Maktes Arms T-AB 1A and T-AB 2A: new military rifles, from Armenia
The Maktes Arms company of Armenia made its global debut at the 2025 edition of DEFEA with the T-AB 1A modular bull-pup assault rifle and T-AB 2A modular designated marksman rifle
Maktes Arms T-AB 1A and T-AB 2A: new military rifles, from Armenia
The Maktes Arms T-AB 1A and T-AB 2A prototype rifles showcased at DEFEA 2025
The 2025 edition of the DEFEA defense expo – held every two years in Athens, Greece – saw a new company enter the global small arms market: we're talking about Maktes Arms, headquartered in Yereva, the capital city of Armenia, a Country that to this date lacks a fully fledged defense industry despite its recent past and its current situation being quite difficult (to use an understatement) in terms of national and military security.
In its attempt to spur the development of a proper military-industrial complex and modernize the equipment of the Armed Forces of Armenia, Maktes Arms introduced two interesting rifle prototypes that will be refined and manufactured locally: the T-AB 1A multicaliber, modular bull-pup rifle and the T-AB 2A designated marksman rifle, itself modular and multicaliber.
Currently Maktes Arms is trying to interest professional customers (military, law enforcement, and government entities) to its creations, but the company has confirmed that they have plans to make civilian versions of the T-AB 1A bull-pup assault rifle and the T-AB 2A semi-automatic designated marksman rifle available to the global commercial markets as well.
Maktes Arms T-AB 1A modular bull-pup assault rifle
The biggest head-turner among Maktes Arms' products at DEFEA 2025 was definitely the T-AB 1A bull-pup assault rifle.
Engineered around modern versatility and ergonomics concepts, and largely manufactured out of polymer – the prototype on display at DEFEA had an aluminum handguard, but a polymer M-LOK variant will also be available – the Maktes Arms T-AB 1A is a completely ambidextrous design: the manual safety and magazine release catch are located just above the trigger and grip, on both sides; a bolt release button is located just behind the trigger guard, and so is a separate two- or three-positions fire selector for semi-automatic or full-automatic fire, with a two-rounds burst being optional. The ambidextrous, non-reciprocating charging handle runs just underneath the full-length top MIL-STD 1913 Picatinny rail for optics.
Additionally, the T-AB 1A features two ejection ports, each with a large brass deflector, and ejection side can be swapped; finally, like the the Croatian HS Produkt VHS-2 assault rifles and their civilian counterpart (the Springfield Armory Hellion semi-automatic rifle) the T-AB 1A comes with an extendable buttstock allowing the rifle to be adjusted for shooters of any physical build, for any piece of gear or equipment, from plate carriers to under-barrel grenade launchers. Not to mention, with the stock at the right extension, users can quickly swap from right-handed to left-handed shooting to readily exploit any cover, in a snap, without necessarily swapping ejection side and without getting hot brass on their face.
Maktes Arms T-AB 1A assault rifle – right side
But that's not all the Maktes Arms T-AB 1A has to offer: the rifle – based on a short-stroke, rotating bolt system and featuring a three-positions gas valve for regular use, adverse conditions, and suppressors – can be configured for three different calibers and as many magazine types.
Maktes Arms announced that the T-AB 1A rifle will be compatible with the former ComBloc 7.62x39mm and 5.45x39mm calibers, and with the NATO standard 5.56x45mm round. The ComBloc calibers will feed from Kalashnikov AKM and AK-74 compatible magazines respectively, of any make, capacity, and material; 5.56mm will feed via STANAG-4179/USGI "AR-15 type" magazines. The barrel, bolt head, and magazine well are readily and easily removed and replaced for caliber swapping.
Like the Ukrainian Malyuk bull-pup rifle, when using AKM or AK-74 magazines, the Maktes Arms T-AB 1A allows straight-in insertion – gone are the days of "nose-in, rock-back"! – and all magazines will drop free when released.
