KS-1 rifle

Last updated
KS Carbine
PS90 million contract equips Armed Forces with advanced new rifle AHQCPL12-OFFICIAL-20230713-015-009.jpg
British Ranger Regiment soldier with KS-1 (L403A1)
Type Assault rifle
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service2023–present
Used by British Armed Forces
Republic of Korea Armed Forces
Production history
Designed2022
Manufacturer Knight's Armament Company
Produced2022–present
Specifications
Mass3.12 kg (6.9 lb)
Length818–869 mm (32.2–34.2 in)
Barrel  length292.1 mm (11.50 in), 347.98 mm (13.700 in), 368.3 mm (14.50 in)
Cartridge 5.56×45mm NATO
Action Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Feed system STANAG magazine
SightsFolding Back-Up Iron Sights

The KS (Knight's Stoner) Carbine, is a series of rifles produced by Knight's Armament Company (KAC). It is designed as an improved version of their Armalite AR-15 clone called SR-16. The 13.7" KS-1 variant was adopted as the L403A1-AIW by the British Armed Forces in 2023 to supplement the L85A2-A3 and L119A1-A2 rifles used by British Army and Royal Marines special operations-capable forces.

Contents

History

The KS family of rifles was unveiled at military small arms conventions in 2022 as being developed for an international special operations forces (SOF) requirement. [1] In September 2023, the British Armed Forces selected the KS-1 rifle under Project Hunter to replace the L85A2-A3 and L119A1-A2 rifles used by the British Army Special Operations Brigade and elements of the Royal Marines including strike companies and the Surveillance and Reconnaissance Squadron. [2] [3] [4]

The KS-1 has been given the designation L403A1 and is known as the Alternative Individual Weapon (AIW) system. [4] The Royal Marines have purchased more than a thousand KS-1 rifles and the British Army has purchased 1,620 KS-1 rifles worth £15 million. [3] [4] Knights Armament's submission (KS-1) was selected over other notable competitors including Heckler & Koch, SIG Sauer, Daniel Defense, and Glock. [2] The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) contract includes a £90 million option to purchase up to 10,000 rifles over the next decade. [4]

Design

The KS series features a self-indexing, highly-efficient gas system with a straight gas tube design. The fitment of the gas system minimizes gas pressure loss between the gas block and carrier key. The gas block notably is held in place with a nut which simplifies removal and maintenance.

The KS rifles feature an enhanced bolt carrier group with Knights Armament's E3 Enhanced Bolt. It is a proprietary bolt which features an enlarged bolt face, rounded lugs, reduced cam pin, and proprietary extractor and firing pin designs. [5] These features increase the firearm's durability and reliability.

Unlike most AR-style rifles, the lower receiver of the KS is fully-ambidextrous. The fire control safety, magazine release, and bolt catch/release are mirrored on both sides of rifle. This makes the KS rifle one of only three fully-ambidextrous M16/M4-style platforms fielded by militaries along with the Modular Ambidextrous Rifle System (MARS) from Lewis Machine and Tool Company and the M6IC from LWRC International, as well as one of six in total including the Radian Ambidextrous Dual Action Catch (ADAC), American Defense ADM, and the Primary Weapon Systems Mk 1 MOD 2 lower receivers that were developed and released after 2023.

The KS rifles feature Knights Armament's Quick Detach Coupling (QDC) flash hiders and a drop-in two-stage match trigger. All current KS rifles feature cold hammer forged barrels which are chrome-lined. In addition, it utilizes Knight's Armament's proprietary free-floating handguard, the URX 6, which covers the entire length of the barrel and helps to protect the barrel from damage. [6] The current series of KS rifles is chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO and comes in four barrel length configurations (11.5", 13.7", 14.5", 16").

Variants

KS-1

13.7" heavy-profile barrel with mid-length gas system. The barrel features distinctive ball-mill dimpling for weight-relief and reduction of heat-induced barrel shift. When paired with a small high-efficiency suppressor, the KS-1 notably has a similar overall length to a 10.3" M4 carbine with a full-sized suppressor, but with higher muzzle velocity. [7]

KS-2

14.5" barrel with mid-length gas system.

