South African small to medium calibre weapon prototypes, concepts, projects etc.

[Grey Havoc]

So just to be sure, that is the ZA-35 based design that formed the basis of the PZA Loara?

 

[Grey Havoc]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dg0WSvH5yl4

 

[FIMMCH98]

Hello everyone. Question: Does anyone have information about the Vektor/Denel R4 Tactical family of rifles?

Like, better pictures and infographics compared to these links:

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/88/f0/86/88f086dbecf4a1388d6b1a21db2660cc.jpg

Denel showcases a 21st Century R4 assault rifle at AAD - defenceWeb

Denel Land Systems (DLS) is showcasing the R4 assault rifle in four configurations appropriate for the 21st Century: all fitted with Picatinny rails and a variety of optics and accessories at Africa Aerospace & Defence at AFB Ysterplaat in Cape Town. Included in the range is the designated...

www.defenceweb.co.za

R6.2 million for R4 - defenceWeb

The Sout African National Defence Force has put some R5 million aside to maintain and repair its R4 assault rifle holdings. A further R1.1 million is being spent on R4-related training aids. The funding takes to R72.539 734.17 money spent on the R4 and R5 assault rifles since 2007. About 420 000...

www.defenceweb.co.za

And how would this upgrade compare with the Galil ACE family?

(Reposted from https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/th...rojects-concepts-etc.9088/page-48#post-473173)

 

[kaiserbill]

I think the primary aim of the Ace was to lighten it, with a secondary aim of having an alternate version that takes STANAG magazines.
The standard Galil and R4 has a solid, strong, milled steel lower receiver.
The ACE has a mixed material receiver.
When Israel were given M16/M4 rifles cheaply, the infantry liked it as it was lighter. 25% if I recall.
The South African mods do not lighten the R4.
But from a personal viewpoint, the R4 or Galil are not that heavy.
And it is possibly THE most reliable rifle I have ever shot.
I suspect price was the real driver behind the adoption of the M16/M4 for Israel.
My opinion.

Edit: Also, call me old fashioned, but I believe a standard infantry rifle should be built simply, and strongly, and go bang every time you want it to. Especially in an African context. The old saying that a troop of soldiers will break anything they get their hands on, is true in my experience. Even an anvil would be broken within a matter of days.

 

[FIMMCH98]

Does anyone have better pictures for this upgraded rifles, alongside a brochure or infographics detailing the changes made?

 

[curious george]

Does anyone have better pictures for this upgraded rifles, alongside a brochure or infographics detailing the changes made?

Unfortunately not, but to me it looks like anything your standard IPSC shooter could throw together, the stock looks FAB defence-ish and the handrail looks similar to the UTG styled ones we can source locally.Optics could be anything that looks like a Trijicon.

 

[Graugrun]

Does anyone have better pictures for this upgraded rifles, alongside a brochure or infographics detailing the changes made?

Hi FIMMCH98 - Does my post #114 not help you a fair bit..?

 

[FIMMCH98]

Does anyone have better pictures for this upgraded rifles, alongside a brochure or infographics detailing the changes made?

Hi FIMMCH98 - Does my post #114 not help you a fair bit..?

It did, actually. Thank you.

 

[curious george]

Some CSIR slides showing the R-4 development, upgrades and potential upgrades. I enjoyed that they showed the true Galil/R-4 linage in the first slide.

The CSIR "upgrades" looks to me like something a gamer drew up to be honest, or worse,some labrat that hasn't spent anytime behind a rifle(ever).

Grenade launchers and collapsible stocks as depicted,just don't go together.
What ever happened to cheekweld and other basics of shooting, etc?

In my opnion I have seen better and more practical solutions evolve and come from private guys who actually shoot, both individual and small outfits like eg those in the pictures from VNI.

He is just really beginning to explore the market but already invokes more confidence than the state funded whatever you want to call the CSIR guys. (I own and shoot a LM5 amongst other types for IPSC.)

 

[Graugrun]

I originally posted this a few years back in the SA vehicles forum - it belongs better here.

Developed in the early 1980's - it was a self forming fragmentation warhead, now just adapted to being an off route intelligent mine. The brochure describes the rest.

