GA Personal Defense Weapon

The 10" Personal Defense Weapon (PDW) is a new weapon system made exclusively by the Government Arsenal of the Philippines, based on the M4 carbine / M16 rifle platform, cycles full automatic with specially developed 7.62×37mm Musang subsonic and supersonic rounds.

The weapon is under development with 50 prototypes undergoing field testing and evaluation with Special Operations units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Development
Designed to replace the MP5 submachine gun and 5.56mm carbines used by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in close combat use, its design objectives included increased lethality over subsonic 9mm and 5.56mm cartridges, improved controlability, reduction in size and weight, and a maximum effective range of 300 meters.

The compact design of the PDW and new intermediate wildcat caliber 7.62×37mm Musang ammunition's effectiveness and lethality are comparable with the 5.56×45mm NATO round at ranges to 300 meters.

The short barrels and retractable butt-stock facilitate the ingress and egress from vehicles as the overall length of the weapon does not protrude beyond the shoulders when worn across the user's body. It can utilize existing M16 and M4 ammunition magazine while retaining full capacity despite being a 7.62mm round.

The weapon is ideal for close quarter combat and for arming vehicle crews. This can also be used as a night fighting weapon system with the use of sound suppressors.