RAP 80
| Rifle de Asalto de Pelaxia (RAP) | |
|---|---|
 RAP 80 A1 with 508 mm (20.0 in) barrel | |
| Type | Bullpup assault rifle Carbine Squad automatic weapon (AUG HBAR) Submachine gun (AUG Para) |
| Place of origin |  Pelaxia |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1980–present |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars | See Conflicts |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Godard Bonheur |
| Designed | 1977 |
| Manufacturer | Fabricaciones Militares Sistemas de Defensa Nacional |
| Produced |
|
| Variants | See Variants |
| Specifications | |
| Mass |
|
| Length |
|
| Barrel length |
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| Cartridge |
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| Action | Gas-operated, rotating bolt |
| Rate of fire | 680–750 rounds/min |
| Muzzle velocity | Standard rifle: 970 m/s (3,182 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 300 metres (980 ft) |
| Maximum firing range | 2,700 metres (8,900 ft) |
| Feed system |
|
| Sights | Fabricaciones Militares 1.5× telescopic sight, emergency battle sights, and Picatinny rail for various optics. |
The GB RAP 80 from the Spanish acronym Rifle de Asalto de Pelaxia is a Pelaxian bullpup assault rifle chambered for the 5.56×45mm intermediate cartridge, designed in the 1960s by Godard Bonheur, and now manufactured by Fabricaciones Militares.
It was adopted by the Pelaxian Army in 1980 as the RAP 80 where it replaced the 7.62×51mm FM RAP 60 battle rifle (a licence-built burgundian battle rifle).In production since 1978, it is the standard small arm of the Pelaxian Armed Forces and various Pelaxian federal police units, and its variants have also been adopted by a fews Federal Civil Guard units.
Early Development
During the late 70's and the early 80's the Pelaxian Armed Forces enetered a plan to massively motorize its infantry regiments, which quickly brought to light the limits of the RAP 60. The long, heavy duty, 20 rounds magazine battle rifle was not suited for a mobile and rapid force that could reach a combat zone on the back of an APC. The military quickly put out a bid for the procurement of a new platform to meet the needs of a modern Pelaxian military. Godard Bonheur, a Pelaxian engineering company founder by Yonderrian technicians had been working on a bullpup already in the 1960's, chambered for a smaller and faster caliber.
Design details
The RAP 80 is a selective-fire, bullpup weapon with a conventional gas-piston-operated action that fires from a closed bolt. It is designed as a Modular Weapon System that could be quickly configured as a rifle, a carbine, a sniper rifle, a sub-machine gun and even an open-bolt squad automatic weapon. The RAP 80 employs a very high level of advanced firearms technology and is made with the extensive use of polymers and aluminium components. It is chambered in 5.56×45mm cartridge and has the standard 1:9 rifling twist that will stabilise both SS109/M855 and M193 rounds. The platform meant the transition from the 7,62 × 51 mm to a 5.56×45mm with a 55 grain round for a faster and more effective bullet appropiate to the standard 20 inches barrel length.
The submachine gun variants are chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum. The RAP 80 consists of six interchangeable assemblies: the barrel, receiver with integrated telescopic sight or Picatinny rail, bolt carrier assembly, trigger mechanism, stock and magazine.
Operating mechanism
The RAP 80 has a rotating bolt that features 7 radial locking lugs and is unlocked by means of a pin on the bolt body and a recessed camming guide machined into the bolt carrier. The bolt carrier itself is guided by two guide rods brazed to it and these rods run inside steel bearings in the receiver. The guide rods are hollow and contain the return springs. The bolt also contains a claw extractor that forms the eighth locking lug and a spring-loaded "bump"-type casing ejector.
The gas cylinder is offset to the right side of the barrel and works with one of the two guide rods. The RAP 80 uses a short-stroke piston system where the right guide rod serves as the action rod, transmitting the rearward motion of the gas-driven piston to the bolt carrier. The left-hand rod provides retracting handle pressure when connected by the forward assist and can also be utilised as a reamer to remove fouling in the gas cylinder. The firearm uses a 3-position gas valve. The first setting, marked with a small dot, is used for normal operation. The second setting, illustrated with a large dot, indicates fouled conditions. The third, "GR" closed position is used to launch rifle grenades (of the non-bullet trap type).
