Tag: Black Storm

Black Storm Defender – Standalone GP-25 Grenade Launcher Stock

In an earlier video we looked at the Black Storm series of bullpup conversion kits for AK pattern rifles. Black Storm have also developed an interesting standalone stock for the GP-25 under barrel grenade launcher called ‘Defender’. The impetus for this is s aid to be that the Black Storm rifle kits aren’t able to support the grenade launchers so a standalone stock into which they can be mounted was developed.

The GP-25 is a 40mm grenade launcher designed in the late 1970s by the small arms design bureau based at Tula. It is an under-barrel grenade launcher designed to slide onto standard issued AK-74 pattern rifles. Its ammunition uses a high–low pressure system and has a range of up to 400m.

The most interesting feature of the GP-25 stock is that it has a recoil mitigation system. This appears to be a strong spring in the telescoping stock tube which acts as a buffer. The stock kit is made up of a telescoping stock with butt pad, onto which the grenade launcher is mounted – just as you would onto a rifle, a forward vertical grip can be attached by a clamshell pair of metal stampings with allow the grip piece to be centered and held in place by two cross nuts. There is also a press-fit pistol grip extension for the GP-25’s short grip to help improve ergonomics.

Black Storm list the stock kit without launcher as weighing 200g while the Defender with GP-25 is listed as weighing 500g (1.1lbs). Black Storm sell the V2.0 of the stock for 5,950 UAH ($162). 

A GP-25 in a Black Storm Defender stock (via War_Noir)

With some units also transitioning to NATO calibre rifles like the M4A1, MSBS GROT, FN FNC and F2000 amongst others, the ability to use the GP-25 as a stand alone weapon has proven valuable as the GP-25 can’t be mounted on Western rifles but with ammunition for the grenade launchers still plentiful they can continue to be used.

The earliest imagery I could find of the Defender in the field dates to 22 April, when  Russian reporter War Gonzo posted a short video showing a Defender captured by Separatist DPR troops in Mariupol. The DPR soldier examining it notes that the weapon doesn’t seem to work and also compared it to the GP-25 fitted to his own AKS-74.

In May a good, clear photograph of a GP-25 in a Defender stock was shared, shown fitted with a sling. In mid-May Ukrainian operators shared a video of the Defender being fired at the range.

Also in May a short video of a Defender kit being fitted to a launcher was shared – this particular example apparently requiring some hand fitting to the sheet-metal pieces that attach the forward grip.

A number of other stand alone adapters for GP-25s have also been seen in the field, In late May 2022, this example of a simpler adapter was shared online featuring a rigid stock onto which the grande launcher can be fitted. Simple adapters like this may be craft made in the field or manufactured by commercial companies.

A GP-25 in a Defender stock (via social media)

In June a short video was shared of a Ukrainian soldier firing several high-angle rounds from a GP-25 mounted in a Defender stock, we can see that the sight has been set to its highest elevation.

Ukrainian operators shared another photograph of a GP-25 in a Defender stock in September. The North Side Group shared a photograph of a GP-25 in a Defender at what appears to be a range in mid-September.

Russian operator shared photo of two standalone stocks for the GP-25 – the first is the rigid stock type seen in the photo from May. I haven’t been able to ascertain who produces this stock yet. In these photos, however, it is clear that the butt is wider than the Ukrainian design. The second stock appears to be a Black Storm Defender [Update: since identified as a RGL Север 1].

On 30 November the Belarusian volunteer unit, the Kalinouski Regiment, shared a video demonstrating the Defender, showing how its loaded, fired and carried noting that it is “designed to destroy enemy manpower located in trenches, and open terrain.”

In early January, Assistance Group – a German group active in Ukraine, shared some photographs of load out for operating in urban and woodland environments and a GP-25 in a Defender feature in both photographs.

At the beginning of February 2023 a video was shared featuring an operator with Russia’s SOBR “Granit”, he fires a couple of rounds from a GP-25 in a stand alone stock [Update: since identified as a RGL Север 1].

The ‘Lubart’ Ukrainian special operations forces unit recently shared a number of montage video of operations around Bakhmut. In it one operator loads and fires a Defender several times. The Defender in the clip lacks the pistol grip extension that comes as part of the kit.

A GP-25 Defender and a pair of customised AKs (via social media)

On 2 March a member of the Forward Observations Group shared a photo of is various weapons including a Black Storm Defender. 

Finally, most recently, a short video from a Russian anti-Putin group – the Russian Volunteer Corps, filmed during an apparent raid into Bryansk. The video featured one of the group’s leaders with a Defender slung at his side.  

