IDIO S-5.56

     Notes: Supposedly designed by the Iranian Defense Industries Organization, it is almost certain that the S-5.56 is in fact an almost exact copy of the Chinese CQ assault rifle (which is itself a close copy of the M-16A1).  The S-5.56 is not intended for domestic use; rather, the S-5.56, according to the Iranians, is meant for export sales.  (With the Iranians’ history, I can easily see these weapons ending up in the hands of terrorist organizations as well.)  The S-5.56 appears to be identical in operation to the CQ (and therefore close to the M-16A1’s operation), but uses a different pistol grip than the CQ.  The S-5.56 also comes in two versions: the S-5.56A1, with a 19.9-inch barrel and 1:12 rifling to optimize it for use with M-193-type cartridges, and the S-5.56A3, with a 20-inch barrel and a 1:7 rifling twist to optimize it for firing SS-109-type ammunition.  (Apparently, neither the Chinese nor the Iranians know that if you give a 5.56mm NATO-firing rifle about a 1:9 rifling twist, it is capable of properly stabilizing both M-193-type and SS-109-type ammunition…)  The two versions are otherwise identical.  It is not known if any sales or giveaways of any type have been made for the S-5.56.

     The Sudanese make a copy of the S-5.56 Assault Rifle under license (which makes it sort of interesting – a licensed copy of a licensed copy of an unlicensed copy) called the Terab.  The unusual difference is while it mostly conforms to the IDIO base, but it chambered for 7.62mm NATO, making more of a copy of the AR-10.  The Sudanese also used the AR-10 as its standard service rifle from 1957-89.  Recent updates are more straightforward copies of the S-5.56, firing 5.56mm NATO.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: This assault rifle does not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

IDIO Khaybar KH-2002

     Notes: Introduced in 2003, the KH-2002 was at first announced to be for police use only, but may in fact also equip some Iranian special units, and possibly one day see wider issue.  There are also rumors that it may be offered for export in the near future.  (The name “Khaybar” commemorates the oasis of Khaybar, approximately 153 kilometers east of Medina in Saudi Arabia.  During the Battle of Khaybar in Islam’s early history, the largest Jewish settlement in the Arab world at that time was destroyed.)

     Although details are sketchy, it appears that the KH-2002 is probably a modified conversion of the S-5.56 (above) to a bullpup configuration.  It thus has a modified M-16A1-type operating system, and the KH-2002 can take any magazine compatible with the M-16/AR-15 series.  The fire controls are screwy; they are not anywhere near the pistol grip, but are instead on the left side of the buttstock almost at the rear, and I find it difficult to see how they can be manipulated when the KH-2002 is on the shooter’s shoulder without taking the weapon off the shoulder.  The fire controls allow for safe, semiautomatic, burst, and full-automatic settings.  The trigger group looks almost identical to that of the FAMAS G2, with a huge trigger guard as long as the pistol grip.  Below the front of the narrow barrel shroud is a permanently-attached folding bipod which is to a small extent adjustable for height and cant.  The barrel shroud itself is partially ventilated, using five slots on either side of the shroud.  The entire weapon is largely enclosed in a two-piece polymer shell, with a recoil pad on the butt.  The top of the rifle has a long handguard, which can accept both Eastern and Western optics, and can also mount virtually any sort of mounting hardware (including a MIL-STD-1913 rail). Case ejection is to the right, with the ejection port being in just the right position for hot brass to hit the face of left-handed shooters.  The KH-2002 can accept standard M-16-type bayonets, Iranian bayonets, or G-3-style bayonets; in addition, a special folding bayonet has been designed for the KH-2002.  Provision is made for an underbarrel grenade launcher (a modified M-203 of Iranian design) and rifle grenades are also usable.  The KH-2002 is available in three versions, with the Designated Marksman version having a heavier, better-quality barrel of 30.71 inches.  The standard assault rifle version uses a barrel of 28.74 inches, with the “carbine” having a 26.77-inch barrel.  All are tipped with a modified M-16A1-type flash suppressor.  The long barrels lead to a very long exposed length of barrel, but give the KH-2002 excellent accuracy.  However, the barrels, being essentially lengthened M-16A1-type barrels, can be easily bent in the heat of battle.

     Just a personal observation: I frankly don’t see the point of having such a long bullpup weapon; the whole idea of a bullpup weapon is to make a weapon smaller, not to be able to stuff such a long barrel into it that it is the same length as any other assault rifle.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: The KH-2002 is not available in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

     Merc 2000 Notes: Available in early 2002, the KH-2002 was soon seen all over the Middle East, and as far away as Indonesia and Serbia in small numbers.