Innovation from Isolation: The SS-77 Machine Gun

By Lynndon Schooler

SANDF gun team humping the SS-77 and ammo. Photo source unknown.

During a tumultuous period in South Africa’s history, the country faced international sanctions related to the apartheid government, which turned South Africa into an international pariah. These sanctions lasted from 1962 to 1991. During this time, South Africa was engaged in military conflicts, conducting counter-insurgency operations against communists and rebel forces from Angola in the 23-year-long South African Border War and the Rhodesian Bush War. This situation significantly strained the South African Defense Force’s weapons, as the embargo prevented access to replacement parts or new arms.In response, South Africa sought to develop new machine guns to replace its aging fleet of Belgian FN MAG-58s. This initiative was motivated by the need to produce domestically manufactured alternatives, enabling the country to create replacement parts and perform maintenance despite the restrictions imposed by the embargo, which limited its interactions with international firearm manufacturers.

MAG-58 during training with the Singapore Infantry. Photo credit: Lynndon

Source: The Firearm Blog