The M92 is a carbine developed and manufactured by Zastava Arms since 1992.[2] It is nearly identical to the Zastava M85 carbine; the only differences between the two are caliber and, correspondingly, magazine design.[3] The M92 is a shortened version of the Zastava M70 assault rifle, which is a modified copy of the Soviet AKM assault rifle.
| Zastava M92 | |
|---|---|
 Zastava M92 | |
| Type | Carbine |
| Place of origin | Yugoslavia/Serbia |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1992–present |
| Wars | Yugoslav Wars Kivu conflict[1] Libyan Civil War Banjska attack |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Zastava Arms |
| Produced | since 1992 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 3.57 kg (7.87 lb) |
| Length | 795 mm (31.30 in) stock extended 550 mm (21.65 in) stock folded |
| Barrel length | 254 mm (10.0 in) |
| Cartridge | 7.62×39mm[2] |
| Action | Gas-operated, rotating bolt |
| Rate of fire | 620 rounds per minute |
| Muzzle velocity | 678 m/s (2,224 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 200-400 m[2] |
| Feed system | 5, 10, 30, 40 round box magazine or 75, 100 round drum magazine |
| Sights | Adjustable iron sights, optional mount required for optical sights |
Overview
editThe Zastava M92 chambers and fires the Soviet 7.62×39mm round. It is a gas-operated, air-cooled, magazine-fed, and selective fire firearm with an under folding metal stock. In general design, it is a modified hybrid of the Soviet AKMSU and AK-74 carbines, but is easily distinguished by the design of pistol grip and especially by the longer handguard, which is made out of a different wood type and has three cooling vents instead of the usual two. This feature gives the M92 less overheating on full auto mode.
The M92 also features a shorter barrel. Unlike most rifle rounds which would otherwise experience a loss of velocity out of a shorter barrel, the 7.62×39mm round loses very little velocity when compared to a full-length barrel. This makes it an excellent round for short-barrel rifles. The short barrel of the M92 may not lose enough velocity to even make a considerable difference when compared to the M70.
Design and features
editThe M92 is a gas-operated, air-cooled, magazine-fed, selective fire, shoulder-fired weapon with an underfolding stock. In contrast to the M70, the M92 also features a flash eliminator on the barrel end, which reduces muzzle flash and allows the user to see the bullet's point of impact. Like all carbine rifles, the M92 has a shorter effective range and lower penetration when compared to the original rifle, but it also has its own advantages, it is more efficient in close combat, the handling is improved, and it has a higher rate of fire. Other advantages of a shorter barrel are more portability and ease of concealment, making it popular for vehicle crews, pilots and special forces.
Users
editDemocratic Republic of the Congo[1][4]
Iraq[5]
Jordan[5]
Lebanon[5]
Libya: 80,000 bought in 2008-2009[6]
Nicaragua
North Macedonia: Used by the Army of North Macedonia.
Palestinian Authority: Used by Palestinian presidential guard.[7][better source needed]
Serbia: Used by Special Forces (formerly also used by the Special Operations Unit)[8][9]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Congo's new 'shortcut' war brutality". Daily Nation. 4 May 2009. Archived from the original on September 3, 2018.[better source needed]
- ^ a b c M92 Technical data Archived March 10, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ History of Zastava Arms - 1992 Archived May 7, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Wondo Omanyundu, Jean-Jacques (23 May 2018). "Joseph Kabila continues to over-equip his regime militarily for the upcoming political deadlines". desc-wondo.org. Archived from the original on October 24, 2022.
- ^ a b c Republic of Serbia: Ministry of Economy and of Regional Development. Annual Report on the Transfers of Controlled Goods in 2008. p. 37. Archived from the original on 21 December 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2014 – via Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
- ^ Jenzen-Jones, N.R.; McCollum, Ian (April 2017). Small Arms Survey (ed.). Web Trafficking: Analysing the Online Trade of Small Arms and Light Weapons in Libya (PDF). Working Paper No. 26. p. 75. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 16, 2017.
- ^ "First Women Joining Palestinian Commando Unit in West Bank". Haaretz. October 2017. Archived from the original on February 15, 2022.
- ^ "Automat M92 u kalibru 7, 62 mm - Page}". December 2019. Archived from the original on February 13, 2022.
- ^ "Protest". Crvene Beretke Jedìnica. 31 May 2006. Archived from the original on December 4, 2022.