ADS Assault rifle

[Zarvan]

Unique feature of the ADS is that it can be used both below and above the water



Country of origin Russia
Entered service ?
Caliber 5.45x39 mm
Weight (with grenade launcher) 4.6 kg
Length 685 mm
Barrel length 415 mm
Muzzle velocity (air) 900 m/s
Muzzle velocity (under water) 333 m/s
Cyclic rate of fire 600 - 900 rpm
Practical rate of fire (air) 40 - 100 rpm
Magazine capacity 30 rounds
Sighting range 500 m
Range of effective fire (air) 500 m
Range of effective fire (5 m under water) 25 m
Range of effective fire (20 m under water) 18 m


The ADS assault rifle is a further development the ASM-DT experimental underwater assault rifle. It was designed as a dual-medium weapon, that can fire under and above the water. First prototypes of this weapon appeared in around 2000. It was trialed by the Russian Navy in 2012-2013. However its final pre-production version was revealed only in 2014. The ADS is being proposed to the Russian Navy as a replacement for the APS underwater assault rifle, which is in service with Russian combat divers and naval commando units for more than 40 years. Furthermore it is proposed for other special forces units, that might need a weapon, capable of firing under the water. The ADS is also offered for various export customers. Currently it is a unique weapon with no known equivalents.

Even though the ADS was designed as the APS replacement, these weapons have little in common. The ADS is actually based on the A-91M assault rifle with bullpup layout. Unique feature of this weapon that it can be used both below and above the water. It uses newly developed 5.45x39 mm PSP underwater ammunition. Development of this ammunition was completed by 2005. It differs from the standard 5.45x39 general issue round only by the bullet shape. Under the water the bullets are stabilized by a hydrodynamic cavity, generated by the flat point of the bullet tip. This special ammunition retains a compact size of the standard 5.45x39 mm round and can be loaded and fired from the standard AK-74 magazines.

It is worth noting that standard ammunition is useless under the water, as it has a range of only 2-3 meters. Bullets loose their trajectory and penetration instantly. Furthermore it is unsafe to fire standard firearms under the water.

There is a baseline 5.45x39 mm PSP round with a steel core bullet and a PSP-U training round. This ammunition is resistant to water and corrosion. This special ammunition is normally used for firing under the water. Above water the ADS assault rifle can fire general issue 5.45x39 mm ammunition. Still though special underwater ammunition can be used above the water, but at a cost of reduced range and accuracy.

Performance of this special ammunition is slightly inferior to the APS darts, however the same ammunition can be fired both below and above the water. Furthermore it has significantly greater range above the water, than ammunition of the APS.

The ADS is a gas-operated, selective fire weapon. It fires from a closed bolt. Due to its bullpup layout this weapon looks compact, however its barrel has got the same length as that of the standard AK-74 assault rifle. The ADS has got a firing pin safety. It looks like there are no manual safeties. The ADS is fed from the standard AK-74 type 30-round magazines.

This weapon has got a Picatinny-type rail on top of the carrying handle. It comes with simple iron sights, but can mount various scopes, red dot sights or night vision devices.

This weapon is quiet effective and accurate both above and under the water. Though its efficiency and firing rate reduces gradually as the depth increases. At a depth of 5 meters its effective range is 25 meters. At a depth of 20 meters its effective range reduces to 18 meters. Such range might not sound a lot, however in most cases visibility under the water is even lower. So such range is adequate. In the air its effective range of fire is around 500 meters and its performance is similar to that of the standard AK-74 assault rifle. It was a huge improvement over the 100 m above water range of the APS, which also has a short service life when fired above the water, as its barrel deteriorates instantly. For training above the water smoothbore barrel of the APS has to be replaced by a rifled one. So overall the ADS is a way better weapon than the old APS.

Under the water this weapon can easily penetrate diving suits, diver's masks and oxygen tanks. It can be also used against various boats, rafts, and underwater frogmen delivery vehicles.

The ADS has got an integral 40 mm grenade launcher. It fires standard VOG-25 series grenades, used by other Russian underbarrel grenade launchers, and has a range of up to 400 m. This assault rifle can also mount a sound suppressor.

http://www.military-today.com/firearms/ads.htm