ST Kinetics SAR-21

     Notes: Introduced in 1999, the SAR-21 is intended to replace all of the current Singaporean assault rifles as well as several submachineguns and certain designated marksman and sniper rifles.  ST Kinetics also hopes for international sales, and several countries are reportedly interested; there may possibly even have already been some sales to undisclosed parties.  The SAR-21 was designed to meet the qualifications for NATO-compatible assault rifles as well as more general requirements and the needs of the Singaporean Armed Forces.

     The SAR-21 is a bullpup weapon using gas operation.  Virtually the entire exterior of the SAR-21 is made from high-strength polymers and composites.  The SAR-21 is very well-balanced, and in fact (rather inaccurate) one-handed firing on full automatic is possible.  Two barrels are available, one rifled for SS-109-type ammunition, and one designed for older M-193-type ammunition.  The magazines designed for the SAR-21 are made from translucent polymer, but the SAR-21 may also accept STANAG-compatible M-16-type magazines as well as those designed for the Steyr AUG A1.  The controls are ambidextrous, and the cocking handle is located over the receiver (under the sight/carrying handle), using a large handle for easy gripping; it also folds forward to prevent it catching on the surroundings.  The standard SAR-21 includes a 1.5x optical sight in the sight/carrying handle tube; atop this tube are backup iron sights.  In the forward upper handguard, the SAR-21 has an integral laser aiming module; the standard LAD (Laser Aiming Device) uses a visible red dot, but it may be exchanged for a LAD producing a dot visible only with night vision equipment or image intensifiers.  Under the handguard is a small knob; this allows the user to keep the LAD switched on permanently, or be actuated by a switch near the rest of the fire control switches.  The stock includes a padded cheekpiece covered by Kevlar.  The standard handguard may be removed, allowing the mounting of a 40mm 40GL or M-203-type grenade launcher.  In this case, a quadrant sight platform is installed where the LAD is normally placed, and the LAD relocated to this platform beside the quadrant sight.  (In this guise, the SAR-21 is known as the SAR-21 GL.)

     Variants include the SAR-21 P-Rail, which has the standard sight/carrying handle replaced by a MIL-STD-1913 rail and the charging handle relocated to the left side of the weapon.  (This version is otherwise identical to the standard SAR-21 for game purposes, except for the game cost and the weight.)  The SAR-21 Modular (also called the SAR-21 RIS) also has a MIL-STD-1913 rail in place of the sight/carrying handle and a relocated charging handle, but it also has shorter MIL-STD-1913 rails on the sides and the bottom of the fore-end.  (This version is also virtually identical to the standard SAR-21 for game purposes.)  The SAR-21 Sharpshooter uses a 3x scope in the carrying handle instead of the standard sight, and uses a heavier barrel.

Weapon

Ammunition

Weight

Magazines

Price

SAR-21

5.56mm NATO

3.81 kg

20, 30

$1135

SAR-21 P-Rail

5.56mm NATO

3.81 kg

20, 30

$991

SAR-21 Modular

5.56mm NATO

3.89 kg

20, 30

$1003

SAR-21 Sharpshooter

5.56mm NATO

3.84 kg

20, 30

$1190

 

Weapon

ROF

Damage

Pen

Bulk

SS

Burst

Range

SAR-21

5

3

1-Nil

5

2

6

50

SAR-21 Sharpshooter

5

3

1-Nil

5

2

6

52

 

CIS SAR-80

     Notes: The SAR-80 was designed and built by Chartered Industries of Singapore based on experience within the M-16 and the Sterling Assault Rifle (a rare British-made version of the AR-18). The SAR-80 has been described as an AR-18 built more efficiently and inexpensively.  It is rugged, reliable, and simple to use.  Though the SAR-80 is the standard weapon in for the Singaporean military, no new ones have actually been manufactured since 1998, and enough were built that it is not a difficult weapon to find on the international market.

