The self-loading pistol "Boa": new for the army or a project without a future?
The development of a self-loading pistol with the code "Boa" began several years ago. The general public was told about the new project in 2016, when part of the development work was already completed. At that time, the authors of the project gave him the most optimistic estimates and talked about the imminent start of the necessary tests and inspections. However, over the past two and a half years, the situation around the new project has not fundamentally changed. This is a cause for concern.
According to official data ...
The existence of the boa pistol project was announced in June 2016. The project was created by the specialists of the Central Research Institute of Precision Engineering, and for the first time, Dmitry Semizorov, the organization’s general director, spoke about it. According to the head of the institute, at that time work on the product "Boa" was in the final stages. Were conducted preliminary tests, the results of which carried out refinement. The preparation of prototypes for future state tests was also conducted.
The new gun is designed for high-power cartridge 9x21 mm, which should give it advantages over existing samples, such as Makarov and Yarygin pistols. According to the plans of the developers, the new "Boa" in the future could be a replacement for the army PM and PU.
In June, 2016, it was claimed that the promising "Boa" would have to go on state tests in the very near future. It was planned to complete these works before the end of the year. It should be noted that information about the work on the topic "Boa" came only from the management of TsNIITochmash. The Ministry of Defense and other power structures did not comment on these reports.
In August of the same year, D. Semizorov again told the national press about the progress of the promising project. He recalled the recent completion of the preliminary tests of "Boa", and in the autumn it was supposed to bring the product to the state. Completion of state tests was again planned for the end of the year. If the Ministry of Defense would make the appropriate decision, then the mass production of pistols could be launched already in 2017.
The director general of the development organization indicated that one of the main goals of the Udav project was to ensure the confident defeat of enemy personnel using individual means of armor protection. In this regard, the already well-known cartridge 9x21 mm, which differs from other ammunition with increased power and armor-piercing bullet, was chosen for the pistol of the new model. Previously, this cartridge was used with an ATP / CP-1 / Gyurza pistol. At the same time, the project "Boa" was not based on borrowed solutions, and in its design some new ideas were used.
In May 2018, the specialized magazine Kalashnikov, published an image of an experienced pistol of a new type. In July, a copy of another prototype appeared at the disposal of the publication. The products were noticeably different from each other, and it was a question of consistently created samples and refinement of the basic design. At the same time, unfortunately, the exact technical characteristics of the weapon remained unknown. TsNIITochmash was in no hurry to publish such data, and therefore the press and weapon lovers had to rely only on their own estimates.
In October, the theme of the new project was raised again by the leadership of the developer organization. The new general director of CNIITochmash Albert Bakov announced some information about the development of Udawa and plans for the near future. According to him, self-loading pistols filed for state tests. A new phase of activities carried out at the sites of the Ministry of Defense. In accordance with the directive of the military, the tests should be completed in December. After this, the Defense Ministry will have to decide on the future fate of the new pistol - it can enter service.
In the wake of these News Interesting posts were published by Rossiyskaya Gazeta. It turned out that, along with gunsmiths, industrial designers worked on the new pistol. The appearance of the future Udava was determined by the specialists of TsNIITochmash and the Kinetika High Precision Prototyping Center at the MISiS National Research Technological University. The reason for such cooperation was the specifics of the development of modern rifle systems. The weapon approached the maximum possible technical characteristics, and now one of the ways to improve it is to improve ergonomics.
The outer contours of the future pistol were determined taking into account technical limitations, ease of use, as well as artistic features. In the future, the original design has undergone certain changes, but its main provisions are preserved. Also, using modern technologies, the designers of "Kinetics" and gunsmiths of TsNIITochmash developed some additional devices for the "Boa". At the same time, remarkable results were obtained.
Technical issues
To date, the authors of the project "Boa" have published far from all the technical information, but the main features of the gun are already clear. In addition, the approximate appearance of the product and the parameters of the main components of the pistol complex are known. All this allows you to make various estimates and build predictions about the future of the project.
The project "Boa" provides for the manufacture of a self-loading pistol, based on well-known and time-tested solutions. This could to some extent simplify the design, but did not exclude the need to solve a number of design problems associated with the use of the relatively powerful cartridge 9x21 mm. The product is built according to the classical scheme with a T-shaped frame, including a handle, and a movable shutter casing. In the manufacture of products are widely used polymeric materials. In particular, the handle and the frame as a whole, at least, are covered with plastic or even completely made of it. The casing of the shutter at the same time remains completely metal.
It is impossible not to note the curious appearance of "Boa". If the photos of the spring and summer of this year featured a pistol of a utilitarian look without any special artistic delights, then in October they showed a more interesting sample. Different prototypes differ from each other in the form of the main parts, ergonomics and, very likely, the design of internal mechanisms. For example, one of the most noticeable differences was the shape and depth of the notches on the casing of the shutter.
