Russian SOBR (Special Rapid Response Unit) on a training drill.
Their gear includes :-
Zsh-1-2m helmet
Modul body armor
ANA black vest
ANA Specnaz Black suit
BZT-75 Ballistic shield
APS underwater Assault Rifle
Aware of the
limitations of APS, Russians are now making efforts for an amphibious assault rifle that will be effective/accurate both under water as well as on shore.
First the
common ammo was reached upon - 5.45x39 PSP catridge.
The
bullet protrudes down the cartridge case all the way to its base ....
[haven't heard a lot of these designs]
Then the
weapon was designed, keeping the A-91M
bullpup assault rifle as a starting point.
The result was
ADS (ÐДС - Ðвтомат ДвухÑредный Специальный - Avtomat Dual-medium, Special) the amphibious Assault Rifle.
Retains from Bullpup :-
Its layout, gas operated action with rotary bolt locking and forward ejection through the short tube running above and to the right of the barrel.
Changes applied :-
Some parts of the weapon were necessarily redesigned and materials revised to work reliably when submerged in water, gas system was modified with addition of the environment selector ("air / water").
Integral 40mm grenade launcher (which fires VOG-25 type 'caseless' grenades using additional front trigger inside the trigger guard) is fitted with removable barrel which can be removed when it is not needed by the mission profile.
Muzzle of the barrel is threaded to accept muzzle brake / compensator, tactical silencer or blank-firing adapter. Rifle is fitted with adjustable iron sights, and an integral carrying handle is provided with Picatinny type rail on the top to accept various day and night optical sights.
The ADS can fire any standard issue 5.45x39 ammunition (ball, tracer, AP) when above the water, with accuracy and effectiveness similar, if not better than of AK-74 / AK-74M general issue assault rifle.
When submerged and loaded with 5.45 PSP ammunition, the ADS is said to be under extensive field trials by undisclosed units of Russian Naval special forces.
If adopted, it will replace APS underwater weapons and, possibly, some AK-74M general issue assault rifles in service with Russian Navy special operation units and other Russian special forces, which might be engaged in underwater operations (security, counter-terrorism in the sea, etc).
Sources -
Russian Military Blog
Modern Firearms - ADS dual medium
Regards,
Virendra