The RAP 80 is hammer-fired and the firing mechanism is contained in the rear of the stock, near the butt, covered by a synthetic rubber shoulder plate. The hammer group is made entirely of plastics except for the springs and pins and is contained in an open-topped plastic box which lies between the magazine and the buttplate. During firing the recoiling bolt group travels over the top of it, resetting the hammer. Since the trigger is located some distance away, it transmits its energy through a sear lever which passes by the side of the magazine. The firing pin is operated by a plastic hammer under pressure from a coil spring.
Features
The RAP 80 comes standard with four magazines, a muzzle cap, spare bolt for left-handed shooters, blank-firing adaptor, cleaning kit, sling and bayonet.
Muzzle devices and barrel lengths
A three-pronged, open-type flash suppressors were used on the 350 mm (13.8 in), 407 mm (16.0 in) and 508 mm (20.0 in) length barrels, whereas the 621 mm (24.4 in) light machine gun barrel received a closed-type ported muzzle device (combination flash suppressor and compensator) and an integral, lightweight folding bipod. The flash suppressors are screwed to the muzzle and internally threaded to take a blank-firing attachment.
Trigger
The RAP features an Spz-kr type progressive trigger (pulling the trigger halfway produces semi-automatic fire, pulling the trigger all the way to the rear produces fully automatic fire) and a safety mechanism (cross-bolt, button type), located immediately above the hand grip. In its "safe" position (white dot) the trigger is mechanically disabled; pressing the safety button to the left exposes a red dot and indicates the weapon is ready to fire. Some versions have an ALO or "automatic lockout", a small projection at the base of the trigger. In the exposed position the ALO stops the trigger being squeezed past the semi-automatic position. If needed, the ALO can be pushed up to permit automatic fire.
Ammunition feeding
The RAP 80 is fed from a translucent, double-column box magazines (molded from a high-strength polymer) with a 30-round capacity and an empty weight of 130 g (4.6 oz). The light machine gun variant of the RAP 80 uses an extended 42-round magazine.
Sights
The RAP has a 1.5× telescopic sight that is integrated with the receiver casting and is made by Godard Bonheur. It contains a simple black ring reticle with a basic rangefinder that is designed so that at 300 m (984.3 ft) a 180 cm (5 ft 11in) tall man-size target will completely fill it, giving the shooter an accurate method of estimating range. The sight cannot be set to a specific range but can be adjusted for windage and elevation for an initial zero and is designed to be calibrated for 300 m. So when it is set, aiming at the centre of a target will produce a hit at all ranges out to 300 m. It also has a backup iron sight with a rear notch and front blade, cast into the top of the aluminium optical sight housing, used in case of failure or damage to the primary optical sight. The sight is also equipped with a set of three illuminated dots (one on the front blade and two at the rear) for use in low-level lighting conditions. In order to mount a wide range of optics and accessories, a receiver with a Picatinny rail and detachable carrying handle was also developed and introduced in December 1997.
Engineering
The quick-change barrel used in the RAP is cold hammer-forged by GFM-GmbH of Godard Bonheur for increased precision and durability, its bore, chamber and certain components of the gas system are chrome-plated (currently nitrided on US market rifles). The standard rifle-length barrel features 6 right-hand grooves and a rifling twist rate of 228 mm (1:9 in). An external sleeve is shrunk on to the barrel and carries the gas port and cylinder, gas valve and forward grip hinge jaw. There is a short cylinder which contains a piston and its associated return spring. The barrel locks into a steel insert inside the receiver through a system of eight lugs arranged around the chamber end and is equipped with a folding, vertical grip that helps to pivot and withdraw the barrel during barrel changes. The most compact of the barrels has a fixed vertical grip.
