[DevilDog#1]

A look at all the weapons and vehicles of the Middle East Coalition.
by Battlefield 2 team


April 28, 2005 - We admit it; Battlefield 2 turns us into little girls. Due to be published by Electronic Arts later this year, the new online action game from Digital Illusions CE (the CE we're guessing stands for "consistently excellent") improves on the original in a number of ways. The addition of new physics and graphics technology, a three-sided conflict, new team dynamics and lots of new toys to play with are bound to make Battlefield 2 a sure bet for fans of online action.


That last new addition, new toys, brings us to today's feature. Between now and the time the game is released, we'll be taking an in-depth look at the hardware each side can bring to bear. There are over 30 new vehicles and plenty of dangerous weapons in this game, each of which fills a unique role on the modern battlefield. Over the next few months, we'll be examining the weapons and vehicles of the various combatants -- the United States, the Chinese and the Middle East Coalition -- so you can choose the right tool for whatever role you want to play.
First up are the weapons and vehicles of the newly formed Middle East Coalition. This fictional faction makes use of plenty of Soviet equipment from AK-47s to Tunguskas to Flankers. As with the other sides, there's such a wide range of available hardware here that some players won't quite know where to start. Should players skulk about picking off enemies with Dragunovs or rush headlong into the fray armed with a Bizon submachine gun?

There's just as much variety in terms of vehicle choice, from the massive T-90 battle tanks to the speedy FAVs. Still more action can be found in the air as Middle East Coalition players fight for control of the skies using Mi-28 attack helicopters or Mig-29 jets. Combine that with some of the bonuses certain classes can bring to the vehicles and there's even more variety to be found.

But we've wasted enough of your time already. Take a look at all the hardware the Middle East Coalition has to offer. Be sure to also check out tons of new screenshots available in our media gallery.

The Weapons of the Middle East Coalition


AK-101: 5.56mm Assault Rifle/Grenade Launcher

Designed as a replacement for the AK-47, the AK-101 is the new generation Kalashnikov assault rifle modified and updated to meet the needs of Russia's contemporary military forces. It was finalized in early 1991 and tested by the Russian military soon after. A huge success, it was adopted as the Russian Army's official assault rifle in the mid-1990s. The AK-101 stands out in three areas: rate of fire, accuracy, and flexibility. It can fire 600 rounds a minute in single, three-round, or full automatic bursts, and has an effective range of 1,000 meters. Receiver plates above and below the barrel allow for the attachment of scopes, night vision instruments, or a 40mm grenade launcher.

The AK-101 is the first Russian-manufactured rifle to use the standard NATO 5.56mm ammunition.
The AK-101 breaks with older Kalashnikov designs by using plastics instead of wood in its construction.
AKS-74U Carbine: 5.45mm Commando Assault Rifle

The AKS-74U was developed in the late 1970s as a personal defense weapon for tank, artillery, and helicopter crews as well as special operations forces -- all of whom required a compact and powerful automatic weapon. Known for its extremely small size, the AKS-74U is just under three feet in length and weighs only six lbs. Nevertheless, it fires assault rifle ammunition and has a maximum range of over 200 meters. The AKS-74U features a shortened barrel and folding buttstock for easy handling and concealment as well as sliderails for attaching a silencer and/or a 30mm silenced grenade launcher. Since its parts are interchangeable with the AK-101 and the AK-47, the AKS-74U is also easily maintained in field conditions.
The rifle's "U" suffix stands for Ukorochennyj ("shortened" in English), in reference to its length and shortened barrel.
The AKS-74U was a favorite of police and law enforcement agencies across the Soviet Union. It is still in use in post Cold War Russia and in many of the former Soviet republics.
PP-19 Bizon: 9mm Submachine Gun

