In the late 1980s, while the Klimov designers were working on the small-sized machine SR-3 "Whirlwind", the Tula gunsmiths from the Instrument Design Bureau (KBP) began working on an alternative version - the 9A-91 assault rifle.
In the West, small-sized weapons received the designation PDW (Personal Defense Weapon - weapons of free hands), the main purpose of which is to arm servicemen who are not associated with the main types of weapons - vehicle drivers, radar operators, etc. main responsibilities.
The KBP designers were faced with the task of creating a powerful small-sized weapon for the internal troops and internal affairs agencies of Russia, which could successfully replace both the 7.62 mm AKM / AKMS assault rifles and the 5, 45 mm AK-74 / AKS-74 / AKS-74U.
In order to achieve high combat characteristics, the small-sized 9A-91 assault rifle, as well as the SR-3 "Whirlwind", was created for special 9-mm automatic cartridges SP-5 and SP-6.
In 1992, the new weapon was first presented to the general public, and in 1994 the serial production of the 9A-91 assault rifle was launched.
The 9A-91 assault rifle is built on the basis of the traditional scheme with an automatic gas engine. The barrel is locked by turning the bolt by 4 lugs.
On the first batches of 9A-91 assault rifles, a compensator was installed on the muzzle of the barrel, which was subsequently removed from its design.
The hammer firing mechanism allows for single and automatic fire. The fuse box is combined with the fire translator and is located above the opening of the trigger guard on the left side of the weapon. When the fuse is turned on, its flag overlaps the groove for the loading handle.
The folding loading handle located on the right side is rigidly connected to the bolt carrier.
The stamped steel stock folds up and down. When folded, the butt is located on the receiver cover. An assault rifle with a folded butt fits into the dimensions of 372x188x44 mm.
The buttstock does not increase the size of the weapon when folded, and the folding cocking handle makes the assault rifle "flat" and comfortable for constant wearing, including secretive.
The forend, made up of two symmetrical halves, and the pistol grip are made of injection-molded impact-resistant plastic.
With the exception of the plastic fire control handle and forend, all other parts of the machine are steel. In their manufacture, stamping and spot welding are widely used.
The sighting device, with a rather short sighting line, consists of an open cross-over sight, designed for a firing range of 100 and 200 m.
The weapon is powered by ammunition from a straight two-row box magazine with a capacity of 20 rounds. The magazine latch is located in front of the trigger guard.
Since the 9A-91 assault rifle entered service with the internal affairs bodies of the Russian Federation, the leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs had to attend to the supply of ammunition for this weapon. Special 9-mm automatic cartridges SP-5 and SP-6, due to the special grades of steels and metals used in them, turned out to be extremely expensive, therefore, to supply mass weapons, such as the 9A-91 assault rifles became after they were armed with a significant number of subdivisions of the internal affairs bodies, required the creation of a cheaper ammunition. Therefore, the PAB-9 cartridge was soon created, using a heat-strengthened steel core, which made it possible to satisfy all the needs of the police for these cartridges. The bullet of the PAB-9 cartridge ensures the defeat of enemy manpower in personal protective equipment of the 3rd class, and at a distance of up to 100 m can guaranteedly pierce an 8-mm steel sheet.
Caliber, mm 9x39
Length, mm
- butt extended
- the butt is folded
604
383
Weight without magazine, kg 2.1
Shop, count. cartridges 20
Bullet muzzle velocity, m / s 270
Sighting range, m 200
Rate of fire, rds / min 700 - 900
In addition to the main 9-mm version 9A-91, variants were also developed for cartridges 7.62x39 mm, 5.45x39 mm, as well as 5.56x45 mm NATO (for export), however, they did not receive distribution.
In terms of the aggregate characteristics, the 9A-91 small-sized assault rifle surpasses the foreign developments of the PDW weapon. Its mass without a magazine is 2.1 kg, its length with a folded stock is 383 mm, and its effective fire range is 200 m, which is twice the effectiveness of submachine gun fire chambered for the most common 9x19 Parabellum pistol cartridge.
In addition, unlike the SR-3 "Whirlwind", the 9A-91 assault rifle assumed a wider range of uses, therefore, its design initially included the possibility of using a detachable muffler installed on the barrel. In addition, it was supposed to equip the 9A-91 with a 40-mm GP-25 grenade launcher, but this attempt was unsuccessful, since the 9A-91 has insufficient mass and structural strength in order to withstand the powerful recoil when firing a 40-mm grenade.
In 1995, the assault rifle was modernized, which made it possible to install a device for silent-flameless shooting on the muzzle of the barrel, and on the guide on the left side of the receiver of the PSO-1-1 optical sight or NSPU-3 night sights, adapted for the ballistics of SP-5 cartridges, SP-6 and PAB-9, as well as the TsL-03 laser designator. The flag of the safety-translator of fire on the left side of the weapon has been moved to the right side. A modified small-sized machine gun 9A-91 with an installed silencer and an optical sight provides covert shooting at targets at a distance of up to 400 m.
In addition, on the basis of the 9A-91, the VSK-94 rifle sniper complex was developed, which also entered service with the special forces of the internal troops and internal affairs bodies.
