Russia's Spy Weapons Catalogue

All sorts of retailers will promise to sell you James Bond-style gadgetry. But Russia's lurch into aristo-capitalism means that the weapons from 007's old adversaries -- which once would have been kept strictly secret -- are now advertised in glossy catalogs like the one on Rosboronexport's web site.

Most of the content is standard military stuff, but the section on Special Weapons has some items which belong more in the hands of 007 than your average soldier. Planning a quiet assassination somewhere? How about the PSS handgun:

The PSS pistol arms Special Operations Forces and, therefore, is designed for attack and self-defence at short ranges when noiseless and flameless fire is vital. To this end the 7.62x42mm SP-4 round, which conceals exhaust gases in the case, is used for firing. Shooting is virtually noiseless. Absence of a silencer makes the pistol very compact, and thus convenient for covert transportation and always keeps it ready for use.

At just .7 kg and 165mm long, the PSS is certainly compact compared to any weapon with an external sound suppressor. If your target is wearing concealed body armor that will stop handgun bullets, then you might want the SR-1 9mm pistol:

For the time being, the SR-1 pistol makes one of the most formidable pistols in the world. In terms of lethality, a 9x21
armour piercing round is 2.5-5 times more lethal than a 9x19 Para one.
The new 9x21 SP-10 round ensures reliable engagement of personnel by penetrating a flak jacket or a steel helmet at ranges of up to 100 m.

If you want the best of both worlds for silence and armor-penetration (and have a bit more room), you can pack the VSK-94 Special Purpose Silent
Sniper rifle -– an unusual "rifle" in 9mm:

The VSK-94 special-purpose silent sniper rifle is designed to engage hostile personnel in flak jackets or inside vehicles when carrying out special operations ruling out noise and muzzle flashes. It is highly effective in urban warfare.

If you're looking at underwater operations, Thunderball-style, then you'll be wanting the 4.5mm SPP-1M underwater pistol or the 5.66mm APS underwater assault rifle we've mentioned previouslyfor their advanced supercavitating bullets.

According to Rosboronexport,
"when underwater, swimmer can fire from all positions, at surface targets as well." This must be quite a trick if you can take the refraction into account, but you'd certainly get the element of surprise.

But the weapon most likely to be copied by Q Division is the NRS-2 Scouting Knife:

The NRS-2 scouting knife is a combined sidearm of special scout units. The knife is designed to attack enemy in close-quarter combat with blade when stabbing or casting; it can also fire silently and without flash at a range of up to 25 m.

The NRS-2 has a single-shot firearm integrated in its handle. The barrel is in the back of the handle. The muzzle in the butt end is covered with a split rubber plug. The knife is aimed with the help of a notch in the crosspiece and a foresight.

No doubt there are more advanced weapons which did not make it into the catalog. But it's interesting to see what the Russians are up to –- and it would be even more interesting to know who they're selling them to.

[Photo: Rosboronexport]