Thread by @historicfirearm

🚨THREAD🧵

The UK-led OP Interflex is training 20,000 Ukrainian troops in 2023, just over 10k last year. They are providing basic infantry training, for this they need rifles.

The latest of these are Bulgarian Arsenal AR-M9Fs in 5.56x45mm. Here's why that's interesting... 1/

January saw the first photos of Ukrainian troops with these Bulgarian AKs shared by UK, Australian & Canadian defence departments. They join a plethora of 7.62x39mm AK pattern rifles procured last year.
More on that here: armourersbench.com/2022/07/25/uk-… 2/

What's most interesting is that the new rifles come with Blank Firing Adaptors for use in manoeuvre training/drills. Until now we'd seen Ukr troops training with British L85A2s - probably because of a lack of 7.62x39 blank & BFAs

More on that: armourersbench.com/2022/08/07/ukr… 3/

With the new Bulgarian rifles chambered in 5.56x45, this means blank ammunition is readily available and cheaply made in the UK (unlike 7.62x39 blank). The British Army also knows what its doing with 5.56 blank. 4/

The BFAs likely come direct from Arsenal in Bulgaria. they appear to be direct thread once the AR-M9F's muzzle device is removed. 5/

Here's a member of the Small Arms School Corps training international instructors on the Arsenal AK.
The AR-M9F has a side folding tube stock, ambidextrous safety and these models have standard non-railed furniture. Good basic rifles for training. 6/

Check out my full video & article on the Arsenal AKs now in use in the UK to train Ukrainian troops:
armourersbench.com/2023/02/05/ukr…

I don't think I've seen anyone mention these yet & I find the rifles procured for training pretty interesting.
#Ukraine #SmallArms #UkraineRussiaWar 7/7