     Operation of the SAR-80 essentially follows the Stoner gas system pattern, with a rotating bolt, short-stroke gas piston, and heavy bolt carrier group.  However, the bolt carrier group rides on a pair of guide rods, each of which has its own recoil spring; in addition, the gas piston has its own spring.  The gas system has a cutoff feature, allowing both older-type rifle grenades and the newer BTU-type rifle grenades to be fired.  In addition, it can mount an underbarrel grenade launcher if fitted with a special adapter.  Most of the metalwork is made from simple steel stampings, and the SAR-80 can feed from any magazine which will fit into an M-16.  Furniture is of high-impact plastic; most were built with a solid stock, but some have a folding steel stock.  The 18.07-inch barrel is tipped with an AR-18-type flash suppressor.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: Though it is fairly easy to find in the Twilight 2000 world, especially in Africa and Southeast Asia, production of the SAR-80 during the Twilight War was hurt by the fact that the designers chose to use 40% imported parts.  While these parts were cheap and easy to find before the war, that was not the case after a few years of fighting.

     Merc 2000 Notes: This is a favorite among mercenaries; it is easy to find and acquire, and comes from a country that is not known for its involvement in international politics.

Weapon

Ammunition

Weight

Magazines

Price

SAR-80 (Fixed Stock)

5.56mm NATO

3.6 kg

20, 30

$584

SAR-80 (Folding Stock)

5.56mm NATO

3.7 kg

20, 30

$604

 

Weapon

ROF

Damage

Pen

Bulk

SS

Burst

Range

SAR-80 (Fixed)

5

3

1-Nil

6

2

6

48

SAR-80 (Folding)

5

3

1-Nil

5/6

2

6

48

 

CIS SR-88A

     Notes: Chartered Arms Incorporated of Singapore (now ST Kinetics) hoped for sales of this weapon to the Singapore military, but Singapore decided to stick with their SAR-80s.  There were some small sales to Burma and Malaysia, but most sales were made to mercenary groups and civilians.  To some extent, the SR-88 is based on the SAR-80, but for the most part it is a new design.  The SR-88 is easy to take care of and tolerant to dirt.

     The lower receiver of the SR-88 is of an aluminum alloy, the 18.11-inch barrel of high-grade steel with a chromed bore and chamber, the upper receiver of stamped steel, the stock of fiberglass-filled plastic, and the handguard and pistol grip of plastic.  The fixed stock version has a solid stock, and a folding-stock version is also available, with a skeletonized buttstock to lighten the weight.  The SR-88 also has a folding carrying handle at the point of balance at the front of the receiver.  The barrel is tipped with the same flash suppressor as that of the SAR-80, and is able to launch most types of rifle grenades used in the world today.  Operation is for the most part an improved version of the SAR-80’s action, but the gas regulator has three positions instead of two (normal, harsh conditions, and closed for the launching of older rifle grenades).  The SR-88 can easily mount most of the Western-type 40mm grenade launchers in the world, and the rest with a bit of work by an armorer.  An optional folding bipod can be attached.

     The SR-88A fixes some very minor deficiencies in the SR-88A, but for game purposes it is identical to the SR-88.  There is also an SR-88A carbine; this version has an abbreviated 11.6-inch barrel and a folding stock as standard.  It has no bayonet lug and cannot mount an underbarrel grenade launcher but can fire rifle grenades.  The SR-88A carbine was deliberately designed to be a relatively heavy weapon (heavier than the assault rifle versions), to minimize barrel climb and make it more controllable in automatic fire.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: Rifles of this type were found on 52 Caucasian and Rhade bodies at the Cam Ranh Bay submarine base after a failed raid early in the Twilight War; though the Russians claimed these bodies were of CIA operatives and their mercenaries, this was never proven. 

Weapon

Ammunition

Weight

Magazines

Price

SR-88A Rifle (Fixed Stock)

5.56mm NATO

3.45 kg

20, 30

$587

SR-88A (Folding Stock)

5.56mm NATO

3.58 kg

20, 30

$607

SR-88A Carbine

5.56 NATO

3.81 kg

20, 30

$540

 

Weapon

ROF

Damage

Pen

Bulk

SS

Burst

Range

SR-88A Rifle (Fixed Stock)

5

3

1-Nil

6

2

6

48

SR-88A Rifle (Folding Stock)

5

3

1-Nil

5/6

2

6

48

SR-88A Carbine

5

2

1-Nil

3/5

2

5

24