KS-3

11.5" barrel with carbine-length gas system. Its smaller size allows for easier stowing for transport, and less cumbersome to carry. With nearly 100% compatibility with other KS series rifles, it is the recommended choice for a secondary upper receiver for those with KS-1 or KS-2 rifles, or as a primary system for those that require a dependable, small, lighter carbine.

KS-4

16" barrel with "extended" mid-length gas system that utilizes a 15" variant of the URX handguard.

Users

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M16 rifle</span> American assault rifle

The M16 rifle is a family of assault rifles adapted from the ArmaLite AR-15 rifle for the United States military. The original M16 rifle was a 5.56×45mm automatic rifle with a 20-round magazine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SA80</span> Current British assault rifle, bullpup

The SA80 is a British family of 5.56×45mm NATO service weapons used by the British Army. The L85 Rifle variant has been the standard issue service rifle of the British Armed Forces since 1987, replacing the L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle. The prototypes were created in 1976, with production of the A1 variant starting in 1985 and ending in 1994. The A2 variant came to be as the result of a significant upgrade in the early 2000s by Heckler & Koch and remains in service as of 2024. The A3 variant was first issued in 2018 with several new improvements.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M4 carbine</span> American assault rifle

The M4 carbine is a 5.56×45mm NATO assault rifle developed in the United States during the 1980s. It is a shortened version of the M16A2 assault rifle.

The Colt Canada C7 and C8 are a Canadian family of service rifles, manufactured by Colt Canada, having similar design and function to the Colt M16A3.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Knight's Armament Company</span> American firearms and firearms parts manufacturer

Knight's Armament Company (KAC) is an American firearms and firearms parts manufacturer, known for producing the Rail Interface System (RIS) and the Rail Adapter System (RAS) grips for firearms use. The company produces a variety of firearms, including AR-15-style rifles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SEAL Recon Rifle</span> Designated marksman rifle

The SEAL Recon Rifle is an American designated marksman rifle and assault rifle used by the United States Navy SEALs. Essentially a heavily modified M16 rifle, it is intended to provide SEAL snipers and designated marksmen with a versatile, accurate, lightweight, and relatively compact weapon chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Squad Advanced Marksman Rifle</span> Designated marksman rifle

The Squad Advanced Marksman Rifle (SAM-R) is a semi-automatic designated marksman rifle developed and used by the United States Marine Corps. It gave users the capability to provide fire in support of a rifle squad, providing precision fire in support of an assault, and aid in observation and adjusting of supporting arms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FN F2000</span> Bullpup assault rifle

The FN F2000 is a 5.56×45mm NATO bullpup rifle, designed by FN Herstal in Belgium. Its compact bullpup design includes a telescopic sight, a non-adjustable fixed notch and front blade secondary sight. The weapon has fully ambidextrous controls, allowed by a unique ejection system, ejecting spent cartridge casings forward and to the right side of the weapon, through a tube running above the barrel. The F2000 made its debut in March 2001 at the IDEX defence exhibition held in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stoner 63</span> NATO modular weapon system

The Stoner 63 is a 5.56×45mm NATO modular weapon system. Using a variety of modular components, it can be configured as an assault rifle, carbine, top-fed light machine gun, belt-fed squad automatic weapon, or as a vehicle mounted weapon. Also known as the M63, XM22, XM23, XM207 or the Mk 23 Mod 0 machine gun, it was designed by Eugene Stoner in the early 1960s. Cadillac Gage was the primary manufacturer of the Stoner 63 during its history. The Stoner 63 saw very limited combat use by United States forces during the Vietnam War. A few were also sold to law enforcement agencies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Close Quarters Battle Receiver</span> Carbine

The Close Quarter Battle Receiver (CQBR) is a replacement upper receiver for the M4A1 carbine developed by the US Navy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SR-25</span> Designated marksman rifle

The SR-25 is a designated marksman rifle and semi-automatic sniper rifle designed by Eugene Stoner and manufactured by Knight's Armament Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System</span> Sniper rifle

The M110 Semi Automatic Sniper System is an American semi-automatic sniper rifle that is chambered for the 7.62×51mm NATO round. It is manufactured by Knight's Armament Company, developed from the Knight's Armament Company SR-25, and adopted by the U.S. military following the 2005 US Army Semi-Automatic Sniper Rifle competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British military rifles</span> Rifles used by the British Armed Forces

