft) |
Description
The VHS (Višenamjenska Hrvatska Strojnica, or multifunctional Croatian machine gun) is a 5.56×45mm NATO bullpup assault rifle developed and produced by HS Produkt of Croatia. Publicly introduced at the 2007 iKA exhibition in Karlovac, its development stemmed from a Croatian Army requirement for a new infantry rifle meeting NATO standards.
Development of the VHS rifle built upon earlier efforts, including a 7.62 mm bullpup variant of the Kalashnikov rifle created by HS Produkt (then IM Metal) during the Croatian War of Independence. This initial design had flaws but provided valuable experience. A delayed blowback model was tested in the mid-1990s without satisfactory results, followed by a design similar to the M16. Further prototypes were developed in 1996, 1999, and 2004, with the development path leading to the current production VHS beginning around 2003. A new prototype, externally similar to the French FAMAS, was presented in 2005, although only a fraction of the 2004 prototype's features were retained in the final production model. Following evaluation and adoption by the Croatian Ministry of Defence, including testing in Afghanistan, the final version was introduced in 2008. Initial orders included an experimental batch, followed by larger procurement orders for the Croatian Army, totaling 3,600 rifles in service by 2013 and 7,000 by 2015. The rifle underwent successful tests, and a long-term requirement exists for 50,000 rifles for the Croatian Army.
The VHS is chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO and features a bullpup configuration. The VHS-D rifle variant measures 765 mm in overall length with a 500 mm barrel, while the VHS-K carbine variant is 665 mm long with a 410 mm barrel. The rifle body utilizes a polymer monoblock construction. Externally, it bears a strong resemblance to the French FAMAS, although its internal operating mechanism and disassembly procedure differ. The operational system evolved during development before adopting its final gas-operated, short-stroke piston system by 2004. Service life testing reportedly demonstrated durability by firing 50,000 rounds without main part failures. The barrel is equipped with a flash suppressor and is capable of firing rifle grenades, featuring a sliding grenade boom guide and a high-angle launching sight located on the underside of the carrying handle. Both rifle and carbine variants feature a gas regulator with three settings:
- normal
- high (for weak ammunition)
- cut-off (for rifle grenades)
While featuring a non-reciprocating, ambidextrous charging handle, the VHS was initially designed for right-handed use only, ejecting cases rearward to the right. Early models were compatible with STANAG magazines, but this was changed to accept HK G36 magazines for production models entering Croatian military service. Ergonomics were noted as a drawback, particularly the placement and manipulation of the three-position (safe, semi, auto) fire selector inside the trigger guard.
Key variants of the VHS include:
- the baseline VHS-D rifle, outfitted with grenade discharging adapters and bayonet lugs
- the VHS-K carbine version, distinguished by its shorter length
- the improved VHS-2, introduced in 2013, featuring a more conventional fire selector, a redesigned carrying handle, an adjustable-length buttstock, and an ambidextrous casing ejection system. The VHS-2 line consists of the VHS-D2 assault rifle and the VHS-K2 carbine. A semi-automatic version of the VHS-2 is imported into the US as the Springfield Hellion.
The VHS rifle has seen operational deployment with the Croatian contingent in Afghanistan utilizing an experimental batch for testing.
The rifle is in service with military and police forces in various countries, including Albania (State Police), Bosnia and Herzegovina (federal special police with VHS-K2), Cameroon (military), Croatia (standard issue for the Army, replacing older models, and used by police), Iraq (approximately 100,000 VHS rifles in service with the Iraqi Federal Police, Iraqi Ground and Special Forces, and the Emergency Response Division), Syria (Army, reportedly supplied by Iraq), and Togo (Army, acquired 3,000 VHS-2 rifles for peacekeeping missions).
The rifle has also been evaluated by France (tested a specific VHS-F2 variant with a magazine well compatible with FAMAS magazines, shortlisting it for trials but ultimately not adopting it), Romania (involved in ongoing negotiations regarding local production and technology transfer), and the United States (purchased VHS-1 and VHS-2 rifles for testing and training purposes in 2012 and 2015, respectively).