FB MSBS

The FB MSBS-5.56 (Polish: Modułowy System Broni Strzeleckiej kalibru 5,56 mm, English: Modular Firearm System 5.56 mm calibre) is an assault rifle currently built by FB "Łucznik" Radom to become the service rifle of the Polish Armed Forces. There are two basic variants currently being developed, based on a common upper receiver: a bullpup version and a standard version with folding, retractable stock. Thanks to a variety of modules, both variants can be easily transformed into a carbine, sniper rifle or squad light machine gun. Additionally, plans exist to develop a 12-gauge combat shotgun based on it,^[3] as well as rifles in common Soviet calibers for export.

The FB MSBS-7.62N is a battle rifle variant of the MSBS that has entered the prototype phase, chambered for the full-power 7.62×51mm NATO rifle round, to be featured during MSPO in the autumn of 2016. Planned variations include a designated marksman rifle, a sniper support rifle, and a support weapon for deployment with parachute infantry.

The current service rifle of the Polish Armed Forces is the kbs wz. 96 Beryl, developed from the kbk AKM. However, despite various upgrades, the Beryl is now considered both outdated by modern standards and impossible to improve further. Because of that, work on a completely new family of assault rifles was started in Poland.

History

The rifle has been in development since 2007 by the WAT (Military Academy of Technology) in Warsaw in cooperation with the arms manufacturer FB Radom. The weapon is said to be operating on completely distinct internal mechanics. No further information has been disclosed however. The external design was conceived by a separate team (Adam Gawron, Bartosz Stefaniak, Grzegorz Misiołek, Maciej Sajdak) working alongside mechanical engineers.^[4][5]

At SHOT Show 2015, representatives of Łucznik said that in 2015 they planned to open a factory in Texas and make the MSBS available to US customers, possibly as early as December 2015.^[6]

One of the major advantages of a modular weapon system is the simplified logistics, because of the interchangeable parts between different weapon types, so fewer different parts need to be stored. If necessary, a soldier can sacrifice, for example, one standard assault rifle to repair a light machine gun. Another benefit may include ease of barrel changeability, as found on the Steyr AUG. This means a soldier may be able to adapt their rifle based on the environment they are in, such as converting a carbine to a designated marksman rifle, to be able to engage targets at a greater range, if the situation requires it. The benefits of this feature allow a squad to have fewer unique weapons.

Variants

The following variants were designed based on requests from the Polish Armed Forces, to replace currently used firearms like the AKM and Beryl rifles, Mini-Beryl carbine and Pallad grenade launcher.

• MSBS-5.56K (Polish: klasyczny, English: classic) – "Conventional" variant, chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO
• MSBS-5.56B (Polish: bezkolbowy, English: bullpup) – Bullpup variant, also chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO

Both K and B variants use many common parts, and can be converted from one to the other.

Both 5.56 mm variants are offered in 5 sub-variants:

• Basic rifle – typical assault rifle with 16 inches (410 mm) barrel
• Rifle with grenade launcher – basic variant with 40×46mm underbarrel grenade launcher
• Carbine – short barrel variant with 10 inches (250 mm) barrel
• Machine gun – equipped with heavy, thick profile 16 inches (410 mm) barrel
• Sharpshooter rifle – equipped with precision 16 inches (410 mm) barrel and a two stage trigger group

• MSBS-5.56R – parade model designed to be used by honor guards, adapted to fire blanks and withstand drills. Because the MSBS is a modular system, the barrel can easily be swapped to fire live ammunition.
• MSBS-7.62S (Soviet) – assault rifle for 7.62×39mm
• MSBS-7.62N (NATO) – prototype battle rifle in 7.62×51mm NATO, in conventional layout

• Battle rifle – requested by airborne units, to increase firepower of every squad with a weapon firing a full-power rifle round. This variant is to have a 406 mm (16.0 in) barrel with a similar folding/adjustable stock to the standard MSBS assault rifle.
• Sharpshooter rifle – new precision rifle to replace the SWD semi-automatic sniper rifle and supplement the bolt-action TRG-22 and Tor sniper rifles currently in service. This variant is to have a 508 mm (20.0 in) barrel, and is to be outfitted with a non-folding, fully adjustable stock.

See also

• List of bullpup firearms
• List of assault rifles
• List of battle rifles

References

• (in Polish) Pierwszy pokaz MSBS-5,56 in: Altair, 12 December 2009
• (in Polish) Nowa polska broń – MSBS-5,56 in: Altair, 15 December 2009
• (in Polish) MSBS-5,56 już strzela in: Altair, 16 December 2009
• (in Polish) Rodzina MSBS-5.56 W Czerwcu in: Altair, 22 March 2010
• (in Polish) Nowy MSBS-5,56 in: Altair, 9 August 2010
• (in Polish) MSBS-5,56 w nowej szacie in: Altair, 5 October 2010
• (in Polish) Giwera przyszłości in: Polska zbrojna, 30 December 2008
• (in Polish) MSBS-5,56 w Pułtusku in: Altair, 4 June 2011
• (in Polish) MSBS do amunicji 7,62mm x 39 in: Altair, 21 September 2014
• (in Polish) Prototypy karabinów MSBS-7,62 na MSPO in Altair, 9 January 2016

External links

• Fabryka Broni "Łucznik" Radom home page