Steyr IWS 2000

The IWS 2000 AMR (Infantry Weapon System 2000) was a prototype single-shot bolt-action anti-matériel rifle designed by Steyr Mannlicher in the mid 1980s and produced in prototype form only. A radical design for a weapon meant to destroy enemy equipment, the IWS 2000 was Steyr's attempt at designing a sniper rifle ideal for that purpose.

History[]

The project started in the mid-1980s, during which there was an interest in the development of heavy sniping rifles that are intended to destroy enemy equipment. Unfortunately, the word "sniping" suggests anti-personnel shooting, which would give many people the wrong idea about the function of these large-caliber weapons. Steyr Mannlicher avoided this by classifying the weapon as an "anti-matériel" rifle.

At the time, they envisioned a two-man, single-shot rifle capable of accurate fire up to 1,000 meters, with the intended targets being lightly armored vehicles, armored personnel carriers, electronics equipment, and helicopters. Early trials with experimental ammunition based on 12.7mm caliber cartridges demonstrated that an APFSDS (armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding-sabot) approach would be more beneficial.

The IWS 2000 used a 14.5mm APFSDS round, which evolved from an earlier 15mm caliber round. The weapon was first publicly showcased in 1990. Unfortunately, at the time, military spending was on the decrease, and though a great deal of interest was expressed, it was not adopted.

This lead to Steyr refining the weapon further and the caliber of the APFSDS round being changed.

Development of the weapon was considered to be complete. However, it appeared that the IWS 2000 was ultimately never formally adopted.

A magazine-fed, semi-automatic version of the IWS 2000, known as the AMR 5075, was also proposed.

There is one known manufacturing sample of the weapon that is still in existence, kept in the Steyr Mannlicher arms factory in Kleinraming, Austria. However, the rifle appears to be missing both its bolt and an optic sight.

Design Details[]

The IWS 2000 is actually a smoothbore weapon, like many modern tank guns, and not a true rifle but this can help accelerate projectiles and increase ballistic effectiveness.

This firearm is based on a 9.75 inch long-recoil mechanism. This mechanism, which is usually found in shotguns, helps manage the heavy recoil forces of the 15.2×169mm APFSDS round. This is due to its damping effect that allows for force distribution over a longer period of time. Another unusual feature of the weapon is the movement of the barrel. After firing, the barrel recoils into a shock-absorbing, hydro-pneumatic sleeve, much like those found on an LG 1 Mark II 105mm Howitzer. The barrel and bolt recoils for about 200mm, after which the bolt is unlocked and held while the barrel is returned to battery. The bolt is then released, ejecting a spent casing, after which the user inserts a fresh round and locks the bolt into the barrel by a rotary motion.

The IWS 2000 also uses a multi-baffle muzzle brake to distribute muzzle energy and further reduce recoil, similar to the ones used on D-30 2A18M 122mm Towed Howitzers. The entire rifle body is made up of a combination of high-tension plastics and super-light polymers to increase manageability and cut down on weight. The smoothbore barrel is easily detached and packed away for increased mobility.

For a sighting system, the IWS is fitted with a 10x optic scope as standard. It also has a monopod at the rear that is dial-adjustable. A variation of the weapon features a fire control system similar to that seen on the M1 Abrams MBT.

Ammunition[]

The IWS 2000 fires a proprietary 15.2×169mm APFSDS round. Specifically designed for the IWS 2000, it contains a fin-stabilized, dart-shaped penetrator of either tungsten carbide or depleted uranium, capable of piercing 40mm of Rolled Homogeneous Armor (RHA) at a range of 1,000 meters, and causing secondary fragmentation. The cartridge is comprised of a plastic case, a steel head, and a plastic sabot around the penetrator.

Test results had shown that the penetrator has a much flatter trajectory than the .50 BMG heavy machine gun cartridge.

Gallery[]

References[]

External Link(s)[]

IWS 2000 (photo)