ST Engineering BR18 MGR

The development of the ST Kinetics BR18 was initially unveiled in 2014, when a prototype dubbed the BMCR (Bull-pup Multirole Combat Rifle) was showcased at the Eurosatory expo in Paris. The BR18 was developed to replace the SAR-21 as the standard service weapon for the Armed Forces of the Republic of Singapore as well as for export. A new generation bull-pup rifle, the BR18 is chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO and was conceived from the ground up to be ambidextrous and as lightweight and short as it can be, in order to fulfill all roles in all specialties of an Armed Force. The heavyweight version of the design, with a weight of 4 kg (8.8 lbs) when empty, is the BR18 MGR “Machine Gun Rifle” variant, conceived to fulfill the role of an infantry automatic rifle, bridging the gap between the individual assault rifle and the squad support weapon; as such it is conceived to employ very high-capacity magazines and comes equipped with a heavy-contour 18” barrel and extra features to better withstand and dissipate the high levels of heat generated by sustained fire. All the barrels manufactured for the BR18 weapon system feature a birdcage-style flash hider and six right-handed grooves with a 1:7” twist rate, which according to ST Engineering allows the BR18 to properly stabilize the 5.56×45mm NATO SS109 ammunition up to a maximum effective range of 800 meters (approximately 875 yards). The BR18 is a closed-bolt, gas-operated, long-stroke piston driven system, with a gas valve located on the left side of the barrel, at exactly 90 degrees; it features a long, but captive, rod to allow easy adjustment for use with different types of ammunition or with silencers, or its removal for cleaning and maintenance. The long-stroke piston is part of the bolt assembly and runs into a channel parallel to the barrel, somewhat reminiscent of the Steyr AUG system. The lower receiver also hosts the entire trigger group, sear and hammer within a reinforced insert. All controls and the magazine well are also hosted on the lower. The BR18 feeds through the same translucent plastic thirty rounds magazines of the SAR-21 rifle, or through most STANAG 4179 compliant “AR-15 type” magazines, thus making it compatible with the magazines used by most NATO forces.