HS Produkt Kuna, a new Croatian sub-machine gun
"Kuna" is the name of a new roller-delayed blowback sub-machine gun manufactured in Croatia by HS Produkt, also available in a civilian semi-automatic version courtesy of Springfield Armory
HS Produkt Kuna, a new Croatian sub-machine gun
First showcased at the 2025 edition of IWA OutdoorClassics, back in March, the new Kuna sub-machine gun manufactured by the HS Produkt company in Croatia has finally hit the global markets.
Initially developed to replace the aging Heckler & Koch MP5 sub-machine guns used by the Croatian military and law enforcement communities, the HS Produkt Kuna SMG will be manufactured in 9mm Luger and .40 Smith & Wesson.
Both versions feed through proprietary double-stack 30-rounds translucent polymer magazines with steel lips – curved for 9mm Luger, straight for .40 Smith & Wesson – and are capable of semi-automatic or selective/full-automatic fire, with a cyclic rate of approximately 750 rounds per minute in full-auto.
The .40 Smith & Wesson version already made headlines back in October 2024, upon its original debut, when it was awarded a contract to equip the São Paulo State Military Police in Brazil.
HS Produkt Kuna 9mm Luger sub-machine gun – right side
HS Produkt Kuna 9mm Luger sub-machine gun – left side
HS Produkt's Kuna sub-machine gun is built around a machined, monolithic, Type III hard-anodized black aluminum alloy upper receiver and a black injection-molded glass-filled polymer lower receiver which also hosts the magazine well and trigger group.
The Kuna SMG comes from factory with a black polymer side-folding and 4-positions adjustable buttstock and with the same pistol grip used by HS Produkt's own VHS-2 series of bull-pup assault rifles, which can be replaced by any AR-15 compatible grip by the user.
At the heart of the Kuna SMG is a massive steel bolt carrier group with a front mass that's kept in the forward position by a single bottom roller to keep the mechanism locked when the gun is fired. Only when pressure drops to safe levels will the roller allow the mass to retreat and thus the gun to cycle.
HS Produkt Kuna .40 Smith & Wesson sub-machine gun – right side
HS Produkt Kuna .40 Smith & Wesson sub-machine gun – left side
The upper receiver also hosts a foldable, non-reciprocating charging handle that can be swapped for left- or right-handed operation, and a steel feed ramp that's easily removed and replaced for maintenance or (potentially in the future) caliber conversion.
All other controls (the safety/selector switch, magazine catch and bolt hold open release lever) are located on the lower receiver and are completely ambidextrous.
The HS Produkt Kuna SMG is available with a 152,4 mm / 6" or 165 mm / 6.5" barrel, either threaded at the muzzle or with a three-lug mounting system for sound suppressors or other muzzle devices.
Springfield Armory Kuna 9mm Luger pistol, Strike Industries FSA version
Springfield Armory Kuna 9mm Luger pistol, stockless version with rear Picatinny end plate
The Kuna SMG comes from factory with a full-length top MIL-STD 1913 Picatinny rail for optics, with built-in flip-up spring-loaded iron sights, while the handguard features a set of M-LOK slots at 3, 6, and 9-o'clock position for accessories; the rear portion of the upper receiver and the stock feature QD sling swivel slots, and the entire disassembly procedure is as straightforward as it gets since the two receivers are held together by a front and rear pin, à la AR-15.
Standing at 570 or 615 mm (22.44" / 24.21") in overall length with the stock unfolded and barely 382 mm / 15" with stock folded, and weighing in at barely 2,2 kilograms (4.85 lbs) when empty, the HS Produkt Kuna SMG is already available as a semi-automatic, civilian-legal version on the US market courtesy of Springfield Armory.
Springfield Armory's semi-automatic Kuna is available as a stockless pistol, with a vertical Picatinny upper receiver end cap, or issued from factory with a side-folding, reversible and removable Strike Industries FSA armbrace installed on the same railed end cap.
The civilian-grade Kuna is currently available only in 9mm Luger, and ships with two magazines; the barrel is 6" long and comes with a flash hider installed on a 1/2x28 muzzle thread.
Like the select-fire version, the civilian-grade Kuna is issued from factory with a set of hybrid folding sights that will co-witness with most optics when raised, ideal when the gun is fired from the shoulder, and expose a set of low-profile pistol sights when folded, more comfortable to use off-hand or in an emergency.
MSRP for the Springfield Armory Kuna semi-automatic pistol on the US market is set at $999.00 for the stockless version and $1,249.00 for the version with Strike Industries FSA armbrace. For further information concerning local availability and pricing outside of the United States, consult the official HS Produkt website or the authorized Springfield Armory distributor for your Country.