Because the Chinese sell their weapons, the Japanese don't.

When you sell Weapons you have to advertise their capabilities.

That's right, though it looks as if it might be changing...

The ban on Japanese exports on weapons was recently lifted. It's a matter of time 'till they realize the benefits of selling their stuff abroad - if income alone isn't enough, then reducing the costs for their own purchases surely makes it very attractive, that if their weapon industry is able to deal with the demand. They probably aren't right now, but I'm sure they will learn how to very quickly.

I found some info about a JGSDF prototype 66mm grenade launcher developed in around 1970s. It's a individual anti-armour weapon, capable of defeating light armoured targets, and was designed to be fired from cover or small corner.
But due to the mechanical failure and ergonomical problems, this prototype was never adopted, and it remains a "black history". Later, JGSDF desided to introduce the Carl Gustav 84mm as an individual anti-armour weapon.

It's some kind of shoulder-fired rocket-propelled grenade launcher, but it isn't recoilless, instead it's really full of punch, that may even probably damage the shooter. As I thought, it's like a mating of M72 and 2A28 Grom, a low-pressure shoulder-fired rocket-propelled grenade launcher.

I'll post more info here when I get further information.

Do you have any more information on this bullpup?

It really strikes me as something troubleshooter Berlin could have come up with. (that guy is amazing)

roguetechie said...

Do you have any more information on this bullpup?

I think you meant to ask me, rather than PTL?

That gun is the Kepplinger MRCS ("Multirole Combat System"), by Hannes Kepplinger; ex-Steyr engineer, later running his own gunsmithing business (the Kufsteiner Waffenstube).

Made a bit of a splash when it was unveiled back in 2000, but I didn't hear anything new about it until last year, when Kepplinger announced that he was looking for somebody to buy the IP (not just a license, but the entire package) - I suspect he's retiring, and wants to sell it off before then.

Magazine offset to the left, with a bottom ejection port next to it - the images available online are too low quality to show the magazine properly, but DWJ 10/2000 has one that's quite clear:

http://1drv.ms/1ItqZv0

Hybrid closed-bolt (for single fire) / open-bolt (for auto).

Quick-detach barrel in 650, 600 and 420 mm lenght.

Supposed to be easily convertible between 5.56x45, 7.62x39 and 5.45x39.

The receiver extends far back into the stock, to protect the shooter in case a cartridge goes off OOB.

Magazine capacities are listed as 10, 30, and 60 rounds, but all images I've seen show the 30-rounder.

The DWJ article also has a bit of data that probably refers to that UBGL I was asking about - the text mentions a 5-shot grenade launcher, and the data table says "Launcher: Barrel lenght 375mm, Magazine: 4 shots, Calibre: 40x46mm"

No weight, and no reference to how it works - the different capacities suggest it's some kind of magazine feed (4 shot magazine, total capacity 5), but it looks more like a revolver - assuming this actually is the same launcher :|

Tony 

What about FRAG -12 round for 12 gauge shotguns ???

Would this be considered a grenade launcher? 

Advantage here is dont need dedicated grenade launcher - just chamber it in standard cylinder bore shotgun 

FRAG-12 seems to have vanished, along with Metal Storm.

If Tony or you know a polish or Russian speaker who can translate this web article and or get a copy of the magazine article it's referencing we could possibly all indulge our curiosity.

http://zbroya.com.ua/mag/2000/2000-12/2000_12_3.htm

If it's not Polish language web article I apologize. I found this in a link that I took as Polish, or that may have been the Altair article....

If someone does manage to get a hi res pdf or scan of the article please keep me in mind.

P.s the link has pics of the system field stripped, complete Bcg, and a tiny but very much usable bolt face pic.

It's Russian. This is the way my browser translated it:

Arms and Hunting  2000, ?12.

AUG - to be continued ...

MRCS assault rifle with an attached bayonet

Assault Rifle Kerrlinger MRSS

There is currently a trend towards modernization of the main infantry weapon - assault rifles. Most recently, weapons designer from Austria Hans Keplinger of design of a new universal assault rifle (AUG). Novelty designation MRSS (Multi-Rule-Combat-System).

Steyr or Steyr?

Hans Keplinger began his professional career as a designer of weapons in the firm "Steur." He was directly involved in the development of the Austrian assault rifle StG-77, better known as the Steug-AUG. The basis of its design was based on the scheme Vullpup. For a long time the assault rifle is considered one of the best in the world. However, after more than two decades of operation, it became clear that it needs some work.

