Russian Special Forces Using HK417, AI AW In Dagestan
Russian special forces were spotted recently in the Russian republic of Dagestan, which has been experiencing an insurgency recently. The commandos were equipped with at least two foreign weapons, an HK417 7.62x51mm rifle with an impressively large suppressor, and an Accuracy International Arctic Warfare sniper rifle, caliber unknown, also suppressed. The video from War Clashes is embedded below:
Also visible in the footage is an SR-2 Veresk, a compact Russian submachine gun firing powerful 9x21mm armor piercing ammunition, as well as an AK-74 fitted with a folding stock mechanism similar to that trialed on the new AK-12 rifle being offered to the Russian Army. Also present was a BTR-80A armored personnel carrier.
Nathaniel is a history enthusiast and firearms hobbyist whose primary interest lies in military small arms technological developments beginning with the smokeless powder era. He can be reached via email at nathaniel.f@staff.thefirearmblog.com.
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Recent news stories indicate that Russia has purchased 417's 416's and other western gear in very small numbers via police and shooting supply stores in the Czech Republic meant for civilian and LE sales then distrubting them to Russia for military purposes illegaly. A news story in Estonia followed several captured weapons from AI, Steyr, and HK captured in Eastern Ukraine to a dealership in the Czech Republic (owned by a Russian company) which imported the rifles from Germany for domestic sales. Russia is going to have problems keeping these up logistically with the bans in place and will have to resort to more and more shady stuff to keep their operators equipped with what they want. Seeing stuff like this pokes all kind of holes in the Russian stuff is best peoples' arguments. The emperor has no clothes and all that. Of course we willingly sold them whatever they wanted until last year. Many westerners are campaining to restart the lucrative arms/tech trade to belligerent hostile countries. Sad
Now we know where these went.
https://euobserver.com/beyo...