Rostec Delivers Underwater Pistols and Assault Rifles

Rosoboronexport of Rostec State Corporation has completed the delivery of 4.5 mm SPP-1M underwater pistols and 5.66 mm APS underwater assault rifles. The weapons, developed by TSNIITOCHMASH of Rostec State Corporation, will arm special forces and combat divers of an undisclosed foreign client.

The SPP-1M pistol is capable of hitting underwater targets at a range of up to 17 meters when fired underwater or up to 20 meters when fired above the surface. The specialized APS underwater assault rifle hits targets at a range of up to 30 meters underwater and up to 100 meters when firing in the air. 

Ammunition was supplied to the customer together with the weapons. The weapons fire steel darts with a caliber of 4.5 mm and a length of 120 mm that have a pointed conical head with a special blunted tip. This design creates a cavity of air in front of the bullet when it moves underwater at high speeds, reducing water resistance and stabilizing the cartridge.

“Water, in comparison with air, has a higher density, so it is impossible to use traditional firearms in an aquatic environment. This is why divisions of combat swimmers and scuba divers are armed with specialized small arms,” said a spokesperson from the Rostec Armaments cluster.

“Due to their characteristics and reliability, underwater weapons, like many other Rostec products, are in strong demand abroad, such as the countries of the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region.”