KH-2002

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This article is about Iranian assault rifle; it is not to be confused with the 2002 video game, Kingdom Hearts.
KH-2002
TypeBullpup assault rifle
Place of originIran
Service history
In service2004–present
Used byIslamic Republic of Iran Army in limited numbers (Primary User)[1]
See Users for more details
Production history
Designed2001
ManufacturerDefense Industries Organization
Produced2003–2012
VariantsSee Variants
Specifications
Mass3.7kg (with long barrel and empty 30-round magazine)
Length780 mm, 730 mm, 680 mm (Assault Rifle, Carbine, DMR)
Cartridge5.56×45mm NATO
Caliber5.56mm
ActionGas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire800 to 850 round/min, cyclic
Muzzle velocity900 to 950 m/s
Effective firing range450 m
Feed systemVarious STANAG Magazines
SightsIron sights
Various scopes/sights can be attached on the picatinny rail via carry handle.
Two picatinny rails on both sides of upper receiver (Sama model only)

The KH-2002 Khaybar (Persian: خیبر Khayber) is an Iranian-designed assault rifle, derived from the DIO S 5.56 assault rifle (an unlicensed clone of the Chinese Norinco CQ,[2] which in turn is an unlicensed copy of the American M16) and further developed by Iran's Defense Industries Organization (DIO).[3] It was designed in 2001 with samples produced in 2003 with the eventual production of the KH2002 commencing in 2004. It is similar in appearance to the QBZ-95 and the FAMAS.[4]

Its improved version, released in 2009, was known as "Sama" (Persian: سما).[5]

History

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Brig. Gen. Ali Shushtari with the KH-2002.

In the early 2000s, Iran was testing prototypes of G3 battle rifles made under license for the Iranian military in bullpup configurations to test their feasibility.[5] This was later dropped in favor of a similar weapon that is chambered in 5.56 NATO.[5] The KH-2002 was planned, from 2006, to replace the G3s in the Iranian military.[6]

According to a Global Security Studies report, it was observed that Venezuela received 18,000 KH-2002s sold to them by Iran in 2007.[7] In the same year, an investigation was carried out in Uruguay in an attempt to bring KH-2002s into the country through Venezuela, which was a violation of UN embargo rules against Iran, according to reports in the Washington Times.[8] According to the article, all 18,000 rifles and 15,000 rounds of Iranian-made 5.56mm NATO ammunition were confiscated.[8]

In 2008, Iran had sent ten samples of the KH-2002 to Syria in order to compete for a potential contract with the Syrian Army against the AK-74M.[9] Eight KH-2002s used in field tests jammed numerous times, leaving two of them in working condition.[9]

It has been suggested that production of the KH-2002 was discontinued in 2012 after DIO was unable to find customers willing to buy the assault rifle.[10][9]

Design

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The KH-2002 features a four-position fire selector lever which is situated toward the rear of the left side butt-stock behind magazine housing with the M16-type magazine release button on the right side of the magazine housing.[11][12] The weapon is not entirely ambidextrous since the ejection port is located on the right side of the rifle.[1] It uses the STANAG magazine and is typically fitted with 20- or 30-round magazines.[13]

The selector offers semi-automatic, fully automatic and three-round burst options,[3] with the safety selection in the forward position.[14] It operates as a gas operated, rotating bolt-type rifle.[12] The KH-2002 can be outfitted with an AK-type bayonet.[5]

The DIO promotes the KH-2002 as a "low-recoil, highly accurate, lightweight" weapon, with "modular construction for easy maintenance" and a rotating bolt locking mechanism, presumably designed to facilitate ambidextrous firing, protected under a carrying handle that contains the rear sight.[4] The carrying handle can also be used to mount optical or night sights.[15]

Its charging handle is located on top of the receiver.[16]

The weight of the KH-2002 with the long barrel and unloaded is given as 3.7 kg.[17] The weapon can also be fitted with an optional bipod and a bayonet.[4][15] Field stripping the rifle is most likely based on the M16.[14]

The Sama-type rifle has improvements made over initial production models such as having a longer carry handle to accommodate longer optics or scopes when it was released in 2009.[5][18] Other improvements include a foregrip extension below the barrel to better handle the rifle, two picatinny rails on the receiver were included and the bolt carrier design changed to fit the ejection port.[2]

According to an October 2013 report by SIPRI, it is suggested that China may have provided technical assistance to Iranian engineers in designing the rifle.[19]

Variants

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The variants consisted of the following:[1]

  • Assault Rifle: Standard barrel based on the M16A1.
  • Carbine: Has a short barrel and no front sight.
  • DMR: Has a longer barrel.

Users

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Current operators

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  • Iran: Used in limited numbers.

Failed contracts

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  • Syria: DIO competed with the KH-2002 against the AK-74M, which failed due to numerous jamming incidents.[9]
  • Uruguay: A smuggling attempt was made by CAVIM and MODLEX (Ministry of Defence & Armed Forces Logistics of the Islamic Republic of Iran) officials in a bid to supply the Uruguayan military with new assault rifles to secure a potential contract, which failed.[20][8]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  2. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  3. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  4. ^ a b c Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  5. ^ a b c d e Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  6. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  7. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  8. ^ a b c Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  9. ^ a b c d Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  10. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  11. ^ Johnson & Nelson (2016), p. 714.
  12. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  13. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  14. ^ a b Johnson & Nelson (2016), p. 1291.
  15. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  16. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  17. ^ Jones & Ness (2010), p. 165.
  18. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  19. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  20. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).

Bibliography

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  • Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  • Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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