USAF Purchases B&T APC9K PRO Submachine Guns

by
posted on December 15, 2020
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
bt-apc9kpro-1.jpg
Brugger & Thomet Inc., a Swiss based company with its U.S. subsidiary located in Tampa, Fla., announced that the United States Air Force has decided to purchase its B&T APC9K PRO submachine gun platform. This compact submachine gun platform, at less than 15" in length, is optimized for discrete carry and deployment. The Small size of the APC9K PRO makes it an idea select-fire personal defense weapon for use in confined spaces.

Chambered in 9 mm, the APC9K PRO is a more compact version of the B&T APC9 PRO line. It uses a hydraulic buffer system to reduced felt recoil and muzzle rise when fired. The design also incorporates dual folding, non-reciprocating, ambidextrous charging handles on both sides of the upper receiver just beneath the top Picatinny rail.  Other features include a bolt catch and release on both sides of the lower receiver, M4 / AR-15 style interchangeable grip and M-LOK compatible slots on the short forend.

The Magazine release and safety selector on the APC9K PRO are also ambidextrous and easy to reach from both sides. There is also a folding stock incorporated into the design for stability that folds right up against the back of the receivers to keep the folded length as short as possible. The APC9K PRO can be equipped to accept either B&T, SIG P320 or Glock compatible 9 mm magazines by swapping out the non-serialized lower receiver group.

The small size of the APC9K PRO is ideal for specialized service in the United States Air Force where room is limited inside the tight confines of aircraft and vehicle crew spaces. The U.S.A.F. is the second branch in the U.S. military to adopt the APC9K PRO, after the U.S. Army adopted it last year. The U.S.A.F. plans to acquire roughly 350 to 1000 of these new compact submachine guns to likely phase out the aging H&K MP5 in use by personal security details. 

Latest

Benelli Nova 3 Tactical shotgun
Benelli Nova 3 Tactical shotgun

Benelli Nova 3 Tactical: Innovation Meets Simplicity

Famous for its semi-automatic shotguns, Italian maker Benelli steps up its game in pump-actions—and forecasts more availability of U.S.-market-ready versions in the future.

Marines Turned Arms Inventors: Melvin Johnson & Eugene Stoner

Within the pantheon of U.S. Marine Corps small arms, two rifles are indelibly linked with the Corps’ combat experience in the 20th century, and both were designed by Marines: the Model 1941 Johnson Rifle and the M16.

The Armed Citizen® Nov. 3, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

The Case For Velocity

Although the effects of a bullet's terminal performance had been thoroughly studied by 1955, ammunition pioneer Roy Weatherby sought to prove velocity trumps mass and, as a result, built a reputable business that continues to advance today.

Preview: Kriss Vector CRB Gen 3

The third generation of Kriss’ distinctively shaped Vector line was introduced earlier this year, with the company offering the platform in carbine (CRB), large-format pistol (SDP) and short-barreled rifle (SBR) formats ...

Staccato 2011 HD C3.6: Shrinking The 2011

Following the release of its HD model, which was designed to accept Glock-pattern magazines, Texas-based firearm maker Staccato announced it had developed a smaller, carry-ready variant: the 2011 HD C3.6.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.