M16 rifles will be produced in Ukraine, another step towards NATO standards

On Jan. 3, UkrOboronServis, a Ukrainian state-held defense industry company, signed a memorandum with the U.S.-based weapons and aviation producer Aeroscraft. The two companies agreed to initiate production of Western firearms in Ukraine, noting that their common pilot project would be a special Ukrainian version of the legendary American assault rifle M-16, adapted for use by Ukraine’s armed forces.

The modification has assumed the name M4-WAC47. According to Ukroboronprom defense industry agency statement, this new version would be produced for 7.62×39 millimeter cartridges. This caliber of ammo is particularly used for Soviet-designed Kalashnikov assault rifles, including worldwide-spread AK-47s or AKMs, still used by Ukrainian armed forces and all other security agencies. These firearms with old Soviet standard cartridges are now serving Ukrainian soldiers in the war against Russian-sponsored forces in Donbas.

On the contrary, NATO forces use general standard 5.56×45 millimeter cartridges, thus enabling their units to share their ammo when necessary, even if they use different firearms. In its turn, Ukraine had announced that it would adopt NATO military standards by 2020, noting this as a part of the nation’s long-term strategy voiced by President Petro Poroshenko and defense ministry amid Russian aggression.

Therefore, UkrOboronServis, which is a subsidiary company within the Ukroboronprom industries, has announced this deal on producing M-4s in Ukraine as the first actual step towards the nation’s shift to NATO standards.

Due to its modular construction, the M16 rifle is very accessible to modifications and interchangeable specific adjustments, so new Ukrainian-adapted WAC47 version would be a good option for the transitional period in drifting away from the army’s Soviet past, the company says. Besides, the American M-16 rifles and their numerous versions are widely used in over 80 countries, including 15 Alliance nations. These rifles mostly demand standard NATO 5.56×45 millimeter cartridges, while the designed WAC47 would get in tune with Soviet 7.62×39 millimeter or 5.45х39 millimeter calibers operated by Ukrainian forces.

“The M16 is really a flexible gun, its construction can be shifted drastically. For instance, it has already been adapted for over 20 different calibers of ammo. Modifying it for any caliber is a relatively easy task: you need to install a certain type of barrel, magazine case and bolt. Thus we can produce an M16 modification for most used ammo in Ukrainian forces,” military expert Serhiy Zgurets told the KyivPost.

In expert’s opinion, producing a trial run of M4-WAC47s would be affordable for the Ukrainian concern, although the venture can be stumbled because of possible low demand among consumers and thus low payback.

“The biggest problem is finding a wide market to cover all the costs. This option mostly depends on Ukrainian producers alone – whether they produce a really competitive rifle good enough to replace lots of Kalashnikovs used by Ukrainian armed forces in the Donbas warzone,” Zgurets said.

However, Ukrspetsservis is optimistic about their new project. In future, a new variant of M4-WAC47 rifle can be produced in Ukraine to fit NATO 5.56×45 cartridges instead of Soviet standard ammo, and the whole production is being prepared for both domestic use and exportation.

“Our soldiers will be armed with Ukrainian weapons – this will boost the country’s economy. This means workload for our enterprises, new jobs, tax increase, and technological production increase,” Deputy Director General for Aircraft Industry and Operations Volodymyr Korobov said.

Also, Ukroboronprom is ready – in the case of state funding for building the ammunition production plant, both Soviet and the NATO caliber. All projects on building the plant are under consideration of the Cabinet. After receiving the funds the project will take 18 months. Creating such a plant – to replace capacities lost due to Russian aggression – will solve a strategic task – ensuring defense capability of Ukraine, the agency representatives claim on their website.