Österreichische · Sniper Rifle
Steyr IWS 2000
Long recoil · 15.2x169mm APFSDS · introduced 1990
Also known as IWS 2000, Infantry Weapon System 2000, Steyr AMR
About the Steyr IWS 2000
The Steyr IWS 2000 (Infantry Weapon System 2000) is a radical prototype anti-materiel rifle that fires 15.2mm armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS) rounds from a smoothbore barrel, using the same technology employed by modern tank guns scaled down to a man-portable weapon. The long-recoil semi-automatic action and hydraulic buffer system manage the enormous recoil forces generated by the proprietary cartridge, which launches a tungsten sub-caliber dart at 1,450 m/s. Despite its impressive armor-penetrating capability of 40mm RHA at 1,000 meters, the weapon remained a prototype due to its extreme weight and the high cost of its specialized ammunition.
The Steyr IWS 2000 borrowed directly from tank gun technology, firing miniature armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot rounds from a smoothbore barrel. The tungsten dart penetrator travels at 1,450 m/s and can defeat 40mm of rolled homogeneous armor at 1,000 meters, making it one of the most powerful shoulder-fired weapons ever designed. It remains one of the few infantry weapons to use APFSDS ammunition, a technology otherwise exclusive to main battle tanks.
Steyr IWS 2000 specifications
General
- Type
- Sniper Rifle
- Action
- Long recoil
- Firing mechanism
- Hammer-fired
- Trigger
- Single stage
- Calibres
- 15.2x169mm APFSDS
- Magazine capacity
- 5 rounds
- Magazine
- Detachable box magazine
Dimensions
- Barrel length
- 1200 mm (47.2 in)
- Overall length
- 1800 mm (70.9 in)
- Weight (empty)
- 18.00 kg (39.68 lb)
- Weight (loaded)
- 18.50 kg (40.79 lb)
Barrel
- Rifling
- Smoothbore
Materials
- Barrel
- Steel
- Receiver / frame
- Steel
- Stock
- Polymer composite
- Finish
- matte_black
Performance
- Muzzle velocity (typical)
- 1450 m/s (4757 fps)
- Muzzle energy (typical)
- 21025 J (15507 ft·lb)
- Effective range
- 1000 m
History
- Introduced
- 1990
- Production status
- Prototype
- Country of origin
- AT
Features
- Smoothbore barrel
- Apfsds ammunition
- Bullpup configuration
- Bipod
- Hydraulic recoil buffer
- Picatinny rail
- Muzzle brake
Safety
- Manual safety
The IWS 2000 uses a smoothbore barrel like a tank gun rather than a rifled barrel. The APFSDS projectile consists of a tungsten flechette (dart) housed in a plastic sabot that falls away after leaving the barrel, with the dart stabilized by fins rather than spin. The long-recoil operating system allows the entire barrel to travel rearward during firing, combined with a hydraulic buffer to reduce felt recoil to manageable levels. The rifle is configured in a bullpup layout to keep overall length reasonable despite the 1,200mm barrel.