 

[Graugrun]

Milkor’s enhanced weapons range takes aim at the global market​

https://www.defenceweb.co.za/featured/milkors-enhanced-weapons-range-takes-aim-at-the-global-market/

 

[Grey Havoc]

Regarding Truvelo, from back in late September:

Truvelo is back with a bang - defenceWeb

Firearms manufacturer Truvelo is finding its feet again under the direction of its new owner, African Defence Group. The company was exhibiting its full range of rifles at the Africa Aerospace and Defence 2022 exhibition in Pretoria, with more to come. It last exhibited at AAD in 2018, but two...

www.defenceweb.co.za

 

[Graugrun]

I'm posting this article as it also covers some details and specs of the various grenades..

RDM nets more NATO 40 mm ammunition contracts​

https://www.defenceweb.co.za/featured/rdm-nets-more-nato-40-mm-ammunition-contracts/

 

[Graugrun]

RDM's latest version of their airburst 40mm grenade - not yet in production as far as I'm aware..

 

[Graugrun]

A piece on mortar development taken from a recent article on RDM's ramjet 155mm artillery development - the interesting part for me was the Northrop Grumman collaberation.

Rocket technology is also making its way into RDM’s mortar range. Few countries manufacture rocket-assisted mortars, some being China, Serbia, South Korea and Iran, but now RDM has a rocket-assisted 120 mm mortar that extends range to 15 km, although RDM hopes to increase range to 20 km. The company’s mortar range covers 60, 81 and 120 mm rounds.


Although RDM prides itself on range, lethality and accuracy, it says it is good at lethality and range with its mortars but not precision. However, it is collaborating with Northrop Grumman to create a highly accurate 120 mm ‘sniper mortar’.

 

[Perdikofas]

The brainchild of Andries Piek, BXP P1 (first prototype). Both short and long-barreled receivers were tested.

 

[Perdikofas]

2nd prototype BXP P2, its creator posing with a few examples. Uzi magazines were modified for this version as opposed to using standard ones for the P1.

 

[Scott Kenny]

Interesting.

The magazine looks like one of those extended 20 round pistol mags you could buy, going on the magazine floor plate and the angle at which it is housed.

If it was aimed at the police, that would make sense to share an interchangeable magazine between the service pistol and a service carbine, which was also the exact thought behind Rugers PC-9 Police Carbine and Marlin Camp Carbine.

EDIT: Reading Curious Georges post about the Rhodesian carbine, it states there that version had the 13 round and 20 round extended mag from the Hi Power 9mm pistol.
Certainly the Rhodesian one predates the Ruger and Marlin in using a pistol mag.
I wonder then which carbine first used a standard pistol mag?

The De Lisle Carbine (.45ACP suppressed Lee-Enfield variant) used standard 1911 magazines. I'm not aware of any earlier types, though I hope to be surprised here.

 

[Graugrun]

Dynateq International unveils new Rogue weapon systems​

https://www.defenceweb.co.za/featured/dynateq-international-unveils-new-rogue-weapon-systems/

 

[Graugrun]

There seemed to be drive to incorporate the 30mm DEFA type of cannons into various turrets at the AAD 2024 show. Including the turret at top right of the article pics - I guess they now have a whole lot of the DEFA guns lying around and lots of ammo too. So the SANDF properly wants to make good use of them.. I'll post some more on that later.. (article from the AAD 2024 daily magazine by DefenceWeb).

 

[Graugrun]

Some pics I took of one of the new turrets from Centauri (as per my post #140 above) - it's apparently a modified version of the Badger's mortar turret - Making use of the DEFA 30mm 30 X 113 gun.

 

[Graugrun]

a brochure (we suck at marketing..) of one of centauri's new 'turrets' - I'll post some photos that I took of it on a Twiga vehicle once I've edited them.

 

[Graugrun]

Article on some of the new turrets mentioned above - it expalins their roles and purpose better, as well as the anti-drone capabilities.

New turrets from Centauri Technologies​

https://www.defenceweb.co.za/featured/new-turrets-from-centauri-technologies/