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

target with holes
target with holes

Resisting the Temptation of "Good Enough" for Firearm Performance

No matter what firearm you're using for whatever purpose, even if it's simply a trip to the range, always resist the temptation to accept “good enough” if there is the possibility of better performance.

Armed Citizens Stop a Lot More Criminals Than Most in the Media Will Admit

Since January 2025, the Crime Prevention Research Center has documented 16 defensive gun uses in which police say armed citizens stopped mass public killings.

Federal & Mossberg Collaborate on Autonomous Airborne Drone Defense

Federal and Mossberg are working with Palladyne AI in the creation of SwarmShot, a kinetic defense system that employs swarms of armed drones to shield troops from unmanned aircraft system threats.

Cold Performance: How to Prepare for the Uncertainty of Self-Defense

Defensive gun use is defined by uncertainty. You don’t know when it will happen, how far away the threat will be, how many threats you will face or what position you will be in when it begins.

Derya Goes Silent: The OBone Suppressor

In 2025, Turkish manufacturer Derya Arms opened a new facility in Florida, enabling the company to produce a number of new products domestically, such as its new OBone suppressor.

The Armed Citizen® Oct. 26, 2026

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

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.