It’s unclear just how many of these Black Storm Defender stock kits are being used by Ukrainian personnel but they do continue to appear regularly in imagery from the field. While unsurprisingly they appear to be favoured by units armed with Western rifles they are also being used by combatants armed with weapons which could mount a GP-25, perhaps indicating a preference for using the launcher as a stand alone weapon. 

Update 30/04/22 – Russia’s RGL Север 1

Since writing the article further research has discovered a very similar stock design originating from Russia. Developed by a company called RGL (redgreenlight.ru). RGL have developed a number of products including a sight mount for RPG/RPO pattern shoulder-fired launchers and a small light which can illuminate turrets on optics for use in lowlight conditions. They developed their stock for the GP25 and GP34 in 2019, with refinements in 2022. It was reportedly developed independently of the Black Storm Defender – with both companies developing very similar products.

RGL’s website has some specs on their system – the Север 1, noting its length is 480mm and its weight is ‘no more 1100g’. The stock adapter is priced at 17,000 Russian Ruble (or around $220). 

Photos of the Север 1 with GP-25 fitted and disassembled (via RGL)

So similar are the two designs that images at 5:21 and a clip at 6:55 actually show Север 1s rather than Defenders. A Wagner-affiliated Telegram channel posted the photo below, with the caption: “For those who want to order – mid-May production time, place an order in advance.”

An RGL Север 1 fitted with a TAG-35, an airsoft clone of the GP-34 grenade launcher (via social media)

The key differences between the two appear to be a different kind of butt pad, the positioning of the sling loops, some machining on the extension which attaches to the launcher and most fundamentally a reversal of which parts of the stock telescope. On the Defender the rear section telescopes inside the front while on the Север the front portion appears to telescope inside the rear section. The Север 1 does not appear to come with a frontgrip or a grip extension. The Север 1 has been seen in use in Ukraine with Russian combatants.

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Bibliography:

Black Storm Defender, Black Storm, (source)

Video demonstrating assembly of Defender, Black Storm, (source)

Thanks to the guys at Streaking Delilah, War_Noir and to Abraxas Spa for their help with imagery for this video.

Black Storm: Converting Ukraine’s AK-74s into Bullpups

We’ve looked at a number of different bullpups currently in use with Ukrainian forces, ranging from Tavors to the locally developed Malyuk/Vulcan – check out those articles/videos if you haven’t already. 

In this article/video we’re going to take a look at another Ukrainian development which converts a standard AK-74 into a bullpup. The Black Storm BS-series of kits has been around since the mid 2010s and in recent months more and more imagery of Ukrainian personnel with Black Storm bullpup AKs has been emerging. 

The Black Storm kits are compatible with both AKM and AK-74 pattern rifle and the relatively simple designs allows the conversion of a conventional rifle into the bullpup with not alterations to the base rifle. 

A suppressed AK-74 next a suppressed BS-3 illustrating the overall length difference (via Black Storm)

To convert the rifle the stock furniture is removed, the pistol grip, forend and butt. The trigger transfer bar is then put in place and the lower receiver of the chassis is then attached which holds it in place. The new lower receiver has the pistol grip already attached. The butt assembly is then slide into place – this also covers the original trigger but leaves the magazine release exposed. There is a hinged cheek piece attached to the butt assembly. This can be pivoted out the way for access into the receiver and to allow the gas piston and bolt assembly and receiver cover to be placed. Finally, a top cover is slotted into place and retained by a catch to the lower. This covers the gas tube and barrel.   

The kit appears to be made from simple sheet metal stampings and is held together by slotting into pre-existing parts of the rifle’s original receiver and a couple of screws. While the chassis obviously adds weight to the weapon it does have the benefit of shortening the rifle and also shifting its centre of balance back.

The BS3 adds no additional controls to the rifle and the weapon is manipulated using it’s existing charging handle and safety-selector lever. The BS4 was developed in 2017 and introduced in 2018, adds a number of new ergonomic features with a left-side forward charging handle which makes the rifle much easier to cock and a new thumb actuated safety – which probably acts on the trigger transfer bar. A new extension to the magazine release lever has also been added to make magazine changes easier. Black Storm describe the BS4 as: “easy to put on and take off in the field, without intruding into the weapon. It is enough to remove the butt and stock, and you can install the Bullpup with one mounting bolt.” Both the BS-3 and BS-4 have a length of Picatinny rail under the lower receiver and require an optic riser rail for mounting an optic.

