Denel NTW-20

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The NTW-20 is a South African

anti-materiel rifle or large-
calibre sniper rifle, developed
by Denel Mechem in the 1990s.
It is intended for deployment
against targets including
parked aircraft,
telecommunication masts,
power lines, missile sites, radar
installations, refineries,
satellite dishes, gun
emplacements, bunkers and
personnel, using a range of
specialised projectiles.[1] As
with other weapons of this
type, it can also be used for
counter sniping and ordnance
disposal (shooting explosive
ordnance from a safe
distance).
 Denel NTW-20

A Denel NTW-20 on display

Type Anti-materiel
rifle

Place of origin South Africa

Service history
In service 1998–present

Production history
Designer Tony Neophytou

Designed 1995

Manufacturer Denel Land

Systems
Development
The weapon was designed by
Tony Neophytou (co-designer
of the Neostead combat
shotgun). Development of the
system began in August 1995
under the "Aerotek" name and
a working prototype was ready
for testing four and a half
months later. This rapid
progress was made possible by
Neophytou's expertise in the
field of recoil reduction
systems, having worked on
helicopter turrets in the past.
To further reduce the amount
of research and development,
the project recycled the barrel,
bolt and barrel extension of the
existing Vektor GA1 automatic
cannon.[2] It was put into
production by Denel Land
Systems in two versions; 20 x
110[3] and 20 x 82.[4] The
latter model is also available in
14.5 x 114 and conversion
between the calibres can be
done in the field by swapping
the barrel and bolt assembly.
The significantly larger 20 x
110 model cannot be
converted to another calibre.[5]
The rifle was accepted into
service with the South African
National Defence Force in
1998.

Features
The NTW 20/14.5 is one of the
few firearms in existence that
allows the changing of the
calibre without completely
disassembling and reworking
the weapon. Switching
between the two calibres of the
NTW (20×82mm and
14.5×114mm) requires
changing the bolt, barrel,
sighting gear and magazine. (A
third variant, the NTW
20×110mm has been
developed, but is not designed
for barrel calibre switching.)
Caliber switching the NTW
20/14.5 can be accomplished
in the field without specialised
tools. The magazine protrudes
from the left side of the
receiver. The NTW can be
disassembled and packed into
two backpacks for carriage. A
muzzle brake is fitted on the
end of the barrel which
absorbs an estimated
50%–60% of recoil. This is
further supplemented by a
buffered slide in the receiver.

Variants
 20×82mm 14.5×114m

Cartridge 20×82mm 14.5×114m

Weight 30.0 kg 34.0 kg

(empty) (66.1 lb) (75.0 lb)

Overall 1,800 mm 2,016 mm

length (71 in) (79.4 in)

Rifling (1 560 mm 408 mm

full turn) (22 in) (16.1 in)

Length of 1,000 mm 1,220 mm

barrel (39 in) (48 in)

Muzzle 720 m/s 1,000 m/s

velocity (2,400 ft/s) (3,300 ft/s)
 Muzzle
28,000 J 32,000 J
energy

Effective > 1,600 m > 2,400 m

range (1,700 yd) (2,600 yd)

In�uence
Denel Land Systems was
contracted to supply weapon
systems for the Indian Armed
Forces, including anti-materiel
rifles and self-propelled
howitzers. However, following
allegations that it had paid
kickbacks to secure a deal for
anti-materiel rifles, Denel was
black-listed by the
government. Subsequently, the
Ordnance Factory
Tiruchirappalli (OFT), in
association with the Defence
Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO), began
developing an indigenous anti-
material rifle called
Vidhwansak, which borrowed
heavily from the Denel
NTW-20. The development of
Vidhwansak was completed in
November 2005.[6]

See also
 Vidhwansak
RT-20 (rifle)
Truvelo Sniper Rifles
Steyr HS .50
Longest recorded sniper kills

References
1. Kokalis, Peter: Weapons
Tests And Evaluations: The Best
Of Soldier Of Fortune, page
223. Paladin Press, 2001.
2. Kokalis, 224
3. "Infantry Weapons – NTW
20 X 110" . Denel Land
Systems. Retrieved 21 May
2013.
4. "Infantry Weapons – NTW
20 X 82" . Denel Land Systems.
Retrieved 21 May 2013.
5. "Denel NTW-20 – Anti-
Materiel Rifle – History, Specs
and Pictures – Military,
Security and Civilian Guns and
Equipment" .
Militaryfactory.com. 20 August
2012. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
6. Girja Shankar Kaura (5
February 2006). "Ordnance
factories bag order for 30,000
carbines" . The Tribune.
Retrieved 7 June 2009.

Bibliography
Kokalis, Peter (2001).
Weapons Tests And
Evaluations: The Best Of
Soldier Of Fortune. Boulder,
CO: Paladin Press.
ISBN 978-1-58160-122-0.

External links
NTW 20 anti-materiel rifle
20 x 82 mm
NTW 20 anti-materiel rifle
20 x 110 mm HS
Modern Firearms Page
Retrieved from
"https://en.wikipedia.org
/w/index.php?title=Denel_NTW-20&
oldid=827294948"

Last edited 22 days ago…

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