Vektor SS-77

SS-77
South African National Defence Force soldier with a SS-77 machine gun
Type General Purpose Machine Gun
Place of origin South Africa
Service history
Used by See Users
Wars South African Border War
Kivu conflict
Production history
Designed 1977
Manufacturer Denel Land Systems
Variants Variants
Specifications
Weight 9.6 kg (21 lb 3 oz) (SS-77)
8.26 kg (18 lb 3 oz) (Mini SS)
Length 1155 mm (SS-77)
1000 mm (Mini-SS)
Barrel length 550 mm (SS-77)
500 mm (Mini-SS)
Cartridge 7.62×51mm NATO (SS-77)
5.56×45mm NATO (Mini-SS)
Action Gas-operated, open bolt
Rate of fire 600–900 rounds/min
Feed system 100- or 200-round belt

The Vektor SS-77 is a general-purpose machine gun designed and manufactured by Denel Land Systems—formerly Lyttleton Engineering Works (LIW)—of South Africa.

History

In the late 1970s, South Africa was involved in an international controversy over apartheid and the South African Border War in Angola. As a result, it was subject to an international arms embargo and had to, out of necessity, design and manufacture its own weapons.[1] The SS-77 was developed to replace the FN MAG. It was designed in 1977 by Richard Joseph Smith and Lazlo Soregi, hence the name "SS-77". "SS" for Smith and Soregi, "77" for 1977, the year it was designed.[1]

Denel unveiled at the Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) 2016 exhibit that they'll be replaced in production by the DMG-5 and DMG-5 CX GPMG.[2]

Mini-SS

In the early 1990s, a light machine gun version, the Mini-SS, chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO was introduced. LIW also manufactured kits to convert existing SS-77 to the Mini-SS. Changes include the weight decrease from 9.6 to 8.26 kg (21 lb 3 oz to 18 lb 3 oz) with a folding bipod and fixed butt.[3]

Users

Variants

References

  1. 1 2 Security Arms Vektor SS-77 & Mini-SS. Retrieved on 14 May 2008.
  2. ↑ Martin, Guy. "Denel Land Systems Small Arms production at full capacity | defenceWeb". www.defenceweb.co.za. Retrieved 2017-09-01.
  3. ↑ Denel Land Systems Brochure. Archived 13 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 14 May 2008.
  4. ↑ http://www.aerospace-index.com/images/denel/denelnewslettersept06.pdf
  5. ↑ Small Arms Survey (2015). "Waning Cohesion: The Rise and Fall of the FDLR–FOCA" (PDF). Small Arms Survey 2015: weapons and the world (PDF). Cambridge University Press. p. 201.
  6. ↑ Martin, Guy. "Denel Land Systems shows off capabilities". defenceweb.co.za. defenceweb. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  7. ↑ Jones, Richard D.; Ness, Leland S., eds. (27 January 2009). Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010 (35th ed.). Coulsdon: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
  8. ↑ Dan, Alex (9 February 2016). "PASKAL Malaysian Special Forces Weapons". Military Factory (Small Arms). Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  9. ↑ "S.A.F. – Special Action Force – Armi e Mezzi | Corpi d' élite – Forze speciali italiane, antiterrorismo, intelligence". Corpidelite.net. 26 September 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  10. ↑ (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20120302190847/http://www.dpa.ro/rp/publicatii/buletine/bc2009_1.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 March 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2012. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  11. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 July 2014. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  12. ↑ https://sites.google.com/site/worldinventory/wiw_me_saudiarabia
  13. ↑ "Machine Guns". Army.mil.za. 13 December 2010. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  14. ↑ "Modern Firearms – Vector SS-77 and Mini-SS". World.guns.ru. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
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