The PP-19 Bizon is a compact 9mm submachine gun designed for use by military Special Forces and tactical police units in close-quarter firefights. Developed by the Izhmash firearms company during the early 1990s, and put into service in 1993, the Bizon is probably the most unique weapon in its class in terms of overall design. Its frame and components are derived from a full-sized assault rifle and it uses identical trigger and fire control mechanisms. Nevertheless, the Bizon is only three feet in length. The gun's most recognizable feature, however, is the large-capacity cylindrical magazine mounted under the barrel. It carries an unprecedented 64 rounds, and gives the Bizon a major advantage in drawn-out firefights.
The Bizon's magazine was influenced by the M960 Calico, a commercially unsuccessful light submachine gun developed in the US during the late 1980s.
The Bizon has received acclaim from international gun experts for its steadiness during automatic fire. It can deliver a close pattern of fire even at a range of 70 meters (200 feet.).
The chief designer behind the Bizon was Viktor Kalashnikov, son of Mikhail Kalashnikov, the inventor of the AK-47.
RPK-74: 5.45mm Light Machine Gun

The RPK-74 is a squad-level, light machine gun which was developed by the Soviet Military in 1974. Similar in concept to the American M249 SAW, the RPK-74's mission is to provide fire support for small assault teams composed of four to ten men. It produces a large volume of fire -- up to 600 rounds per minute -- with a higher muzzle velocity than other guns in its class, and has a maximum range of 2,500 meters (1.5 miles). At 10 lbs the RPK-74 is light enough to be carried by a single man on the team and can be shoulder-fired or mounted on a bipod to improve accuracy.
Since its official introduction in the late 1970s the RPK-74 has become the standard light machine gun in all Russian motorized and tactical units.
During Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraqi insurgents in the city of Fallujah relied on the RPK-74 during their battles with the US Marines.
Dragunov SVD: 7.62mm Sniper Rifle

Developed in the late 1960s, the Dragunov SVD was the standard military sniper rifle of the Soviet era and remains in widespread service with the Russian Army today. Yet, the Dragunov is not a sniper rifle in the general sense. It was designed primarily to increase the effective range of an infantry squad's firepower, rather than eliminate a single, dedicated target covertly. The Dragunov is gas-operated, semi-automatic, and fires 30 rounds per minute with a maximum effective range of 1,300 meters (3/4 mile). Its exclusive optical sight contains an illuminated rangefinder and an infrared detection aid, making the rifle effective at night against targets with infrared emitters.
In the hands of a trained soldier, the Dragunov can increase the range of an infantry squad from 300 meters to over 600 meters.
The Dragunov first saw combat when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in the early 1980s. More recently it has been used by Russian soldiers in Chechnya.
Kord: 12.7mm Mounted Heavy Machine Gun

A new development in the Russian heavy machinegun class, the Kord replaces numerous obsolete weapons held over from the Soviet era. It is lighter, more accurate, and more reliable than its predecessors, and can be mounted on a variety of vehicles or installations. Similar in design to its American counterpart, the M2HB Browning, the Kord's advantage is its advanced cooling system which ensures accurate, sustained firing of its large 12.7mm rounds. It can chamber armor piercing, incendiary, and tracer rounds, and is equally effective on low flying aircraft, lightly armored vehicles, and concentrated enemy personnel at ranges up to 2,000 meters.
The first known vehicle to mount the Kord is Russia's T-90 main battle tank. The Kord is installed in a remote-controlled mount and used as an AA gun.
Saiga 12K: Semi-automatic Shotgun

The Saiga 12K is a 12 gauge, smooth bored shotgun designed to defeat enemies in close quarter firefights and urban assault operations. Based on the proven AK-47 assault rifle design, the Saiga is semi-automatic and magazine-fed, and it can be fitted with either a side-folding buttstock or pistol grip for use in confined spaces. Extremely flexible when it comes to ammunition, the Saiga is equipped to fire both two-and-three-quarter-inch standard and three-inch magnum loads interchangeably from a five- or eight-round detachable magazine. When firing in semi-automatic mode, a specialized gas regulator reduces recoil which gives the Saiga improved accuracy at longer ranges.
Combat shotguns have only recently been accepted for use by the Russian Military. They are currently fielded by Spetsnaz, Russia's elite special forces team.