Copyright © Hans Högman 2025-03-19
Automatic Rifle 90 (Ag 90)
The 12.7 mm automatic rifle 90 (Ag 90) (Swedish:
12.7 mm automatgevär 90 (Ag 90)) is an American
recoil-operated, semi-automatic anti-materiel rifle
in caliber 12.7 mm, developed by Barrett Firearms
Manufacturing under the name Barrett M82.
In the Swedish Armed Forces, it exists in three
variants: 90A, 90B, and 90C.
The 90A is primarily designed for ammo clearance,
while the 90B is generally utilized by army special
forces for material destruction over vast distances.
The 90C is a quality improvement over previous
versions. The weapon is designed to engage targets
at distances of up to 2,000 meters.
The Automatic Rifle 90C is a semi-automatic, recoil-
operated rotating bolt weapon. The rifle is
equipped with a 90B scope with a fixed tenfold
magnification, and to achieve passive night vision
capability, an AG 90B image intensifier can be
mounted.
In the Swedish Armed Forces, the weapon is
primarily used by ranger and engineer units.
In the ongoing (2024/2025) work to modernize the
Armed Forces' firearms, the renovation and
modernization of the Ag 90 are also included. The
new variant will be designated 90D and will be
introduced in 2025.
Specifications:
•
Mass, loaded:
16.4 kg
Unloaded:
15.3 kg
•
Length
1.550 mm
•
Barrel length
838 mm
•
Caliber
12,.7 mm
•
Cartridge
12,7 × 99 mm Browning
•
Effective firing range
1,850 m
•
Muzzle velocity
853 m/s
•
Feed system
10-round detachable
magazine
The upper image
shows the 12.7 mm
automatic rifle 90 (Ag
90). Image: Miliseum,
ID: MILIF.026039.
The lower image
shows the 12.7 mm
automatic rifle 90C
(Ag 90C). Swedish
army ranger. Image: Wikipedia.
Sniper Rifle 90 (Psg 90)
The Sniper Rifle 90 (Swedish: Prickskyttegevär
90 (Psg 90)) is a bolt-action sniper rifle with a
cylindrical mechanism of the twist-lock type, and
reloading occurs manually between each shot. The
weapon is a further development of the British
sniper rifle Precision Marksman (PM) L96A1 from
Accuracy International. The weapon is considered
one of the best sniper rifles in the world, both for
police and military use.
The rifle has been optimized for Arctic winter
conditions and functions effectively at
temperatures down to -40 °C. The bolt, trigger
guard, and magazine catch are designed to be used
with thick gloves. The mechanism is designed to
withstand ice formation, among other things.
The weapon was adopted in 1990 by the Swedish
Armed Forces after extensive testing. The Psg 90
has a fixed stock and a 10x42 scope with fixed
magnification. The Psg 90B is a renovated and
modified PSG 90 with a folding stock and a variable
magnification scope of 3-12x50.
Specifications:
•
Caliber
7.62 mm
•
Cartridge
7.62 x 51 mm
•
Mass
6.7 kg (loaded)
•
Length
1,184 mm
•
Barrel length
657 mm
•
Effective firing range
900 m
•
Max. firing range
3,943 m
•
Muzzle velocity
850 m/s
The upper image shows the 7.62 mm sniper rifle 90
(Psg 90). Image: Armémuseum, ID: AM.068399.
The lower image shows the 7.62 mm sniper rifle
90B (Psg 90B). Image: Wikipedia.
Assault Rifle 24 (Ak 24)
The Assault Rifle 24 (Ak 24) (Swedish:
Automatkarbin 24) is a Swedish version of the
Finnish assault rifle Sako M23. The weapon is
expected to come into use within the Swedish
Armed Forces in 2025, where it will partially replace
the Assault Rifle 4 (Ak 4) as well as the Assault Rifle
5 (Ak 5).
