KP-14 PDW
| KP-14 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Submachine gun |
| Place of origin | Astronea |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2014-present |
| Used by | Astronean Armed Forces |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 2013 |
| Manufacturer | Talamnrath Precision Systems |
| Unit cost | $750 |
| Produced | 2013-present |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 580 mm (23 in) |
| Barrel length | 165 mm (6.5 in) |
| Width | 52 mm (2.0 in) |
| Height | 265 mm (10.4 in) |
| Cartridge | 9x19mm, .40 ACC |
| Action | Closed bolt, fully locked short stroke push-rod gas system |
| Rate of fire | 850 rounds/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 370 m/s (1,200 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 100–200 m (110–220 yd) |
| Maximum firing range | 100–350 m (110–380 yd) |
| Feed system | 10, 15, 20 or 30 round detachable box magazine |
| Sights | Fixed front and rear iron sights |
| References | |
The KP-14 is a recently developed submachine gun intended as a smaller caliber, more controllable alternative to carbines. It is currently in use with AWD, SPRG, military police units and some vehicle crews. While the Astronean Armed Forces has carbine versions of most of their full length firearms, the military was lacking a pistol caliber submachine gun. Looking at foreign designs and drawing from domestic technological advancements in firearms, TPS created the KP-14 in 2013, which was officially adopted into service a year later. It is officially designated as a personal defence weapon.
The KP-14 can be most commonly found among vehicle crews and police units. Its small caliber allows easy control of the weapon, even in fully automatic fire. The KP-14 operates with a fully closed and locked rotating bolt, improving user safety over open bolt designs. Another modern design is its short stroke gas piston, a similar version to the AMW-280, albeit scaled down. This grants the KP-14 the reliability needed to operate in adverse weather conditions without malfunction.
Being a modern weapon, the KP-14 also features a full RIS for mounting optics and sights, as well as the ability to switch between barrel lengths in the field to adapt to situations as they present themselves. This allows an operator to reach targets at longer range with a longer barrel, or operate in an urban environment with a shorter barrel. This technology was streamlined from lessons learned in developing caliber changing technologies used in the TPS R-30 and AM-96 ISW.
The KP-14 is currently marketed for export as a military and law enforcement personal defence weapon.
Design
The KP-14 integrates technologies designed for use with multi caliber weapons systems of the AM-96 ISW and TPS R-30 in its use of quick change barrels. By gripping the muzzle of the weapon and twisting to a 45 degree angle whilst simultaneously pressing the barrel-release catch located on the receiver of the weapon, the free-floating barrel will detach from the receiver and can be replaced by a different length. To insert a new barrel, the user feeds the new barrel through the handguard and connects to the receiver of the weapon. Twisting counter-clock wise 45 degrees will holding down the barrel-release catch down will fit the barrel in place, after which the user lets go of the barrel and can proceed to fire.
The standard KP-14 PDW comes with a rear and front fixed sight that is attached to the integrated rail system on the top of the weapon.
The KP-14 uses a gas short stroke piston system in order to increase the accuracy of the weapon which operates in closed bolt. It is designed in this way to prevent water or dirt from entering the chamber and causing malfunctions as well as to use a suppressor with greater ease. It features an ambidextrous selector switch for fully automatic (law enforcement/military models) and semi-automatic. It also features an ambidextrous bolt catch. The barrel is free-floating and is surrounded by Polymer/Steel Rail mounts.
The charging handle of the weapon is located at the back of the weapon. This is to ensure that cocking the weapon does not interfere with any optics mounted onto the Picatinny rail. The weapon's rails are made out of cast steel and the standard weapon overall weighs 2.1 kg.