Failed Soviet bullpup or Korobov TKB-022 assault rifle

Design began in 2005. Now the idea of ​​Vepr has reached the pinnacle of engineering and technical thought in Vulkan-M, and then in Malyuk -Malysh.
Interproinvest specialists, having received and accumulated the experience that was acquired during the development of Vepr, took part in the creation and development.

The first sample was given the name “Vulcan-M”. The second received 12 changes and improvements to its design, which improved and improved it (the direction of ejection of the cartridge case was changed, removable mechanical sighting devices, the permissibility of installing a muffler, a mount for removable bipods), and became known as “Malyuk”

Malyuk has become much more ergonomic and has a polymer body, like the Vulcan. The Malyuk does not have a mechanical sight, like current NATO rifles.

The Ukrainian military adopted weapons that are not inferior to the Tavor. Its dimensions and overall weight, reliability, convenience - everything is a plus. The most important positive factor is the price. "Malyuk" is cheaper than the Israeli "Tavor".

Firing from the “Malysh” is carried out both from the right and from the left shoulder, but there is an inconvenience, it lies in the fact that in order to shoot from the left shoulder it is necessary to change the ejection of the cartridge case from the barrel (“case ejection window”) - for right-handed people on the right, and left-handers on the left, and also move the safety button using the included tool. Note that the very ergonomic handle for cocking the bolt does not move. This makes it possible to eliminate the possibility of injury to the shooter’s finger or chin.

To prevent powder gases from getting into the shooter’s face, there is a special one. screen.

At the moment, a model has been implemented chambered for 5.45x39mm and 7.62mm.

A magazine from a Kalashnikov assault rifle is used as a magazine for cartridges. It is inserted into a specialized magazine shaft, thanks to which better fixation is achieved and the magazine abutment is facilitated. There is a drawback in this scheme - it is not possible to use disk and multi-row magazines.

There is a special bracket around the fire control handle. The purpose of this bracket is to complicate the process of knocking the machine gun out of the shooter’s hands in such a situation.

The safety of the Malyuk is located above the tail of the trigger. This implementation is a very convenient solution. At the same time, the safety switch is on the right side of the butt, which is not always convenient.

By and large, the “Kid” is a modern assault rifle and is not inferior to analogues, such as the Israeli “Tavor” TAR-21, the Austrian Steyr AUG or the Belgian FN F2000. What development will the latest modification receive? It's not clear yet.

Let us note that franchised Tavors of 5.45 caliber are available only from the SBU.

Compared to the AK, the Malysh has noticeably reduced recoil and can be operated with one hand - by releasing the safety, firing, changing the magazine and reloading the weapon.

The production of "Malyuk" for the military will be established at the state enterprise "Krasilovsky Aggregate Plant", this will make it possible to increase the product line of the enterprise and create new jobs.

The production of the civilian version of Vulcan-M is expected to be established at the facilities of the Lvov concern Electron.

Malyuk - History

History of creation

The Vepr assault rifle was created in Ukraine, based on the Soviet Kalashnikov AK-74M assault rifle with a cartridge caliber of 5.45 × 39 millimeters. The essence of the creation was to remake it for the Bullpup layout system. Moreover, it was remade quite competently.

Most of the problems of Bullpup were eliminated, and those that were not eliminated were improved in its logical continuation - Vulcan.

Adoption

It is expected that in 2016 the machine gun will be adopted by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, since tests were completed in December 2015. The machine received the highest scores for a large number of parameters that were stated in testing.

Trial operation in some army units has already confirmed high performance indicators and aroused the interest of specialists.

The final stage of testing of Malyuk takes place with the participation of soldiers of the special forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces at one of the enterprises of Ukroboronprom. The main goal of this testing is to bring the design and characteristics as close as possible to the satisfaction of end users.

Starting from the first stages, fighters praise the weapon.

Wars and conflicts

Did not take part in wars and conflicts. Since it only goes through the stages of final testing, modifications and is waiting for adoption.

