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Switzerland Brugger & Thomet
APC9
A short-recoil-operated, roller-delayed personal defense carbine chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum, developed by Swiss maker Brugger & Thomet as a modern successor to the MP5 for special-operations and law-enforcement use. Its modular design allows caliber conversion between 9mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP.
In service since 2013 · 20 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
150
m range
1,000
rpm
400
m/s
30
rds
💲 ≈ $2,500, Approximate law-enforcement/export unit price
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
National export licensing
Subject to Switzerland export-control approval; verify eligibility with the manufacturer.
Channel: Direct commercial / G2G
Fielded & proven
Widely fielded · 20 operators
In service since 2013. Status: active · ~50,000 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
Unit cost known; one-shot / small-arms class has no meaningful O&S tail to model.
Interoperability
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Effective range Distance at which the weapon reliably hits point targets. Higher extends engagement envelope. | 150 m |
|---|---|
| Rate of fire Rounds per minute (cyclic). Higher increases suppression and hit probability. | 1,000 rpm |
| Muzzle velocity Projectile speed leaving the barrel. Higher means flatter trajectory and better armor penetration. | 400 m/s |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Main armament Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type. | 9×19 mm Parabellum |
|---|---|
| Caliber Bore diameter of the main gun or rifle. Larger throws heavier projectiles; not simply better, ammunition commonality matters. | 9 mm |
| Ammunition Rounds carried (main gun) or standard magazine capacity. | 30 |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 0.6 m |
|---|---|
| Empty weight Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew. | 3 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 1 |
| Barrel length Barrel length, longer improves muzzle velocity and accuracy, shorter improves handling. | 260 mm |
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Unit cost Approximate flyaway/unit cost where public. Defense pricing varies hugely by contract, offsets and configuration. Lower is cheaper. | $2,500 |
|---|---|
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 50,000 |
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 20 |
Specifications compiled from public Brugger & Thomet and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
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Tula Arms Plant AEK-971 Frequently asked questions
How many crew does the Brugger & Thomet APC9 require? +
The Brugger & Thomet APC9 requires a crew of 1.
What is the main armament of the Brugger & Thomet APC9? +
The Brugger & Thomet APC9's primary weapon is the 9×19 mm Parabellum.
What is the Brugger & Thomet APC9 used for? +
The Brugger & Thomet APC9 is a rifle & long arms typically used for infantry combat.
How many countries operate the Brugger & Thomet APC9? +
The Brugger & Thomet APC9 is operated by 20 countries.
How much does the Brugger & Thomet APC9 cost? +
The Brugger & Thomet APC9 has an approximate unit cost of 2,500 USD. Defense pricing varies by contract, offsets and configuration, treat this as directional.
