The KRISS Vector series is a family of weapons based upon the parent submachine gun design developed by KRISS USA, formerly Transformational Defense Industries (TDI). They use an unconventional delayed blowback system combined with in-line design to reduce perceived recoil and muzzle climb.
History In the spring of 2007, TDI announced the Kriss Super V submachine gun. It was an experimental weapon under advanced stages of development at that time. The name Kriss comes from a Southeast Asian dagger with a flame-shaped blade.
The second generation prototype of the KRISS Vector called the K10 was announced at SHOT Show 2011. It is a slightly more compact version of the Vector that is based on the same Super V system. The main difference is the use of a telescopic stock that collapses into the upper receiver rather than the earlier folding stock. The charging handle operates downward instead of horizontally. The K10 was not displayed after SHOT Show 2013 and its status is unknown and likely has been canceled.
KRISS announced the "Gen II" versions of the original Vector models in 2015. It features a redesigned pistol grip, safety selector, and compatibility with a new 9mm lower were announced. It appears to have replaced the K10 prototypes.
Design The KRISS Vector uses the KRISS Super V Recoil Mitigation System, that is an articulated mechanism which allows the bolt and an inertia block to move downward into a recess behind the magazine well. The theory is that at the end of this travel, the energy is transmitted downward rather than rearward, thus reducing the felt recoil. When fired, the barrel axis is in line with the shoulder as in the M16 rifle, but also in line with the shooter`s hand. This is intended to reduce muzzle climb when combined with the off-axis bolt travel, though it also greatly raises the sight line in comparison to the bore axis. The initial prototype model by TDI achieved a rate of fire of 1,500 rounds per minute (RPM), though this was brought down to around 1,200 rounds per minute (RPM) on the production models.
In a similar manner to the AR-15 rifle, that is secured together with four push pins; the KRISS Vector is split into two major assemblies. Due to the weapon`s unusual layout, the lower contains the action, charging handle, magazine well and barrel, while the upper contains the ejection port, rail system, pistol grip and fire control components, as well as the stock for configurations that have one. This modular design allows for toolless caliber conversions by swapping out only the lower. The Vector`s safety is ambidextrous (as well as the fire mode selector on the auto trigger pack) while the ejection port, charging handle, bolt release catch and magazine release are not, and are only available in a right-handed configuration.
Calibers such as .22 LR, .40 S&W and 9×19mm Parabellum were mentioned when the gun was first released. The Gen II versions with multiple design changes including a new 9 mm variant were confirmed at SHOT Show 2015, though the .22LR version has yet to materialize and likely has been canceled. The original .45-caliber Vector was designed to accept standard Glock 21 pistol magazines. A special "MagEx 30" kit was available to convert a factory 13-round .45 ACP Glock magazine to an extended high-capacity version, though this is now marketed as a "25+" round kit. The newer 9×19mm Parabellum versions instead use the standard Glock 17 magazines.
Variants The KRISS Vector family has undergone two generations of modification. The Gen I version is the baseline model of the Vector family. It was later replaced by the improved Gen II version which features a redesigned pistol grip and trigger and has the swing angle of the safety lever reduced from 120 to 45 degrees. It also eliminates the opening above the barrel for the original weapon`s optional Surefire weapon light, since these are no longer manufactured. In addition to the original Flat Black finish, optional factory Cerakote coatings now come in Olive Drab (green), Flat Dark Earth (tan), Alpine (white), or Combat Gray.
The KRISS Vector submachine gun is only available for military and law enforcement use. It is chambered in either 9×19mm Parabellum or .45 ACP. It features a 5.5-inch barrel (with an option of a 6.5-inch barrel on the Gen II version), a folding stock, a flip-up Midwest Industries back-up iron sights (BUIS) (MagPul MBUS on Gen II weapons), a Picatinny rail for mounting various optics/scopes, and either two mode fire selector (single and full-auto) or a three mode fire selector (single, two-round burst and full-auto). The 9mm model uses standard Glock 18 extended 33-round magazines and the .45-caliber model uses proprietary MagEx 25+ extended 25-round magazines.
Semi-automatic versions are produced and available for the US civilian market. There are three main configurations, the Vector CRB, Vector SBR and Vector SDP. In addition to 9×19mm Parabellum and .45 ACP, they can also be chambered in .40 S&W (using Glock 22 magazines), 10mm Auto (using Glock 20 magazines), or .357 SIG (using Glock 31 magazines). A variant chambered for 9x21mm IMI that feeds from standard 9x19mm Glock 17 magazines is available for the Italian civilian market. The Canadian (and some American) civil market versions only come with the blocked 10-round magazines rather than the full capacity magazines. Like the Law Enforcement / Military SMG models, the civilian model Vectors can be converted to chamber and fire other calibers if the lower receiver groups are changed.
- The Vector CRB (carbine) is a semi-automatic carbine with a permanently affixed extension to the standard 5.5-inch barrel, extending it to 16-inch (410 mm), intended for states with short-barrel rifle bans. The standard model has a folding stock (or a fixed stock in states where state law prohibits them). - The Vector SBR (Short Barrel Rifle) is a semi-automatic short-barreled configuration featuring the same 5.5-inch barrel as the selective fire submachine gun. - The Vector SDP (Special Duty Pistol) is a semi-automatic pistol configuration that has a permanently affixed cap with a sling mount in place of a folding stock. There is also a configuration of the Vector SDP fitted with an SB Tactical arm brace called the Vector SDP-SB (Special Duty Pistol - Stabilizing Brace). The "Enhanced" versions of the Gen II CRB and SBR are also available with collapsing M4-style stock adaptors instead of the standard folding stock (with a Magpul UBR stock included) and a rectangular barrel shroud for the CRB, though these accessories can also be purchased separately.
Derivatives KRISS is developing a semi-automatic pistol called the "KARD", using the Super V System in a much smaller package to minimize recoil and muzzle rise in 9×19mm Parabellum and .45 ACP calibers. It does not have a blowback slide, instead it has a T-shaped cocking handle on the rear. As TDI, KRISS also announced a 12-gauge shotgun called the MVS and a .50 BMG heavy machine gun using a double Super V mechanism called the "Disraptor," but the Disraptor has not been mentioned since their name change, while the MVS was removed from the TDI website in late 2009.
Used by - Indonesia: Used by The Indonesian Army in 9mm - Philippines: Special Action Force (SAF) of the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Army - Thailand: Used by Royal Thai Army and Royal Thai Police. - United States: Used by some Military & Law Enforcement
