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Vektor Rifle R4

1982 COLD WAR MODERN

History of the Vector Rifle R4

Long relied on foreign weapons to stockpile its military stockpiles, the SANA faces a dilemma when a UN arms embargo cuts off the countrys external support. The embargo started as a voluntary measure in 1963 and became a mandatory restriction in 1977.

Unable to source existing rifle stocks from outside, the South African Defence Force (SADF) looked inward for their next standard assault rifle.

After reviewing various potential assault rifle candidates, South African authorities have identified the Israeli Galil ARM, an assault rifle derived from the famous Soviet-era Kalashnikov AK-47 series. Developed in the late 1960s, the Israeli weapon entered production in 1972 and was eventually manufactured in many forms, including carbine, sniper, and code-named versions.

With its proven pedigree, the Galil ARM is a formidable weapon in its own right, having seen countless battles between the Israeli army and its various neighbors. South African group Lyttleton Engineering Works (LIW) has been granted a license to locally manufacture the Galil ARM, an agreement brokered by engineers modifying aspects of the Israeli design to meet South African military requirements.

The South African name for their Galil-based gun became "R4" and the acquisition took place in 1982. Lyttleton Engineering Works is now known under the Denel Land Systems brand label.

The new weapon retains its original 5.56x45mm NATO cartridge caliber and continues as a pneumatic weapon with a rotating bolt function. The weapon is fed from a curved 35-round detachable magazine and is aimed at 500 yards using a reversible rear-opening sight and a hooded front post. The many fine lines of the receiver make the AK-47 such a recognizable gun, with its charging handle, ejection port, and fire selector switch located on the right side of the receiver. The pistol grip is adjusted in the traditional way and angled for some basic ergonomics.

The magazine is set in front of the trigger group, and the magazine release is easily visible behind the magazine. The handguard is mounted on the barrel and cylinder, the latter is mounted on the barrel like the AK-47.

The barrel protrudes well and features a slotted flash compensator, which also accepts and fires rifle grenades if desired. The buttocks consist of a tubular skeleton with a shoulder pad at the end. The stock is hinged at its bottom so it can be folded over the right side of the receiver for a more compact overall shape. The R4 weighs 9.5 pounds and has an overall length of 40 inches, which can be kept at 30 inches with the stock folded. Optics proved optional in later production brands and offered three fire selection modes - safety, semi-automatic single-shot and more fully automatic.

Loops are also standard for using shoulder straps on the march. An integrated bipod - which doubles as an ad hoc cord cutter - is standard and folds over the handguard.

Despite being similar to the original Israeli design, the Wehrmacht had some notable changes. Below is an extended and reinforced stock to counteract the abuse of the "jungle" battlefield. The sights have also been strengthened (just like the bipod) and the gas system has been improved.

The original piston construction was aluminum and nylon, while later models used a glass nylon process after some operational work. The original magazine was metal, but over time it became a lighter fiberglass nylon design.

The R4 assault rifle continues to play an important role in a variety of local and regional conflicts. This type was used in the South African Border War (1966-1989) and the Namibian War of Independence (1966-1988) and the Rwandan Civil War (1990-1993).

This type is also used by the national police force in Haiti. Overall, operators include South Africa, Haiti, Rwanda and Serbia.

The R4 was further developed into a carbine version known as the "R5" - essentially a Galil SAR Galil SAR plus a South African modification. This version incorporates a shorter cylinder, barrel and gauntlet for greater portability in the hands of command, air and vehicle crews - elements that require the facilities of a compact weapon.

For obvious reasons, the R5 lost its bipod, and the semi-automatic version intended only for the civilian market was called "LM5".

A further development of the R5 became the ultra-compact "R6", which brought a shorter barrel and handguard design. This version is also suitable for "spatial awareness" battlefield elements, and like the R5, the semi-automatic version of the R6 is the "LM6" developed for the civilian market.

The internal workings, calibers and gas-fire action of the R5 and R6 are copied directly from the R4. The semi-automatic version of the R4 is "LM4".