Detail of the bolt from the gate

Already working on Steug-AUG Hans Keplinger was considering options for its modernization. But only now, many years later, he was able to realize their ideas, organizing his own company "Kufsteiner Waffenstube", which produces mostly hunting rifles indiscriminately high, as well as spare parts for them. In their spare time Keplinger engaged in the development of the universal assault rifle. She was supposed to surpass in many ways, most assault rifles, previously created. Design and operation of a rifle MRCS Hans Keplinger borrowed the rifle StG-77, adding a number of innovative design proposals.

FEATURES

Housing MRCS is a lightweight steel receiver box with integrated trigger mechanism, sights and plastic pistol grip with a large trigger guard (for comparison, in the StG-77 aluminum housing). Accordingly, the body MRCS is much stronger than its predecessor.Carrying handle, combined with a sight (before this idea was realized in the StG-77), the new model is missing. The design of the new rifle also was put Vullpup scheme, based on the principle "return line" at which point it stops butt plate in the shoulder arrow is aligned with the axis of the bore and the line of sight increases slightly. Therefore, MRCS optical sighting device is fixed on a high bracket. The number of pieces in the model is minimized. MRCS is durable and easy and low cost manufacturing. It can be easily disassembled, assembled and serviced in the field.

Swivel head gate. One can clearly see five lugs and ejector

When retraction bolt back to the gate and releasing the shutter under the action of the return spring moves forward, grabs the next cartridge from the magazine and it shall be sent to the chamber - the weapon is ready to fire. Left on the rifle placed folding cocking handle bolt.

The butt is made of impact-resistant plastic and attached to the receiver by the latch rifle. Two windows in the lower part of the butt, are used to store connection (with locking mechanism) and the extraction of spent cartridges. Window-shop a receiver located on the left-bottom of the butt (as in the StG-77). The window for extraction of spent cartridges is disposed so that the cartridges are extracted down and therefore excluded the possibility of their getting into the arrow next. According to some experts, the location of the window on the right-bottom of the butt is not optimal, since the flying fiery liner from the window, bouncing off the ground can injure the shooter's face, neck and hands. To avoid this, the window of the ejector is mounted a special device - catcher bag liners.

Partially disassembled rifles MRCS

As StG-77 rifle used in the new trigger mechanism (USM) hammer type, but it has a number of features. For example, in the StG-77 translator-fire is not (by pressing the trigger to the primary operation is performed whispered single shooting, when fully pressed the trigger sear in automatic mode), so the weapon has a large trigger pull (approximately 6 kgf). The new rifle trigger pull significantly less, since the design of USM put uncoupler. Translator-fuse classical type is placed on the handle in the thumb shoot. Mounted to the upper position, it prevents accidental discharge of a weapon, in the middle - provides a single fire, and the lower - continuous burst shooting. Switch the type of fire with two-way, that is "dual-use", the lever is particularly suitable for both right and left hand.

Rifle MRCS has two fuses: automatic, located in front of the pistol grip, and a non-automatic, combined with a switch select the type of fire. Automatic fuse and trigger placed inside the trigger guard, the first located below the trigger, and is activated by a hand lever rifle scope.

Thanks to a set of interchangeable barrels, MRCS is a universal rifle infantry weapons

One of the drawbacks of any automatic weapons is the possibility of auto-ignition powder charge cartridges in hot during prolonged shooting trunks, and as a result - accidental discharge, as well as deterioration (due to prolonged shooting) accuracy and precision of the fight, as a result, again, the heating barrel. It is assumed that address these shortcomings possible through the use of interchangeable shafts and rotary valve heads.

Trunks MRCS look different from the trunks StG-77, and are more versatile. The trunk consists of a gas operated mechanism, gas regulator (as in the StG-77) and the folding front handle, which is both a folding bipod. Replacement of the trunk, as in the old model AUG, is very fast. In the chamber on the trunk made a special thread can reliably fix it in the receiver. Thus, the shift of the trunk can be done very quickly, without the help of special tools. To do this, turn the trunk to the right and push forward. When changing the barrel valve must be in the rear position.

On the outside of the barrel held the thread that is both air-cooled heat sink of the trunk and used to mount different accessories, including a grenade launcher. On the barrel muzzle is threaded developed by Keplinger muzzle brake-compensator (efficiency 60%).

Receiver MRCS group consists of four trunks of various lengths: 420 mm (automatic rifle), 530 mm (assault rifle), 600 mm (machine gun) and 650 mm (sniper rifle). At the rifle is provided for mounting a variety of optical sighting devices, such as optical sights 2,5x20 and 6x42 night vision or sight 4x42.