A BS-3 c.November 2022 (via Black Storm)

How well an optic mounted on a rifle in a Black Storm kit retains zero is unknown but the mount is fitted over the rifle’s rear sight block and held in place by a bracket under the barrel. This is then secured by four small bolts. 

The company says that both the BS-3 and BS4 are made from 1mm stamped steel and polymer. Black Storm list the weight of an AK-74 with the BS-3 kit installed, but without a magazine, as 3.4kgs. The weight of the BS-3 kit’s components is 1.2kg. A 2018 video, however, suggests that the kit’s components weigh just over 1.6kg (not including the rifle’s receiver, barrel and bolt assembly).

Black Storm list the weight of an AK-74 with the BS-4 kit installed, but without a magazine, as 3.9kgs. The weight of the BS-4 kit’s components is 1.7kg. Once installed with either kit the rifle has an overall length of 70cm (27.5in) down from 94cm (37in) for a standard configuration AK-74. 

A video review of the kit by one of the Ukrainian soldiers who has used it in the field

Black Storm list the BS-3 at 14,250 UAH ($387) and the BS-4 at 21,500 UAH ($585). From the information available it appears that the kits are purchased by servicemen privately, to adapt their issued service rifles.

A BS-5 has been developed, it’s unclear if this is in production but it is listed on Black Storm’s site and is said to be available. It has a length of rail along its top cover removing the need for an optic riser and also allowing the use of back up iron sights. It’s price is listed at 28,500 UAH ($775).

BS-3 with an EOTECH HWS XPS2, a laser/light module and a custom green camouflage paint job (via social media)

Photos of the BT-2 were shared in January 2015 and an early version of the kit was displayed at a Ukrainian military exhibition in 2015, the BT-3 and BS-3 variants were introduced in 2017 and 2018. The guns have seen combat use since at least 2017, with Black Storm sharing photos of a BS-3e used in Donbas in July 2017.  Since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, a number of photos and videos have shown the conversion kits in use with personnel from a variety of units.

During the first week of April combatants from the Georgian Legion shared a photo featuring a BS-3. In July a member of Azov Dnipro was photographed with a BS-3 outfitted with a thermal optic, bipod and suppressor. Interestingly you can see the remains of a green paint on the AK-74 receiver while the Black Storm kit has not been painted.  

In October 2022 a series of photo featuring rifles outfitted with the kits were shared. Two were shared by a member of ‘Cats Squad Special Company’ showing a BS-3 with an EOTECH HWS XPS2, a laser/light module and a custom green camouflage paint job.

A Black Storm BS-4 photographed at the front around Bakhmut, February 2023 (via Yuri)

The member of the Cats Squad shared another photo in November 2022, the rifle can now be seen fitted with a suppressor. On 7 January, photographer Viktor Fridshon took photos of Ukrainian soldiers in Krasna Hora, Donetsk. One of the soldiers had a BS-3 fitted with a micro red dot sight and painted in a green camouflage scheme. A the beginning of February a video of a Ukrainian combatant showing off his BS-3 was shared on line, in it he explains its features and demonstrated how handy it is. He has a vertical foregrip fitted and an Aimpoint red dot.

Most recently in early February, Yuri was kind enough to share some photos he took of a Ukrainian soldier’s BS-4, identifiable by the visible left-side charging handle and safety on the pistol grip. The rifle was kitted out with a vertical foregrip, suppressor, a thermal optic, laser/light module and a red dot sight on a 45-degree mount.

It’s unclear just how many of these Black Storm kits are being used by Ukrainian personnel and this brief look at examples from the field can’t be considered a representative survey. The kit itself, while heavy, does have the advantage of shortening the rifle’s overall length which is useful in some of the urban and close quarter fighting that’s ongoing. The fact the base rifle doesn’t have to be modified is also useful and means that users don’t have to physically modify issued service weapons. 

Support Us: If you enjoyed this video and article please consider supporting our work here. We have some great perks available for Patreon Supporters – including early access to custom stickers and early access to videos! Thank you for your support!

Bibliography:

Thanks to Yuri, the guys at Streaking Delilah, War_Noir and Abraxas Spa for their help with this video.

Ukrainian Black Storm BS-4 Bullpup Conversion Kit for AK Rifles, TFB, (source)

BS-3, Black Storm, (source)

BS-4, Black Storm, (source)

BS-5, Black Storm, (source)

Black Storm’s Facebook Page (source)

Bullpup AK47/74, Reibert.info, (source)