The Weapon Factory "Łucznik" from Radom, which belongs to the Bumar Group, presented for the first time a new family of shooting weapons MSPS 5,56. The new weapons are to replace the old Kalashnikovs and constantly modernized Beryls. Zbigniew Lentowicz writes about the new product by Łucznik in "Rzeczpospolita".
Zbigniew Lentowicz, Rzeczpospolita 12-15-2009:
The Weapon Factory "Łucznik" from Radom presented for the first time a new family of shooting weapons MSPS 5,56. The new weapons are to replace the old Kalashnikovs and constantly modernized Beryls. Confidential construction works have been conducted for over two years: modern concept of the entire module family caliber 5,56 - standard for NATO, was created at the Faculty of Special Construction at the Military University of Technology in Warsaw by a team leaded by lt. col. Ryszard Woźniak. The concept, which was properly shaped, is developed by main constructors: lt. col. Mirosław Zahor, lt. col. Przemysław Kupidura and Krzysztof Kozieł, representing the Łucznik factory. - We were first to see the new carbines. We are impressed - admits Jarosław Lewandowski, the head of the expert magazine "Strzał".
The research project financed by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education cost 6 mln PLN, but the result is impressive. On Tuesday, the constructors showcased the first ready automatic rifles in Radom. These are, for now, just the demonstrators of the technology, however, it is already known, that the unique, modular construction of the weapons will allows for the use of the same construction elements for the production of the entire family of shooting weapons. In this efficient way, the company will be able to manufacture: e.g. a system of carbines of standard and short barrel length (that is weapons of various destinations: e.g. for commandos and infantry). The same modules, just like Lego blocks, will be used to create a version characterized by high accuracy for sharpshooters or a light machine gun. Identical basic subunits will be also used to manufacture a multi-version, bull-pup carbine. Such weapons will find more users in many armies of the world, since it allows to radically reduce and "shorten" the shooting weaponry.
The new construction was built from the most modern materials: aluminum, composites, durable plastics. Some solutions will be protected by patents, hence the creators cannot reveal any technical details. It is only known, that the construction breaks technological bonds with the entire epoch of the system created yet before the end of the last war by the famous Kalashnikov. The carbines will have multi-bolt actions, short-action gas pistons, and the automatic rifle will activate the streams of powder gases collected from the bore. Jarosław Lewandowski emphasizes, that the weapon has, in comparison to the Beryls used by the army, improved ergonomics and is perfectly adapted to installing electric-optic sights and additional equipment.
On Tuesday, the construction team assured, that after introducing all necessary improvements and corrections, the weapon will be ready for mass production. In three years, the army could introduce it on a large scale.
