SA-98A2 Daikyu Standard issue

the SA-98A2 Daikyu ("Long bow") is a Estrovakian 5.56x45mm assault rifle, design and produced by Falkan Adavnce System™ Armament Development in Verchestien, the rifle is specificly designed to replace 5.56x45mm SA-15X series in service with Estrovakian armed forces

Development

Development of SA-98 started in the early 1998 when the Estrovakian Ministry of defense declared a need for a new service rifle in the same caliber of the former service rifle. the SA-150 which suffers from multiply issue at the begining of it service which then later fixed when the newer variants came out, but the 150 still greatly suffer from one design issue that cannot be fix without revamping the whole new gun, is that the operating system of it was known to be more sensitive to poor load catridge. this meaning Estrovakia a relatively small country would have to either produce all the catridge with a specific load domesticly, or import the surplus foriegner ammunition (where the cost are acceptable). this combined with the current economic situation of the country, Ministry of Defense feel a need for a replacenent for the "yer olde" SA-150.

SA-98 development begin with Estrovakian archiving multiply examples of M16A2 and AK-74 from undiscloused source and deep R&D have been done on those examples (Since FAS has no experience on the platform whatsoever). it was later decided that the new rifle will be based on AK platform instend of AR platform, in Feburary 2001 the gun is sumitted to the trail, came out on top and almost got adopted for the armed forces. but during 2001 the country doctirne and economic situation has changed and there is no need for such delicated replacement anymore, how ever the development of the weapon continued on. in 2017 the Estrovakian Ministry of Defense declared a modernization program that include the need for new service rifle agian. FAS summited the SA-98A1 nicknamed "Daikyu" for "Long Bow" in japanese (Developer's choice) and got approved and is adopted for service. SA-98A2 a version with improved iron sights came in 2018

SA-98A2 Daikyu standard issue

Design

Although many Daikyu's design element reassemble those of a AK and Beryl rifle from the outside, from the inside there is alot of differences. first of, the gun is operated from a short-stroke gas piston instend of long-stroke gas piston in Tantal or other AK. the firing mechanism also reassemble those of a Czech Vz.58 where it was striker fired instend of hammer fired, in theory this would reduce a chance of mulfunction as the system is more enclosed than exposed hammer fired mechanism of AK. the weapon also features a manual bolt hold open with an assistance of the Safety and the bolt hold open latch in the magazine follower (to engage the hold open, the safety must be engaged when the bolt is locked backward while the empty magazine is still inserted, the safety is used to hold tje bolt open). it also features a dust cover since the 3 possition safety is too small to cover an entire empty space of the charging handle "h o l e".

SA-98 Daikyu (top and middle) and Wz.88 Tantal (buttom)

Daikyu barrel is chrome-lined 457mm (18") long unthreaded barrel with a compensator adapter for the compensator, obivioisly. the compensator accepts quick detachable suppressor and rifle grenade aswell, There is no Bayonet lug or cleaning rod on this gun (Cleaning kit is issued sapperately).

SA-98A1 and A2 features the same handguard with Picatiny rails on both side and under, although not being featured the top. there is still a tactical illuminator made for it, Daikyu is usually issued with a Stubby vertical grip (During the 2017 doctirne update, underbarrel grenade launcher is replaced by a standalone version). the handguard is made of milled alluminium

the reciever reassembles AK-12 2012 prototype featuring the angled flat surfaces instend of the curved surface of AKM or Tantal. the top dust cover features a long Picatiny rails for scope mount, usually issued with TA2021 4x Assault Scope. the charging handle on the daikyu is foldable for sake of transportation in a confined spaces like in an aircarft or armoured vehicle.

Daikyu came with a side-folding tubular metal stock with "some" degree of adjustment to the length, the polymer cheek rest is also featured. the polymer metal stop is completed with rubber recoil pad (The standard issue version came equip with the folding stock. how ever there is an AR buffer tube adapter avaliable for some organization who pefer those more than the tube stock).

Daikyu sighting system reassemble the usual AK with front and back sight having the identical shape, how ever the Daikyu front sight is foldable. rear sights are adjustable as you would expect from the "usual AK"

SA-98A1 and SA-98A2 sight picture in order from left to right

Daikyu is feed from either 20 or 30 rounds polymer magazine or a 100 rounds drum magazine.

Daikyu has a stubby short fire selector which are adjustable for 3 possition, Safe semi-automatic and full-automatic. is also used for manual bolt hold open.

Daikyu can fires Estrovakian standard steel core ammunition which are similars to M855A1 but Estrovakian standard steel core or ESSC Mk.1 have a steel case or a tracer round similars M856A1 or ESSC Mk.1, a standard blanks, or traning slug (ESSC MK.1 are considerbly cheaper than M855A1 despite using the steel case, but ESSC Mk.1 produces considerbly more carbon and poorer sealing than M855A1. this make Daikyu the only rifle capable of using it in long term).

Standard Equipment of Daikyu including TA2021A1 4x Assault Scope, Mk.1S Vertical grip, AN/PEQ-2021A1 Tactical Illuminatot, cleaning kit, a bipod adapter and blank firing adapter

TA2021A1 Assault Scope, AN/PEQ-2021A1 Tactical Illuminator and Mk.1Stubby Vertical grip from left to right in order

SA-98A1 Daikyu with bipod adapter attached

Specification & Variants

SA-98A1 Daikyu

Type: Assault Rifle
Mass: 3.45kg without magazine
Length: 952mm Unfolded, 740mm folded
Barrel length: 18in
Cartridge: 5.56x45mm
Operation: Gas Operated (Short stroke gas piston), Rotating Bolt
Rate of fire: 800 rounds/min
Muzzle Velocity: ~920m/s
Effective firing range: 100m fixed sights
Maximum firing range: 600m Point Target, 800m Area Target (with TA2021A1 attached)
Feed System: 20, or 30 round detachable box magazine. or 100 round drum magazine
Sights: Fixed rear sight notch, foldable front post

SA-98A2 Daikyu

Type: Assault Rifle
Mass: 3.45kg without magazine
Length: 952mm Unfolded, 740mm folded
Barrel length: 18in
Cartridge: 5.56x45mm
Operation: Gas Operated (Short stroke gas piston), Rotating Bolt
Rate of fire: 800 rounds/min
Muzzle Velocity: ~920m/s
Effective firing range: 100-1000m adjustable sight
Maximum firing range: 600m Point Target, 800m Area Target (with TA2021A1 attached)
Feed System: 20, or 30 round detachable box magazine. or 100 round drum magazine
Sights: Adjustable rear sight notch, foldable front post

SA-99A2 Daikyu (click the image to jump to the gun)

Type: Assault Rifle
Mass: 3.18kg without magazine
Length: 841mm Unfolded, 572mm folded
Barrel length: 12in
Cartridge: 5.56x45mm
Operation: Gas Operated (Short stroke gas piston), Rotating Bolt
Rate of fire: 800 rounds/min
Muzzle Velocity: ~840m/s
Effective firing range: 100-1000m adjustable sight
Maximum firing range: 300m Point Target, 500m Area Target (with TA2021A1 attached)
Feed System: 20, or 30 round detachable box magazine. or 100 round drum magazine
Sights: Adjustable rear sight notch, foldable front post

Credits

Thanks P0tato72 for ALL the screenshots in this post, gave good man some love.