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TsNIITochMash Udav pistol may replace Makarov PM pistol in service with Russian Armed Forces 52906161

Defence & Security News - Russia

TsNIITochMash Udav pistol may replace Makarov PM pistol in service with Russian Armed Forces

The newest Udav pistol being developed by TsNIITochMash design bureau may partially replace Makarov PM (Pistolet Makarova) pistol in service with Russian Armed Forces, according to a source in indigenous defense industry.

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The Makarov PM (Pistolet Makarova) pistol (Photo Wikipédia)

"PM pistols are apparently obsolete. They are chambered for ageing 9x18 mm Makarov pistol cartridge that obviously lacks stopping effect. PM has an extremely low magazine capacity (only 8 cartridges), being at the same time relatively heavy handgun (810 gr with 8-round loaded magazine). Russian Armed Forces desperately need new pistols that do not fall short of, for instance, Glock G17 Gen. 4 or Sig-Sauer P226. At present, the military is being rearmed with Yarigin PYa pistols at slow pace. I suppose that the Udav pistol by TsNIITochMash will become an organic pistol of the Armed Forces, as well as PYa", the source said.
The preliminary trials of the Udav pistol have been already finished. According to the Director General of TsNIITochMash, Dmitry Semizorov, the program of the pistol`s state trials will have been accomplished by end-2016.

The specifications of Udav are classified. The pistol is known to be chambered for Russian 9x21 mm cartridge intended for the SR-1M Vektor handgun. Udav has a magazine capacity of 18 rounds. The pistol is equipped with laser pointer, tactical flashlight and quick-detachable silencer.

The issue of PM`s replacement is extremely urgent, according to Russian defense analysts. Makarov pistol`s firing mechanism requires significant force to pull the trigger (about 4 kg). The aforementioned small capacity of the magazine (8 cartridges) does not allow PM being a pistol intended for modern combat in urban terrain. PM has low muzzle velocity (315 m/s) and insufficient armour-piercing capability (the bullet fired from Makarov pistol cannot pierce NIJ II body armour).

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The Yarigin PYa pistol is supposed to be the main replacement for PM. The Udav pistol may partially replace Makarov PM (Pistolet Makarova) pistol in service with Russian Armed Forces, according to a source in indigenous defense industry

In the early 1990s, Russian defense industry upgraded PM. The renewed pistol was designated as PMM (M stands for upgraded; Pistolet Makarova Modernizirovanny). It received extended box magazine for 12 cartridges and new ergonomic grip made of black polymer. PMM had a combat weight of 880 gr, a length of 165 mm, a muzzle velocity of 420 m/s and an effective firing range of 50 m. The pistol was modified for new 9x18mm 7N16 cartridge with full-metal jacketed bullet. Despite modernization, PMM could not match such Western pistols as G17, Beretta 92F/M9 or P226. Russian defense industry did not establish the serial production of PMM.

To bridge the aforementioned gap in the area of handgun for Armed Forces, Tula-based Instrument Design Bureau (Russian acronym: KBP, a subsidiary of the High-Precision Weapons holding) has developed Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-18 handgun. It is chambered for new 9x19mm 7N21 armour-piercing cartridge that has a number of crucial advantages over 9x19mm STANAG 4090 cartridge. GSh-18 has a combat weight of 0.88 kg, a length of 183 mm (including a barrel of 103 mm), a muzzle velocity of 600 m/s, a firing rate of 15-20 rds/m, and effective firing range of 50 m and a magazine capacity of 18 cartridges. It is supposed to be one of the lightest handguns in the world. At the same time, GSh-18 faces several issues in the area of reliability and unit cost. The serial production of the pistol has not been launched.

To meet the requirements of the military and Federal Security Service (Russian acronym: FSB, Federalnaya Sluzhba Bezopasnosti), TsNIITochMash has developed SR-1M Vektor (export designation: Gyurza) heavy pistol chambered for 9x21mm SP-10 cartridge that can pierce 5 mm of steel at 50 m distance. SR-1M has a combat weight of 1.11 kg, a length of 200 mm (including a barrel of 120 mm), a muzzle velocity of 410 m/s, an effective firing range of 100 m and a magazine capacity of 18 cartridges. However, Russian Armed Forces are using SR-1M pistols in relatively small quantities.

Yarigin PYa pistol is supposed to be the main replacement for PM. The serial production of PYa pistols has commenced in 2010-2011. Russian defense industry has already started the massive deliveries of PYas to the Armed Forces. The handgun is chambered for 9x19mm 7N21 AP cartridge. PYa has a combat weight of 0.95 kg, a length of 198 mm (including a barrel of 113 mm), a muzzle velocity of 465 m/s, an effective firing range of 50 m and a magazine capacity of 18 cartridges.

TsNIITochMash reckons the Ministry of Defense`s (MoD) decision to choose PYa as the new organic pistol intended for national Armed Forces as an unpractical one. As the bureau`s officials point out, Udav`s specifications exceed those of PYa. Hence, Udav should replace venerable Makarov pistol, they add. At the same time, the serial production of PYa has already started at the Izhevsk Mechanics Plant (Izhmekh, a subsidiary of the Kalashnikov Concern). The establishing of Udav manufacturing line will take a chunk of time. Hence, the handgun developed by TsNIITochMash has a little chance to become the new organic pistol of Russian Armed Force. At the same time, Udav seems to complement PYa, Russian defense analysts suppose.