AUP-71
| AUP-71 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Assault rifle |
| Place of origin |  Khyragus |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1971–present |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars | See Conflicts |
| Production history | |
| Designer | KVI |
| Designed | 1966-1971 |
| Manufacturer | KVI |
| Produced | 1971–present |
| No. built | apx. 8 million |
| Variants | See Variants |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 3.10 kg (6.83 lb) empty 3.62 kg (7.98 lb) with 30 rounds |
| Length | 855 mm (33.66 in) |
| Barrel length | 550 mm (21.65 in) |
| Cartridge | 6.5x45mm KVI |
| Action | Gas operated, rotating bolt |
| Rate of fire | 600–750 rounds/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 1020 m/s (3,346 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 550 m (601 yd) (point target) 800 m (875 yd) (area target) |
| Maximum firing range | 3,600 m (3,937 yd) |
| Feed system | 30-, 42-round detachable box magazine, STANAG magazine |
| Sights | Integrated 1.5x telescopic sight, flip up iron sights |
The AUP-71, officially designated the Univerzalna Avtomatska Puška 1971 (Khyragusian: Универзална Автоматска Пушка 1971, 'Universal Automatic Rifle 1971') is a gas operated, 6.5x45mm assault rifle developed in Khyragus by the Khyragusian Military Industries Corporation in the 1960s.
History
Concept
In the early 1960s, the Khyragusian Armed Forces lacked a designated service rifle and were primarily organized as a militia style force, using a mix of different rifles with varying calibers. This was noted by senior Khyragusian commanders as a key weakness, which would be exploited in the event of a major conflict. To address this, the Khyragusian military initiated the New Infantry Program, which was tasked with creating modern and standardized equipment that would integrate into the broader strategic changes being made to the military.
The Khyragusian military sought a selective fire rifle that would be cheap to mass produce, easy to use, and comparable to the rifles used by contemporary militaries during this time. Military planners desired a rifle compact enough to be easily used by the newly developing mechanized infantry forces. Initially, the military sought out existing rifle designs in use by other militaries, however, they were unable to find a weapon that satisfied all of their requirements. International political difficulties during this time posed further problems. As a temporary solution, the Khyragusian Army adopted the AP-57 for units operating outside of Khyragusian borders. Following this decision, work began immediately on a new, domestic rifle which could address the military's requirements.
Development
Following the international developments in intermediate caliber rifles, the 6.5x45mm KVI round was developed for use in the new standardized rifle design. The new round showed favorable ballistics, retaining higher energy than both the 5.56x45mm NATO and the 7.62x39mm rounds at extended ranges, while also providing low recoil.
In 1966, the Khyragusian military began a design competition to develop a rifle for the new 6.5mm round. In 1968, Kuslev Design Bureau's rifle, then known as the EUP-4, was chosen as the winner of the competition. The prototype rifle had many innovative features for its time, such as lightweight aluminum alloy receivers, an adjustable gas system, and an integrated optical sight. The design was then handed over to KVI, the state operated weapons manufacturer, for further testing and design changes. Although the overall design remained similar, changes were made to make components easier to mass produce and increase the reliability.
As the design neared completion, the Khyragusian military began a test program for the AUP rifle. Infantry squads operating in Kuwazavkavan, using the AP-57, were issued the AUP rifle to determine its effectiveness in combat. Initial reports from soldiers using the rifle showed high favorability, being nearly 1.4kg (3.1 lbs) lighter, easier to control in automatic fire, and more compact. During the testing, an issue with the ejection port, which required the user to stop automatic fire and manually eject the round was discovered. Additionally, the sling mounts were prone to breaking or deforming.
Following a final round of design changes to the rifle in 1971, the AUP was officially accepted as the new service rifle for the Khyragusian Armed Forces and designated the AUP-71. Priority was given to the Khyragusian Army for the initial deliveries, and by 1973, all branches had replaced their previous stock of rifle with the AUP-71.