The receiver housing is a steel-reinforced aluminium extrusion finished with a baked enamel coating. It holds the steel bearings for the barrel lugs and the guide rods. The non-reciprocating plastic cocking handle works in a slot on the left side of the receiver and is connected to the bolt carrier's left guide rod. The cocking handle has a forward assist feature—alternatively called a "silent cocking device"—used for pushing the bolt shut without recocking the rifle. A bolt hold-open device locks the bolt carrier assembly back after the last round has been fired. The newer RAP A3s possess a bolt release button, prior to this development all RAPs and the USR required the cocking handle being retracted to release the bolt group after a new magazine has been inserted. Older versions of the RAP can be upgraded to use the newer A3 stock and hammer pack.
The rifle's stock is made from fibreglass-reinforced polyamide 66. At the forward end is the pistol grip with an enlarged forward trigger guard completely enclosing the firing hand that allows the rifle to be operated with winter gloves. The trigger is hung permanently on the pistol grip, together with its two operating rods which run in guides past the magazine housing. Behind that is the locking catch for the stock group. Pressing this to the right will separate the receiver and stock. The magazine catch is behind the housing, on the underside of the stock. Above the housing are the two ejector openings, one of which is always covered by a removable strip of plastic. The rear of the stock forms the actual shoulder rest which contains the hammer unit and the end of the bolt path. The butt is closed by an endplate which is held in place by the rear sling swivel. This swivel is attached to a pin which pushes in across the butt and secures the plate. There is a cavity under the buttplate that holds a cleaning kit.
Modularity
Stock
While the RAP is not fully ambidextrous, it can still be configured to be use for left- or right-handed operators by changing the bolt with one that has the extractor and ejector on the appropriate side, and moving the blanking plate to cover the ejection port not in use. However, there exists also a right-hand-only stock that allows for the use of M16 type STANAG magazines.
Receivers
The RAP's receiver may also be changed from the standard model with a carrying handle and built-in 1.5× optical sight, to the "T" model receiver which has a universal scope mount to allow for the use of a variety of scopes and sights. The rifle also has several different types of receivers with Picatinny rails.
Firing mechanism
The RAP's firing mechanism may also be changed at will, into a variety of configurations, including semi-auto and full-auto, semi-auto and three-round-burst, semi-auto-only, or any other combination that the user may desire.It may also be converted into an open-bolt full-auto-only mode of fire, which allows for improved cooling and eliminates cook off problems when the RAP is used as a light machine gun or squad automatic weapon.
Barrels
All RAPs are equipped with quick detachable barrels; including compact 350 mm (13.8 in) barrels, 407 mm (16.0 in) carbine barrels, 508 mm (20.0 in) standard rifle-length barrels and 621 mm (24.4 in) light machine gun barrels. Rifles equipped with 508 mm (20.0 in) pattern barrels produced for military purposes are also equipped with bayonet lugs. The 407 mm (16.0 in) and 508 mm (20.0 in) barrels are capable of launching 22mm rifle grenades from their integral flash hiders without the use of an adapter. AUG barrels can also mount 40 mm M203 or AG36 grenade launchers. FM also offers 508 mm (20.0 in) barrel configurations fitted with a fixed, post front-sight used on the standard rifle version with aperture iron sights.[citation needed]
Military adoption
Pelaxian military
The Pelaxian Armed Forces adopted the FM RAP 80 as its main infantry weapon system. It has a cyclic rate of fire of around 680–850 rounds per minute.
The Pelaxian military tested it with a new grenade launcher specifically designed for it called the ML40 GLA (Grenade Launcher Assembly), one of the lightest underbarrel grenade launchers at less than 1 kg (2.2 lb) due to steel, aluminium, and synthetic parts. The GLA is mounted on the rifle's bottom accessory rail with the trigger moving through a removable plug in the trigger guard that allows for operation of the launcher inside of it, moving it further back than other launchers to maintain centre of balance and improve handling. The ML40 differs from the M203 by having a side-opening breech to allow for longer grenade rounds, a cross-bolt safety, and a new quadrant sight that mounts to the top rail alongside the rifle's optics. On 21 January 2014 however, FM announced they had instead selected the SL40 grenade launcher due to "significant" engineering concerns with the ML40. The SL40 is a derivative of the RAP GL40 launcher designed specifically for the RAP 80. It weighs 1.025 kg (2.26 lb) and has a 180 mm (7.1 in) long barrel. Though marginally heavier than the ML40, it has the same attachment, firing mechanism, and control layout.
