Just call me Ray said:
Full automatic mode? I find that hard to believe.
Well, I would say that depends.
Technically, making such a weapon full-auto presents few problems. Several full-auto pistols have appeared since the first self-loaders hit the scene.
On the gripping hand, of course, is the question of whether it would be a practical (read controllable and accurate) weapon. This would depend on the impulse of the fired round(-s) in relation to the mass of the firearm, combined with the ergonomics of the weapon.
As for ergonomics, the weapon pictured looks about as ergonomic as a wet halfbrick. Being supposedly made of plastics and ceramics, the weapon should be very light weight but then, so should the projectiles.
As a comparison, I had the chance a couple of years back to fire the Glock 18, a full-auto version of the 9x19mm Glock 17. I was definitely coloured sceptical, but the weapon proved surprisingly controllable. At a range of 7 yards, firing 4-5 round bursts (at a RoF of 1.200 rounds/min.) the shots could be kept on a man-sized target. And I lay no claims to being a master marksman.
Having said that: As I stated in the original post, the article gives no sources, and this is the only reference I have seen to a weapon of this type. I do not doubt for a second that the CIA, FSB, Mossad etc. have weapons like this in their inventories, I just wouldn't attach much credence to the exact details given.
Regards & all,
Thomas L. Nielsen
Denmark
