Vityaz


PP-19-01


Overview


Vityaz

Left side view of regular Vityaz sub machine gun with polymer front grips, smooth dust cover and metal triangular folding stock.

Source: Vitaly V. Kuzmin - © GNU Attribution Share Alike license

Origin
Russia
Type
Sub machine gun
Entered service
2008
Status
In service
Development
Early 2000's - 2004
Developer
Russia - Izhmash
Production
Mid 2000's - present
Producer
Russia - Izhmash
Designation
PP-19-01
Production index
Vityaz
Russian for "knight"

Description


Introduction

The Vityaz is a modern sub machine gun of Russian origin. The actual designation is PP-19-01 Vityaz, but the production code is often dropped. The design is based on the earlier and unsuccesful Bizon. The Vityaz is one of the few recent Russian pistol caliber sub machine guns that seems to be adopted in reasonable quantity.

Design

The Vityaz looks like a scaled down version of the AK-74M assault rifle. Although various parts are exchangeable, the Vityaz uses a different operating mechanism. It is a blowback operated weapon that fires from a closed bolt position. The dust cover features a Picatinny rail for mounting optics. The polymer handguard is often replaced by quad accessory rails.

Firepower

The Vityaz fires the 9x19mm Parabellum round, including recent Russian high pressure variants such as 7N21 and 7N31. It is a select-fire weapon with a cyclic rate of fire of 700 to 750 rpm. The Vityaz uses 30 round plastic magazines. Often two such magazines are clamped together. The maximum effective range is 200 meters. Its practical range is about 100 meters.

Users

The Vityaz has been adopted by various Russian military and law enforcement units. It is available for export. The Vityaz seems to be one of the more widely used sub machine guns in Russian service, despite being a much younger design.

Variants


Vityaz-SN

Left side view of Vityaz-SN with EOTech Holosight on display in 2013.

Source: Vitaly V. Kuzmin - © GNU Attribution Share Alike license

Variants of the Vityaz

The Vityaz is produced in two main variants. The baseline model features a smooth dust cover. The left side of the receiver features a mount for use with Soviet side mounting optics.

The Vityaz-SN features a dust cover with integrated Picatinny rail. This allows Western optics to be easily fitted. The side mount is still present, but the Picatinny rail interferes with some types of Soviet optics.

Various aftermarket upgrades have been produced for the Vityaz by various companies such as Zenitco. These include accessory rail mounts, vertical grips and adjustable stocks.

Details


Facts Vityaz-SN
General
Origin
Russia
Type
Sub machine gun
Caliber
Caliber
9x19mm Parabellum, including high pressure rounds
Magazine
30 round detachable box
Barrel length
238 mm
Rifling
4 grooves, 240 mm right hand twist
Muzzle velocity
380 m/s
Action
Operation
Blowback operated, fires from closed bolt
Locking
No
Fire selector
0 - 1 - F
Rate of fire
700 - 750 rpm
Dimensions
Type of stock
Foldable
Length
705 mm / 480 mm
Weight
2.9 kg empty
3.85 kg loaded
Sights
Type
Iron sights, optional optical sights

Media


Related articles


SR-2 Veresk

The SR-2M Veresk is another modern pistol caliber sub machine gun of Russian origin. Both Vityaz and SR-2 Veresk are aimed at the law enforcement market.