Steyr AUG-LMG

History

AUG-LMG "Light Machine Gun" is a pneumatic weapon system developed by Steyr-Mannlicher GmbH of Austria from the baseline of modular AUG assault rifles. The AUG series was a revolutionary, if a bit futuristic looking bullpup design of the late 1970s, combining the basic components of an assault rifle, carbine, and light machine gun, differing mainly in the barrel length to suit the character . The AUG-LMG is classified as a "light support machine gun" and can be used by infantry squads to suppress enemy positions or support offensive infantry operations.

Aside from the extended high performance barrel, the main difference between the AUG assault rifle and the AUG-LMG is the automatic firing from the open breech.

Externally, the AUG-LMG closely follows the clean lines of the original AUG line of weapons, while maintaining its fully ambidextrous offering, making it equally useful for left- and right-handed shooters. This operation can be accomplished by replacing the bolts at the operator's discretion. The design is dominated by a large stock that accommodates the action behind the trigger group, the magazine and the feeder. The trigger is surrounded by a guard that connects the pistol grip to the bottom of the receiver. Spent cartridges are ejected through an opening located at the top of the rear.

Like other AUG weapons, the AUG-LMG has a built-in optical sight integrated on top of the receiver and provides a 1.5x field of view. The telescopic sight casing can also be used as a transport handle for the weapon. In front of the trigger group is a folding vertical fore grip. The long, featureless barrel extends outward from the receiver and incorporates a special muzzle brake/compensator designed to slow the gun's recoil somewhat. Under the barrel, near the muzzle, there is a foldable bipod.

The weapon has a barrel length of 900mm and a barrel length of 621mm with six grooves and a right twist. The rate of fire was limited to approximately 750 rounds per minute, and the muzzle velocity was 3,198 feet per second. Curb weight is manageable at 4.03kg.

AUG-LMG fires standard 5.56x45mm NATO rimless cartridges from 30 or 42 rounds magazines. The magazine is traditionally curved to improve ergonomics when handling in the heat of battle, and is slightly transparent, allowing the operator to immediately and intuitively identify the amount of ammunition remaining.

The use of a box magazine also limited the AUG-LMG's effective rate of fire compared to its contemporary belt magazines, but continuous fire was improved - about 300 rounds could be fired without barrel overheating issues.

AUG-LMG and AUG-LMG T exist in different production forms. Essentially the same as the AUG-LMG system, the AUG-LMG T dispenses with the integrated aiming optics in the carrying handle and instead uses accessory rails for thermal, optical or electro-optical aiming devices.

The standard rifle scope is the Schmidt & Bender 4x rifle scope.

Specification

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Changes