Vepr

Vepr
A 3D render of the Vepr.
Type	Bullpup assault rifle
Place of origin	Ukraine
Service history
In service	2010–present
Used by	Ukrainian Army
Production history
Designer	National Space Agency's R&D Center for precision engineering
Designed	2001–2003
Specifications
Weight	3.45 kg
Length	702 mm
Barrel length	415 mm
Caliber	5.45×39mm
Action	Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire	600–650 rounds/min
Feed system	30-round detachable box magazine
Sights	Iron sights

The Vepr (Ukrainian: Вепр, wild boar) was announced in 2003 as the first indigenous Ukrainian assault rifle, designed by the National Space Agency of Ukraine. Note that on the Ukrainian Government Portal website (see below in External Links), the Vepr is classed as a sub-machinegun. It is one of several bullpup conversions of the conventional AK-74 design, along with the Polish Kbk wz. 2005 Jantar, the Chinese Norinco Type 86S, the Russian OTs-14 Groza, the Finnish Valmet M82 and the South African Vektor CR-21.

Prior to the development of the Vepr, the personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were equipped mainly with the Soviet AKM and AK-74 assault rifle designs.

The first Vepr rifle was shown on 28 August 2003. Only ten Veprs were made until 9 October 2004

In addition, one test prototype («Malyuk») was made in 2005

The Ukraine's Ministry of Defense has declared intentions to purchase thousands of Veprs by the year 2010 but as of March 2014 there was not a single Vepr in Ukrainian Army

However, since the political tides in Ukraine are moving towards a NATO and possibly a European Union membership, and since a well-launched Ukrainian gun manufacturer (RPC Fort) is offering on the Ukrainian market firearms in "western" calibers such as the Israeli Tavor assault rifle, Negev light machinegun and Galil sniper rifle, the future of this weapon in Ukrainian service may be in jeopardy.

As of 2015, most Ukrainian personnel still use AK-74s.

Currently only small number of Veprs are in service with Ukrainian special forces.

Although the Vepr has been proclaimed as a revolutionary upgrade to the AK-74, it is, in fact, an interesting yet fairly simple modification of the basic AK-74 system in a bullpup design, with the following modifications: