Ultimax 100
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| ST Kinetics Ultimax 100 | |
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 Ultimax 100 Mark 4 |
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| Type | Machine Gun |
| Place of origin | Singapore |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1985–present |
| Used by | Croatia, Fiji, Honduras, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Singapore |
| Wars | Anti-guerilla operations in Indonesia and the Philippines, 2006 Fijian coup d'état |
| Production history | |
| Designer | James Sullivan |
| Designed | early 1980s |
| Manufacturer | Singapore Technologies Kinetics |
| Produced | 1982-present |
| Number built | 80,000 (Singapore), Unknown Qty. (Exports) |
| Variants | Ultimax 100 Mark 3, Ultimax 100 Mark 4, Ultimax 100 Standard, Ultimax 100 Para |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 4.9 kg (No Magazine) 6.8 kg (With 100-round drum magazine) |
| Length | 1024 mm (With buttstock) 810 mm (No buttstock) |
| Barrel length | 508 mm (Standard) 330 mm (Para) |
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| Cartridge | 5.56 x 45 mm NATO |
| Caliber | 5.56 mm NATO |
| Action | Gas-operated, rotating bolt |
| Rate of fire | 400-600 round/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 970 m/s (For M193 ammo) 945 m/s (For M855 ammo) |
| Effective range | 460 m (M193 ammo) 800 m (M855 ammo) |
| Feed system | 30-round M16 rifle magazine or 100-round drum magazine |
The Ultimax 100 is a lightweight Section Automatic Weapon (SAW) originally manufactured by Chartered Industries of Singapore, now by Singapore Technologies Kinetics.
Contents |
[edit] Design
The Ultimax 100 is gas-operated, firing a 5.56 mm round from an open bolt. Rounds are fed from either a proprietary 100-round drum magazine, or from a modified M-16-type 30 round STANAG magazine. There is a two position safety - SAFE, and AUTO (some variants have a four position SAFE, SEMI, 3-ROUND BURST, AUTO).
An aperture-type leaf-sight adjustable for range is used in conjunction with a round front-sight post. The barrel is fitted with a bayonet lug which accepts any M-16-type bayonet. A gas regulator allows the rate of fire to be varied. The weapon includes a carrying handle, and two adjustable folding legs to provide stability in its sustained-fire role.
Unloaded, the Ultimax 100 weighs 4.9 kg; with the 100-round drum, it weighs 6.8 kg.
[edit] Features
The feature that grants the weapon its reputation from reviewers as very controllable, accurate and low on recoil (as compared to similar LMGs) is the Constant Recoil principle. The overall design allows the bolt carrier group to travel all the way back without ever hitting the rear, instead stopping gradually along the movement during traverse, and was designed by Mr L. James Sullivan (who also assisted in design of the AR-15 of Eugene Stoner fame). This revolutionary feature is a huge advantage in a firefight as it gives the operator a far greater chance of hitting moving targets in a field combat environment. Before the concept was devised, no one believed it was possible for a light weapon to outperform a heavier weapon of the same caliber on an overall basis.
[edit] Variations
The first Ultimax 100 had a fixed heavy barrel. Since then, the Mark 3 incarnation has incorporated better features. Quick-detachable barrels, available in two lengths: standard 508 mm (20") and short 330 mm (13"). In normal use as a SAW, however, there is no need to change barrels.
The buttstock is also quick-detachable, and due to the weapon's relative lightness and low recoil, it is possible to fire the weapon away from the body with the stock removed, thus making it theoretically suitable for close combat and urban operations (For example, attempting to fire around corners). The weapon's bipod can be easily folded and detached.
In the Mark 3/4 incarnation, the Ultimax 100 can be fed from the aforementioned 100-round drum magazines. STANAG-compatible (M16-type) box magazines can be used as well. However, because the Ultimax 100 uses a different magazine catch from the M-16, the magazines must be modified by drilling two holes on the left hand lip. The drum magazine is great for sustained fire, but can be reloaded only with the help of external tools because of its powerful internal springs.
The Mark 4 variant is being devised, with the clear intent for adoption by the United States Marine Corps, with the addition of a fire selector module (Safe, Semi, Auto) and most likely with the revised Dual-drum C-Mag design, with the translucent Lexan backplate (for visual round observation). It will likely be issued with two heavy barrels and prototypes are apparently extremely usable at the effective range (800 m). Sights are reportedly difficult to use, but added reflex and zoom optics (M68CCO, TA31f ACOG) reportedly work excellently.
[edit] Users
The gun is operated by Singapore, fielded in 1982, Fiji, the Philippines, Croatia, Honduras, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Peru. The Ultimax was submitted to the United States Marine Corps' AR/SAW as Singapore's entry. In the end, USMC officials chose the FN Minimi as their official LMG.
[edit] Anecdotes
While designed as an automatic weapon, by carefully controlling the trigger, the Ultimax 100 can easily be fired one round at a time. Due to its long barrel, smooth trigger, and stable firing position with the bipod extended, it is capable of excellent groups.
[edit] External links
- Ultimax 100 CIS Ultimax entry.
- ST Kinetics Ultimax Page.
- ST Kinetics Ultimax PDF file.
