In Ukraine, the production of UAR-15 assault rifles has been almost completely localized. The head of a private company that supplies them to the Defense Forces assures that the design is dozens of times simpler to manufacture than a Kalashnikov assault rifle.
According to him, the reason lies in the materials: the rifle is mostly made of aluminum, which is much easier to machine than steel. The receiver and forend, in particular, are made of it.
The UAR-15 is known to be based on the AR-15 rifle developed by American designer Eugene Stoner. The platform has become the prototype for a number of models, including the American Colt M4 and M16 assault rifles. All of them have a single structural base, which is called the AR platform.
The head of the Ukrainian enterprise believes that at this stage Ukraine should move towards the AR platform. According to him, it is well developed, it can be quickly mastered. There is a ready-made technological process and components, and the platform is modern and convenient, he explains.
The company's head also draws attention to its advantages: technological maturity and simplicity of design, time-tested reliability, and a wide market for spare parts and modifications.
In addition, unlike recently created European systems, the AR-15 has no patent restrictions, allowing it to be produced without paying royalties and outside control.
Over the past 10 years, the company has almost completely localized its production in Ukraine. It manufactures the receiver, bolt group, gas block, trigger mechanism, and magazines on its own. The rifled barrel, which is supplied by several American companies, remains undeveloped.
However, after the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, the situation changed. The Ukrainian company managed to purchase high-tech machines for the production of barrels. According to the company's manager, the launch of the barrel production line should be expected next year.
For its rifle, the company has also established licensed production of the 40-mm M203 underbarrel grenade launcher. Currently, the main elements — in particular, the barrel — are imported. However, in the future, the company plans to completely localize their production. It has also been calculated that they will be able to produce grenade launchers half as cheaply as in the United States.
More details about this can be found in the "Defense" article entitled "Ukraine launches large-scale production of assault rifles. How domestic companies challenged the Soviet "Kalashnikov".