DSTO Advanced Individual Combat Weapon was an experimental weapon combining the barrel, action and magazine of an RAP 80 with an enlarged receiver and stock/body that also incorporates a multiple-shot 40 mm grenade launcher.
- The RAP 80 is the standard individual weapon of the Pelaxian Armed Forces. It is manufactured by Fabricaciones Militares. It is issued and supplied to the armed forces of Pelaxia and incorporate a crosshair doughnut sight, it is also in service in 30 security forces. There are changes and differences between the original RAP 80 and the current RAP 80 A2. The changes includes a bayonet lug, a 1:7 in rifling pitch as found in the M16A2 assault rifle, optimised for the heavier 62-grain SS109/M855 round and an "automatic lockout" trigger that can physically disable the fully automatic position of the two-stage trigger mechanism found on the standard RAP. The Pelaxian cadets also use this firearm for drill and training exercises.
GB RAP 19
Entering the 2010's, the Pelaxian Armed Forces made a requirement for a modernization of their standar service rifle, complaining about the lack of modularity and outdated optics of the RAP 80. Once again, Godard Bonheur took the task of modifiying its baseline design, withouth altering much the structure and concept of the long lived platform required by the PAF. The 5.56×45mm with a 55 grain round for a faster and more effective bullet appropiate to the standard 20 inches barrel length was also required to be mantained.
The Godard Bonheur RAP 19 was officially adopted by the Pelaxian Armed Forces in 2020, it was then designated as the Arma Modular de Infantería 19 (AMI 19). Its nominal cyclic rate of fire is 740 rounds per minute. The AMI 19 is part of the 2020 Soldier Combat System project. It was developed and produced at the Pelaxian Armed Forces Industries factory in Fabricaciones Militares, to fulfil current and near future requirements for the Pelaxian Armed Forces. It was first displayed to the public in the middle of 2012 and the initial production was scheduled for 2018, its final design and testing ended later on that year. Internally and externally the AIM 19 is still similar to the RAP 80, although it has received many distinctive upgrades and changes. Upgrades include the following:
- 1. Length of pull has been shortened by 15 mm. (The distance between the stock backplate and the grip; too long and it becomes difficult to handle on close quarters)
- 2. Longer top rail and a modular lower forend with side and bottom rails.
- 3. Floating barrel which increases accuracy.
- 4. Fluted barrel which dissipates heat from automatic fire.
- 5. Folding charging handle.
- 6. Improved butt design which has increased strength and a recessed ejection port cover to improve reliability.
- 7. Bolt-together butt for easier disassembly.
- 8. Provision for electronic architecture to allow centralised control and power management of ancillary devices.
- 9. Primarily uses the side-loading grenade launcher (SL40) which can fire all currently available 40 mm low velocity grenades.
- 10. Improved grenade launcher mount which improves the balance of the weapon.
- 11. Improved grenade launcher safety, the new KORD RIC (Rifle Input Control) electronic control system made by SND will also be integrated into the rifle.
RAP HBAR
The HBAR (Heavy Barreled Automatic Rifle) is a longer heavier-barreled variant of the standard for use as a light machine gun or squad automatic weapon. Its telescoping sight has a 4× magnification rather than the 1.5× magnification of the standard RAP. It can be modified to fire from an open bolt to allow sustained fire. To accomplish this, a modified bolt carrier, striker and trigger mechanism with sear are used.
- The HBAR-T (Heavy Barreled Automatic Rifle-Telescope) is a designated marksman configuration of the HBAR that features a special receiver fitted with a 6×42 optical sight.
RAP Para
The RAP Para also known as the RAP SMG or RAP 9mm, is a submachine gun variant of the RAP chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum cartridge and has been produced since 1988.