In the spring of 2023, the Swedish Armed Forces
and the Finnish Defence Forces inked a contract
with the armaments manufacturer SAKO to
purchase a new assault rifle, known in Sweden as
the Ak 24. In total, Sweden ordered 22,500
weapons.
The Ak 24, like its Swedish predecessors, is planned
to be adopted in several variants. Ak 24A with a
292 mm long barrel and Ak 24B with a 368 mm
long barrel.
Testing of the Ak 24A began in Sweden during the
last half of 2024 at three regiments and one air
wing. The introduction of Ak 24B has begun in
2025.
The caliber is 5.56 mm. After the Ak 24, a heavier
assault rifle in 7.62 mm caliber (Ak 25) is set to
arrive in 2026.
Specifications Ak 24:
•
Mass, empty
3.2 kg
•
Length
715–800 mm
•
Cartridge
5,56×45 mm NATO
•
Barrel length
292 mm / 368 mm
•
Magazine
One 20 cartridges, three 30
cartridges
•
Sight
Aimpoint Comp M5 (RP-sight 18
EHV B)
•
Reserve sight
Yes, foldable
•
Effective firing range
600 m
•
Butt
Magpul CTR, telescopic
•
Hand guard
M-LOK – STANAG-rails
•
Color
Ceracote HIR-601
The image shows the assault rifle 24A (AK 24A) with
an inserted magazine. Short barrel. Image: Sako
Ltd. 2023.
In February 2025, problems were discovered
with the firing mechanism on some weapons, and
since February 28, there has been a shooting ban
with the AK 24. The consequence of the problem
is a firing delay. There can be a delay of up to a
few seconds between pulling the trigger and the
shot being discharged. The shooting ban means
that AK 24 cannot be used for shooting with live
and blank ammunition. However, various types of
training activities on AK 24 will continue.
Assault Rifle Colt M4A1
15,000 interim weapons of the Colt M4A1 type
have also been procured by the Swedish Defence
Materiel Administration (FMV) on behalf of the
Armed Forces (January 2025). Exactly how these
weapons will be used will be decided when the
delivery dates are known, but the plan is for these
weapons to be trained on and assigned in parallel
with the introduction of the Ak 24 to increase
operational flexibility.
The reason for the order is that the Armed Forces
have not yet received enough new Ak 24s to meet
their needs. Therefore, they have urgently
purchased 15,000 assault rifles of the Colt M4A1
type – directly from the US Army – to meet the
current Swedish needs.
Specifications:
•
Effective firing range
500 - 600 m
•
The image shows the assault rifle Colt M4A1 with
an optical sight. Image: Wikipedia.
Arms in the Swedish Armed
Forces - 1b
Introduction
Small arms (or handguns) are firearms that are
small enough to be handled with one's hands
without the use of special supports or stands.
Small arms can be divided into one-handed
weapons (pistols, revolvers, etc.) and two-handed
weapons (rifles, carbines, submachine guns, etc.)
and traditionally refer to fine-caliber weapons.
Machine guns are often not considered small arms
because they mainly require a stand or tripod for
complete handling.
Hand-held medium- and large-caliber weapons fired
from the shoulder (anti-tank guns, grenade
launchers, rocket launchers, etc.) are usually
distinguished from small arms.
Small Arms, 20th Century to
Present (2)
Listed below, in chronological order, are the small
arms used in the Swedish Armed Forces during the
20th century and up to the present day.
List of small arms
•
Rifle m/1867
•
Revolver m/1887
•
Carbine m/1894
•
Rifle m/1896
•
Pistol m/1907
•
Submachine gun m/1937
•
Submachine gun m/1937-39
•
Submachine gun m/1939
•
Pistol m/1939
•
Pistol m/1940
•
Semi-automatic rifle m/1942
•
Submachine gun m/1945
•
Assault rifle 4 (Ak 4)
•
Assault rifle 5 (Ak 5)
•
Pistol 88
•
Automatic rifle 90
•
Sniper rifle 90
•
Assault rifle 24 (Ak 24)
•
Assault rifle Colt M4A1
