Gepard (submachine gun)

The Gepard is a Russian submachine gun developed by the military unit 33491 and JSC REX, first designed in 1995 and presented in Moscow in 1997. The gun was developed as an answer to a shortage of 9mm submachine guns.

Development

Developed from the AKS-74U, the Gepard has a 65% parts commonality; it can use the .380 ACP, 9×18mm Makarov, 9×19mm Parabellum, 9×19mm 7N21, 9×21mm and 9×21mm Gyurza without a change and can use the 9×30mm Grom cartridge with a chamber replacement.
The gun can use different mechanisms of action:

blowback
blowback with 2 inertial masses
blowback with 2 inertial masses and partial use of the gas from the barrel
delayed blowback
typical Kalashnikov long-stroke piston with rotating bolt

The receiver is shorter compared to other Kalashnikov platforms, so a special counter-balancing system can be used. Various barrel accessories such as muzzle brakes, flash hiders and suppressors can be attached to the barrel. The double-stack magazine presses the rounds against the front wall. Unusual for Kalashnikov rifles, the magazine is placed inside the grip similar to the ST Kinetics CPW and the grip is made from polymer.