The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine has published a press release telling about the new, domestically-produced submachine gun called SMG-15 that they are currently testing and may adopt in the foreseeable future. The press release notes that the gun is made by a company called “UKROP” LLC (ТОВ «УКРОП») which according to some Ukrainian sources is related to another Ukrainian company, Zbroyar. The latter manufactures AR-15 and AR-10 pattern guns as well as bolt action rifles. Earlier, we reported about the adoption of Zbroyar Z-10 .308 Win / 7.62x51mm NATO rifle by the Ukrainian military under a model designation UR-10.

The SMG-15 is chambered in 9x19mm and that’s pretty much the only tech spec that has been mentioned in the Border Guard Service’s press release. From the published pictures we can tell that it is an AR-pattern submachine gun which is apparently fed from Glock magazines, takes standard AR stocks and grips, has a KeyMod handguard, lacks a forward assist and has a threaded barrel.

According to the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service, special forces of the agency will be the first to be issued this firearm. The gun has successfully passed endurance testing that included tests in extreme temperature conditions of -40°C to +50°C (-40°F to 122°F). A batch of SMG-15 submachine guns will be issued to a special unit of the agency which will test the weapon in the field conditions. I assume the results of these field tests will determine the final decisions concerning the procurement of this weapon system on a larger scale.

Here is also a short video published by the Ukrainian Border Guard showing the gun being fired during an extreme cold temperature test.

Sources:

Державна прикордонна служба України постійно проводить роботу щодо переозброєння підрозділів охорони державного кордону.”. (2020, June 12). State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. Retrieved from: https://dpsu.gov.ua/ua/news/%20video%20-provedeno-viprobuvannya-ukrainskih-pistoletiv-kulemetiv-smg-15-yakimi-ozbroyat-prikordonnikiv/

Images by State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (www.dpsu.gov.ua)