The type of automatic pistol has not yet been clarified. According to some sources, a system with a swinging barrel is used, in which the locking is carried out by the interaction of the projections of the barrel and the window of ejection of the liner. However, information about the possibility of using a silent shooting device may contradict such versions.
The gun is equipped with a double action trigger with a trigger that protrudes beyond the weapon. Fire control is carried out by a traditional trigger, covered with a traditional brace. Older photographs showed fuse flags at the back of the movable casing. The sample shown in the fall, for some reason, did not have such details. Moreover, by its appearance it was generally impossible to talk about the presence of an opt-free fuse.
Like other self-loading pistols, the Boa uses detachable box-shaped stores placed in the inner shaft of the handle. The magazine holds 9х21 mm cartridges, but its capacity has not yet been clarified. Fixing the store is a side button. The gun has a slide lag, allowing you to quickly prepare it for firing after emptying the store. The delay lever is on the frame on the left, above the trigger.
Apparently, the gun "Boa" can have two versions of sighting devices of a similar type. They include the front and rear sight of a simple design, placed on the casing. On the basic version of the gun, these parts have a small height. A modification that is compatible with the silencer is distinguished by an increased height of sighting devices, which allows you to raise the line of sight.
According to press reports, the development of a silencer for the "Boa" was carried out using automated design systems. Experienced product made using the technology of three-dimensional printing. The resulting design was able to solve their problems, but at the same time weighed only tens of grams. In addition, the cost of the finished product has been drastically reduced.
It is also possible to use other accessories. For their installation on the front of the frame there is a standard guide rail. It is proposed to use with flashlights, laser target designators and other devices.
Unfortunately, the exact dimensions and weight, as well as the combat characteristics of the self-loading pistol "Boa" remain unknown. It can be assumed that in terms of combat qualities it is comparable with previous systems chambered for 9х21 mm. In the case of the SPS / CP-1 pistol, such a cartridge allowed to obtain a bullet initial velocity of about 400 m / s and a muzzle energy of more than 600 J. Depending on the type of cartridge and bullet, the ATP from the 50 distance could pierce an 3 or 3 class body armor. How much "Boa" is similar to ATP in terms of tactical and technical characteristics is unknown.
Near future
According to reports two years ago, in the very near future the Udav pistol from TsNIITochmash was supposed to go on state trials. Apparently, such plans were implemented with some delay, and therefore promising weapons have not yet completed all the necessary checks. However, as reported in mid-autumn, state testing of the pistol will be completed in December. Thus, this stage of work must come to an end - if it has not already ended.
The Ministry of Defense has not yet talked about the test progress of the Boa constrictor pistol and has not announced its plans for it. Based on the results of current inspections, the military will have to make final conclusions and decide whether they need a promising self-loading pistol under a powerful cartridge. Perhaps news of this kind will appear in the near future, and the public will know the real prospects of the new pistol.
In the meantime, you have to rely only on a limited amount of data and your own estimates. Apparently, the product "Boa" is a typical modern self-loading pistol, but it differs from many other samples by using a relatively powerful cartridge 9x21 mm, which gives it an advantage in combat qualities. Also, the differences can be found in some features of ergonomics, developed by industrial designers. At the same time, the internal mechanisms of Udawa are based on proven solutions, although they are adapted to the characteristic loads of a powerful ammunition.
What decision will be taken by the military, and what will be the fate of the new domestic gun "Boa" - a big question. In the light of published data, this model looks like a good modern weapon, able to find its place in the army. However, tests at the site must identify the strengths and weaknesses of the gun, so that the army can make an informed decision. It is quite possible such a situation in which the cons of the gun will not be able to outweigh the pros.
An ambiguous feature of the project should be considered as the used cartridge. Ammunition 9x21 mm were adopted by the army in 2003 year, but did not become really massive. This was due, primarily, to the insufficient number of weapons for them. It cannot be ruled out that “Boa” will eventually be able to change this situation, but for now the use of the “unusual” cartridge looks more like a minus. What the command thinks about this is perhaps it will become known later.
According to the news of recent months, already in December, the Ministry of Defense should complete state tests of a new self-loading pistol. Based on the results of these events, a decision will be made on the further fate of the “Boa”, as well as on the future of the PM and PU pistols. The army has to decide whether it needs a new weapon, and whether this new model will be promising development from TsNIITochmash.
On the materials of the sites:
http://ria.ru/
http://tass.ru/
http://iz.ru/
https://kalashnikov.ru/
https://modernfirearms.net/
http://bastion-opk.ru/
- Ryabov Kirill
- "Rossiyskaya Gazeta" / rg.ru, "Kalashnikov" / kalashnikov.ru
Information