The origins of the modern British military rifle are within its predecessor the Brown Bess musket. While a musket was largely inaccurate over 100 yards (91 m), due to a lack of rifling and a generous tolerance to allow for muzzle-loading, it was cheap to produce and could be loaded quickly. The use of volley or mass firing by troops meant that the rate of fire took precedence over accuracy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">T65 assault rifle</span> Assault rifle

The T65 is an assault rifle developed and manufactured by the Combined Logistics Command of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Armed Forces in Taiwan. Originally patterned after the Armalite AR-18 that has a short-stroke gas system, the prototype unveiled in 1975 showed a rifle that is heavily influenced by the AR-15 family of rifles, albeit with modified iron sights, a reshaped stock, and redesigned handguards. The designated number '65' refers to the Year 65 of the Republic of China (Taiwan) (1976), the year the rifle's design was finalized.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Scout Sniper Rifle</span> Designated marksman rifle

The Marine Scout Sniper Rifle (MSSR) is a Philippine semi-automatic designated marksman rifle developed by the Philippine Marine Corps for their Marine Scout Snipers. Designed in the mid-1990s to replace severely-outdated battle rifles then used as marksman rifles, the MSSR is essentially an M16A1 that has been heavily modified and accurized to serve as a marksman rifle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LWRC M6</span> Series of US military carbines based on the M4 carbine

The M6 is a series of carbines designed and manufactured by LWRC International. It is based on the M4 carbine, with which it shares 80% of its parts. The 'M' model name is not a US military designation. Like the HK416, it features a proprietary short-stroke self-regulating gas piston system and bolt carrier/carrier key design, which prevents trapped gases from contacting the bolt carrier or receiver of the weapon. The manufacturer claims that this reduces the heating and carbon fouling of the internals, simplifies field maintenance, and improves reliability.

The Knight's Armament Company Light Assault Machine Gun (LAMG) is a light machine gun system developed by Eugene Stoner and manufactured by Knight's Armament Company (KAC). It was previously known as the Knight's Armament Company LMG. It is the current evolution of the Stoner Light Machine Gun concept.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lewis Machine & Tool Company</span> American firearms manufacturer

Lewis Machine & Tool Company (LMT) is an American armaments company founded by Karl Lewis, in 1980. It manufactures weapon systems, including a variant of the M4 carbine and the M203 grenade launcher. Its products are used by the military forces of the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Estonia and the United States. It formerly produced forged FN FAL receivers for Illinois-based DS Arms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colt CM901</span> Assault rifle

The Colt CM901 is a modular selective-fire rifle. Its caliber and barrel length can be changed without the use of tools. Its semi-automatic variant is the LE901-16S.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IWI Tavor X95</span> Bullpup assault rifle

The IWI X95 is an Israeli bullpup assault rifle designed and produced by Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) as part of the Tavor rifle family, along with the Tavor TAR and the Tavor 7. IWI US offers the rifle in semi-automatic only configuration as the 'Tavor X95'.

References

  1. ↑ "AUSA 22 – KS-1 from Knights Armament Co". Soldier Systems Daily. 12 October 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  2. 1 2 Moss, Matthew (7 September 2023). "BREAKING: UK Selects New Assault Rifle". The Firearm Blog. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Britain's Commandos to get new assault rifles". Royal Navy (Press release). 7 September 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "New advanced rifle for Ranger Regiment". British Army (Press release). 7 September 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  5. ↑ https://www.knightarmco.com/weapon-features/e3_bolt/multilug_impoved
  6. ↑ "Knight's Stoner 1: British troops getting new assault rifle". Forces Network. 2023-09-07. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  7. ↑ https://www.knightarmco.com/product/military/ks
  8. ↑ "KAC KS-3 소총을 도입한 제주 해경 특공대". SLR Club. 2 August 2023. Archived from the original on 1 July 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  9. ↑ "South Korean 707th Special Mission Group members armed with FN SCAR-L and KAC KS-3 carbines [1500 x 1000]". Reddit. 6 March 2024. Archived from the original on 1 July 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  10. ↑ "Edgar Brothers Awarded Contract to Supply Alternative Individual Weapon System to UK MOD". Soldier Systems Daily. 7 September 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  11. ↑ Moss, Matthew (8 September 2023). "Edgar Brothers Share Details on UK's New Alternative Individual Weapon System". The Firearms Blog. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.