KH-2002
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The KH-2002 Khaybar (Template:Langx Script error: No such module "lang".) is an Iranian-designed assault rifle, derived from the DIO S 5.56 assault rifle (an unlicensed clone of the Chinese Norinco CQ,[1] which in turn is an unlicensed copy of the American M16) and further developed by Iran's Defense Industries Organization (DIO).[2][3] It was designed in 2001 with samples produced in 2003 with the eventual production of the KH2002 commencing in 2004. It is similar in appearance to the QBZ-95 and the FAMAS.[4]
Its improved version, released in 2009, was known as "Sama" (Template:Langx).[2][5]
History
In the early 2000s, Iran was testing prototypes of G3 battle rifles made under license for the Iranian military in bullpup configurations to test their feasibility.[5] This was later dropped in favor of a similar weapon that is chambered in 5.56 NATO.[5] The KH-2002 was planned, from 2006, to replace the G3s in the Iranian military.[6]
According to a Global Security Studies report, it was observed that Venezuela received 18,000 KH-2002s sold to them by Iran in 2007.[7] In the same year, an investigation was carried out in Uruguay in an attempt to bring KH-2002s into the country through Venezuela, which was a violation of UN embargo rules against Iran, according to reports in the Washington Times.[8] According to the article, all 18,000 rifles and 15,000 rounds of Iranian-made 5.56mm NATO ammunition were confiscated.[8]
In 2008, Iran had sent ten samples of the KH-2002 to Syria in order to compete for a potential contract with the Syrian Army against the AK-74M.[9] Eight KH-2002s used in field tests jammed numerous times, leaving two of them in working condition.[9]
It has been suggested that production of the KH-2002 was discontinued in 2012 after DIO was unable to find customers willing to buy the assault rifle.[10][9]
Design
The KH-2002 features a four-position fire selector lever which is situated toward the rear of the left side butt-stock behind magazine housing with the M16-type magazine release button on the right side of the magazine housing.Template:Sfnp[11] The weapon is not entirely ambidextrous since the ejection port is located on the right side of the rifle.[12] It uses the STANAG magazine and is typically fitted with 20- or 30-round magazines.[13]
The selector offers semi-automatic, fully automatic and three-round burst options,[3] with the safety selection in the forward position.Template:Sfnp It operates as a gas operated, rotating bolt-type rifle.[2] The KH-2002 can be outfitted with an AK-type bayonet.[5]
The DIO promotes the KH-2002 as a "low-recoil, highly accurate, lightweight" weapon, with "modular construction for easy maintenance" and a rotating bolt locking mechanism, presumably designed to facilitate ambidextrous firing, protected under a carrying handle that contains the rear sight.[4] The carrying handle can also be used to mount optical or night sights.[14]
Its charging handle is located on top of the receiver.[15]
The weight of the KH-2002 with the long barrel and an empty 30-round magazine is given as 3.7 kg. The weapon can also be fitted with an optional bipod and a bayonet.[4][14] Field stripping the rifle is most likely based on the M16.Template:Sfnp
The Sama-type rifle has improvements made over initial production models such as having a longer carry handle to accommodate longer optics or scopes when it was released in 2009.[5][16] Other improvements include a foregrip extension below the barrel to better handle the rifle, two picatinny rails on the receiver were included and the bolt carrier design changed to fit the ejection port.[1]
According to an October 2013 report by SIPRI, it is suggested that China may have provided technical assistance to Iranian engineers in designing the rifle.[17]
Variants
The variants consisted of the following:[12]
- Assault Rifle: Standard barrel based on the M16A1.
- Carbine: Has a short barrel and no front sight.
- DMR: Has a longer barrel.
Users
Current operators
- File:Flag of Iran.svg Iran: Used in limited numbers.
Failed contracts
- File:Flag of the United Arab Republic (1958–1971), Flag of Syria (1980–2024).svg Syria: DIO competed with the KH-2002 against the AK-74M, which failed due to numerous jamming incidents.[9]
- File:Flag of Uruguay.svg Uruguay: A smuggling attempt was made by CAVIM and MODLEX (Ministry of Defence & Armed Forces Logistics of the Islamic Republic of Iran) officials in a bid to supply the Uruguayan military with new assault rifles to secure a potential contract, which failed.[18][8]
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References
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Bibliography
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