Technical description

Powder gas automation mechanism

The automatic mechanism is identical to the mechanism of the Kalashnikov assault rifle, because Malyuk is made on its basis. Those. This is the principle of removing powder gases from the barrel bore with a short piston stroke. The energy of powder gases is rationally consumed and a convection system for removing heat from the barrel is used, because of this the barrel resource doubles in comparison with that of an AK.

Nutrition

Ammunition is supplied by magazines for 10 rounds (open-end from AKS-74UB), 20 rounds (open-end from AKS-74U), 30 rounds (open-end from AK-74) and 45 rounds (open-end from RPK-74)

Sights

It can be considered that only optical and collimator sights are devices for aiming. For the convenience of mounting sights, a Picatinny rail is installed on the receiver, using which it is possible to install any sight, both those used in NATO and others. Those. You can attach any modern sight thanks to the strap on the receiver.

There is also a bar at the bottom for attaching a laser target designator (face), or a tactical handle.

Failed Soviet bullpup or Korobov TKB-022 assault rifle

Home » Real story » Controversial history of the near past » Failed Soviet bullpup or Korobov TKB-022 assault rifle

Controversial history of the immediate pastSmall arms of the past, present and future

Mrakoziabra 12/12/2018 2147

10

in Favoritesin Favoritesfrom Favorites 8

After the end of World War II, in order to participate in the competition for new small arms of the Soviet Army, Soviet gunsmith designer German Aleksandrovich Korobov began developing the TKB-408 assault rifle chambered for 7.62x39 mm, built in a bullpup configuration. However, the Korobov TKB-408 assault rifle dropped out of the competition, and the Kalashnikov AK-47 assault rifle was adopted.

After the end of World War II, in order to participate in the competition for new small arms of the Soviet Army, Soviet gunsmith designer German Aleksandrovich Korobov began developing the TKB-408 assault rifle chambered for 7.62x39 mm, built in a bullpup configuration. However, the Korobov TKB-408 assault rifle dropped out of the competition, and the Kalashnikov AK-47 assault rifle was adopted. After the TKB-408 assault rifle was rejected, Korobov for some time abandoned weapons in the bullpup layout, but in the early 1960s he returned to it again, creating a whole family of assault rifles under the symbol TKB-022 (TKB - Tula Design Bureau), Moreover, each new sample was significantly different from the previous one.

The new family of TKB-022 assault rifle includes the following models:

— TKB-022 No. 1, No. 2, No. Z; — TKB-022P No. 1, No. 2, No. Z; — TKB-022PM No. 1, No. 2; — TKB-022PM5 No. 1.

At the beginning of 1961, a topic was opened in the USSR aimed at developing new schemes for assault rifles and machine guns, as well as searching for more advanced principles of automation. The samples had to have a simple design, light weight and be reliable in operation. Within the framework of this topic, in 1961 Korobov created the TKB-022 assault rifle, the design of which shows signs of a bullpup layout. Also in 1961, three variants of the TKB-022 assault rifle were presented for testing - No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3.

The TKB-022 assault rifle is built according to a rather unusual pistol layout for assault rifles, in which the magazine is placed in the fire control handle. The weapon used automatic equipment with removal of powder gases from the barrel. The shutter is rotary. The bolt carrier with the bolt has a short stroke, and the annular piston located on the barrel has a long recoil stroke. The bolt carrier and piston have a detachable connection that operates automatically. The cartridges were ejected only on the right side of the weapon. The USM allows for both single and automatic fire. One of the distinguishing features is the widespread use of plastic. The body of the weapon was a kind of plastic “case” that opened into two halves. The weight of the TKB-022 assault rifle without a magazine was 2.6 kg with a weapon length of 755 mm. During fire tests of the TKB-022 assault rifle, when firing 13,350 rounds from sample No. 1 and 3,036 rounds from sample No. 3, there were no delays, and the accuracy of fire was not inferior to the AKM assault rifle, but the “space” design, the use of unusual The age of plastic and the reflection of cartridges in the shooter’s face when firing from the left shoulder did not allow it to be adopted for service. At the same time, in 1961, a competition was announced for the creation of a 7.62-mm light machine gun chambered for the 1943 model. And in 1962, Korobov, based on the TKB-022, developed a 7.62-mm experimental bullpup assault rifle TKB-022P model No. 1, No. 2, No. Z.

