Istiglal IST-14.5 (Independence)

History

The rise of tanks in World War I led to the emergence of anti-material rifles - specifically the German T-Gewehr in 1918. Few anti-tank rifles were developed between World War I and World War II, and it's worth noting that the system didn't really gain traction on the market until the height of the Cold War.

While most of these newer designs come from longstanding power centers such as the US and Russia/Soviet Union, Azerbaijan has recently introduced its own indigenous design - the "IST-14.5 Anti-Material Rifle". , also known as "Istiglal" (or "Independence"). The design of the system is attributed to RPE Automatic Lines, and the production is under the responsibility of the Azerbaijani defense industry. The adoption of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces was recorded in 2008 and the weapon was publicly displayed in 2009.

The capabilities of the Istiglal have not been lost in the world's armies, as the rifle has been adopted by armed forces outside Azerbaijan, including Jordan, Pakistan and Turkey. Other countries, including Israel, Ukraine and Russia, have already shown interest in the product for their own antimatter needs.

The

Istiglal's design is traditional with a durable barrel, heavy duty bipod support structure and padded shoulders. The receiver is tubular and contains the main inner working components.

The weapon is operated via a charging handle on the right side of the fuselage and a pistol grip with an integrated ring trigger. The five-round detachable magazine is usually located in front of the trigger group.

At the end of the actual receiver is a bipod with a perforated heat shield extending to it. Extending from here is the barrel itself, which is topped with a well-sized muzzle brake to deal with the vicious recoil inherent in firing such a large cartridge.

Although optics are optional, they are critical for the system to realize its long-range potential. The optic is offset to the left of the centerline so that an iron sight can be used as a backup in the event of an optic failure.

The carry handle is located on the right side of the receiver near the bipod and helps position the Istiglal in a more favorable firing position. The shoulder rest is adjustable and its cutout design makes it another handle.

In addition to the integrated bipod, the weapon has a monopod under the shoulder for more support.

Istiglal fired as usual with a large anti-material rifle; the shooter lay prone with the shoulder rest pressed against his shoulders. The firing action is a recoil-operated rotating bolt function, while the primary ammo size is the 14.5x114mm bullet, a Soviet-era heavy caliber dating back to World War II (1941). Support for the smaller 12.7x108mm Soviet cartridge is also mentioned, although this will be tied to an upcoming anti-materiel rifle design dedicated to that particular cartridge.

Since the Istiglal is essentially an oversized weapon, it can be split in two for easy transport, while still maintaining its large, heavy and bulky form (a characteristic common to many of these weapons). The weapon produces significant recoil and a lot of noise when fired, although these disadvantages are somewhat offset by the gun's range and penetration.

Specification

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Changes