Maktes Arms T-AB 1A assault rifle – left side
Standing at 702 to 752 mm (27.6 to 29.6 inch) in overall length, depending on the position of the buttstock, the Maktes Arms T-AB 1A bull-pup assault rifle weighs in at 3,75 kilograms / 8.26 lbs when empty and features a chrome-lined 417 mm / 16.41" barrel with different twist rates depending on the caliber, equipped with an A2-type flash hider installed on a 1/2x28 or 5/8x24 thread at the muzzle.
Cyclic rate for the Maktes Arms T-AB 1A rifle in full-automatic fire ranges between 650 and 700 rounds per minute; other features include an AR-15 compatible grip and several QD sling swivel cups.
Maktes Arms T-AB 2A semi-automatic modular designated marksman rifle
The second firearm showcased by Maktes Arms at DEFEA 2025 is the T-AB 2A gas-operated, rotating bolt, short-stroke piston-driven semi-automatic rifle, conceived as a DMR (Designated Marksman Rifle) for infantry units to replace old workhorses like the venerable Dragunov SVD and as a tactical rifle for police intervention units, particularly in urban operations.
Built around an aluminum upper receiver and a polymer lower, the T-AB 2A rifle comes with a polymer and metal handguard with a bottom Picatinny rail and M-LOK side slots for bipods and other tactical accessories; a separate AR-15 compatible polymer grip; and a rear folding hinge for AR-15 compatible stocks to be installed via standard buffer tubes, which can then be folded to one side for maximum mobility.
As of today, the Maktes Arms T-AB 2A is advertised as feeding through detachable AR-10/SR-25 magazines and chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO (also compatiblew with .308 Winchester) and 6.5 Creedmoor; other short-action caliber options will be available in the future.
Maktes Arms T-AB 2A designated marksman rifle – right side
Like the T-AB 1A, the Maktes Arms T-AB 2A designated marksman rifle features several quick-detach and quick-replace components, such as the barrel, allowing for fast caliber swapping. Three barrel length options should initially be available: 457 mm and 508 mm (18" and 20") for 7.62mm, and 508mm or 559 mm (20 or 22") for 6.5 Creedmoor.
All barrels are made out of stainless steel and are chrome-lined or nitride-lined, offering an average accuracy level of 2 MOA. Not a "sniper" rifle, by any means, but it isn't meant to be: a DMR isn't a "sniper" rifle. Another feature that the T-AB 2A shares with the T-AB 1A is the adjustable gas system, via a three-positions valve for normal conditions of use, for adverse conditions, and for use with a sound suppressor.
Maktes Arms T-AB 2A designated marksman rifle – left side
The Maktes Arms T-AB 2A is a completely ambidextrous rifle: the non-reciprocating charging handle runs under the full-length top Picatinny rail and just over the barrel, on the front portion of the upper receiver; the AR-15 type magazine release and manual safety are located on both sides of the lower receiver; and the ejection port features a generous brass deflector.
The barrel features an A2-type flash hider installed on a 5/8x24 thread at the muzzle, allowing the use of third party flash hiders, muzzle brakes, compensators, and of course, sound suppressors.
Standing at 1015 mm to 1075 mm (40" to 42.3") in overall length, the Maktes Arms T-AB 2A features severals QD sling swivel cups; it weighs in at 4,5 kilograms (9.92 lbs) when empty and the trigger pull weight ranges between 1,5 and 3 kilograms (3.3 to 6.61 lbs).
As important as they can be, particularly due to the Country of origin, both the Maktes Arms T-AB 1A and T-AB 2A rifles are, as of today, still prototypes. The existence itself of the Maktes Arms company – an entirely privately-owned and privately-operated firearms manufacturer, not exactly a common sight in that specific part of the world – was unknown to the general public until late 2024, and as of today there is no official release date for the T-AB 1A and T-AB 2A.
While nothing official is known so far, it is safe to assume that the Armed Forces and law enforcement community in Armenia may be interested in exercising some right of priority, in terms of testing if not outright procurement, before the two rifles are made available to foreign military customers or to civilian shooters.
For further information, visit the official Maktes Arms website.