TKB-022P No. 2

The TKB-022P assault rifle was distinguished by the widespread use of plastics in the manufacture of the body, which was a huge step forward for that time. The lightweight TKB-022P assault rifle, in its design, use of new materials and assembly without labor-intensive fitting work, was a completely new, original solution, however, the ejection of cartridges was carried out only on the right side. The weight of the TKB-022P without a magazine was 2.5 kg with a weapon length of 635 mm, and in terms of accuracy of fire the new weapon was not inferior to the Kalashnikov AKM assault rifle. Continuing work on the creation of a lightweight assault rifle chambered for 7.62x39 mm, to improve the accuracy of combat when firing automatic fire from an unstable position, Korobov modernizes the TKB-022P and creates the TKB-022PM assault rifle, models No. 1 and No. 2.

TKB-022PM No. 1

TKB-022PM No. 2

In addition to its compact dimensions, the TKB-022PM assault rifle was distinguished by very advanced solutions at that time - in addition to the plastic case, the ejection of spent cartridges and the removal of powder gases was carried out forward at the muzzle of the weapon, which ensured shooting from both the right and left shoulders. The TKB-022PM assault rifle used gas-operated automatics with an annular gas piston located around the barrel. The barrel is locked by a wedge bolt sliding in a vertical plane, which, on the one hand, made it possible to reduce the length of the receiver as much as possible, and on the other hand, required the introduction of an additional part - a rammer/retractor. This U-shaped part, moving in a horizontal plane back and forth, is responsible for sending the cartridge into the chamber, removing the spent cartridge case from the barrel and sending the cartridge case into the output tube above the barrel, through which the cartridge case enters the front of the weapon and there it falls out at the base. flies.

It is possible to install a muzzle attachment on the barrel of the machine gun for throwing rifle grenades. Accordingly, the weapon had a manually activated valve that shut off the gas outlet when firing rifle grenades. The fire mode switch safety switch is located on the left above the pistol grip fire control. To supply the TKB-022PM with ammunition, standard 30-round AKM assault rifle magazines from a Kalashnikov assault rifle are used, installed directly in front of the butt plate. The body of the weapon is made of plastic with metal inserts. Open sights TKB-022 PM are adjustable. At the same time, the length of the aiming line was relatively small. Fire tests of TKB-022PM No. 1 confirmed its high reliability. When firing automatically from an unstable position, the machine gun showed accuracy of fire three times higher than the AKM. The weight of the TKB-022PM No. 1 assault rifle without a magazine was 2.8 kg with a weapon length of 525 mm. Further improvement of the TKB-022PM manufacturing technology, including those based on model No. 1, and the use of new materials made it possible to reduce the weight of TKB-022PM No. 2 from 2.8 kg to 2.34 kg. Subsequently, on the basis of the TKB-022PM assault rifle, Korobov created the TKB-022PM5 assault rifle for the new, promising 5.6x39 mm cartridge at that time.

TKB-022P M5 No. 1

The design of the TKB-022PM5 was similar to the TKB-022PM assault rifle, and tests showed that the accuracy of fire from this weapon from the hand-prone position at a range of 100 m was better than that of the standard AKM assault rifle. Tests confirmed the high reliability of the TKB-022PM, however, Korobov’s assault rifles remained only in the form of prototypes, which was affected by objective reasons (for example, a shifted center of gravity to the rear of the weapon and the “survivability” of the plastic case during long-term operation in difficult conditions and storage ) and subjective reasons (the military leadership responsible for the adoption of weapons was very conservative and did not welcome radical changes). In addition, the AKM assault rifle was already quite well mastered by production and by the troops.