×
Aircraft / Aviation Vehicles & Artillery Small Arms Warships & Submarines Military Ranks Military Pay Scale (2024) Special Forces

LUSA (Lusitania)


Submachine Gun (SMG)


Portugal | 1983



"Originating in Portugal, the LUSA submachine gun line is now marketed through U.S.-based LUSA USA."

Performance
Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the LUSA (Lusitania). Information presented is strictly for general reference and should not be misconstrued as useful for hardware restoration or operation.
900
Rounds-Per-Minute
Rate-of-Fire
1,280 ft/sec
390 m/sec
Muzzle Velocity
Physical
The physical qualities of the LUSA (Lusitania). Information presented is strictly for general reference and should not be misconstrued as useful for hardware restoration or operation.
584 mm
22.99 in
O/A Length
159 mm
6.26 in
Barrel Length
6.17 lb
2.80 kg
Weight
Blowback; Select-Fire
Action
9x19mm Parabellum
Caliber(s)
10-, 18-, or 28-round detachable box magazine
Feed
Iron Front and Rear
Sights
Variants
Notable series variants as part of the LUSA (Lusitania) Submachine Gun (SMG) family line.
LUSA - Base series designation
LUSA A1 - Model of 1983; two sub-models, one with nut-secured barrel and the other featuring a fixed, barrel with perforated jacket section.
LUSA A2 - Model of 1991; improved construction process; revised dimensions and weight.
Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 06/09/2021 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

The LUSA submachine gun line emerged during the early 1980s though never found widespread use with its compact, repeat-fire services. It instead became the weapon-of-choice for some special forces groups, security firms, and private protection services who required a product of this type. The weapon was of a sound design, incorporating proven concepts seen in contemporary guns of the period and was chambered for the readily available 9x19mm Parabellum German pistol cartridge. Its dimensions were handy with a stock-extended length of 23 inches, a collapsed length of 17.8 inches, and a barrel measuring just 6.3 inches long.

Development of the LUSA as an indigenous Portuguese firearm was aided by the fact that Portugal began local, license production of West German Heckler & Koch firearms in the early 1980s. This meant that the required machinery and production process for the weapons could now be reviewed by Portuguese engineers and reconstituted for indigenous design purposes. A compact submachine gun form was then devised and this became the LUSA - named after the ancient Roman territory of "Lusitania" falling within modern Portuguese borders. Manufacture of the weapon came from INDEP (Industrias Nacionas de Defesa, EP) beginning in 1983.

On the whole, the weapon was of a practical arrangement though utilizing a noticeably deep "double-cylinder" receiver. Other facets were conventional such as the angled pistol grip with trigger unit and forward-set magazine well. The short barrel allowed for minimal protrusion at front and iron sights were fitted at front and rear over the receiver in the usual way. The tubular stock was collapsible with aided in compactness and concealability. The magazine well accepted 10-, 18, or 28-round straight, detachable box magazines and also doubled as a forward grip. Internally, the magazines featured a double-stacked cartridge arrangement compressed by a spring for cheap mechanical functionality when feeding the weapon. Overall weight was 6.17lbs and rate-of-fire was 900 rounds per minute. The weapon eventually supported laser aimers and a suppressor for precision and clandestine work respectively. This would appeal to more discerning customers such as special forces operatives.

Upon closer observation, the trigger unit and pistol grip largely resembled that of the German HK MP5 submachine gun line. A fire selector lever allowed for the usual selection choices for this class of gun and, again, mimicked the large, visually-oriented levers encountered with HK firearms. The deep "double-cylinder" receiver was brought about because of the bolt and barrel taking situated in the lower section leaving the mass of the bolt overhang and return spring to be fitted overhead. The sliding stock then slid into the valley created by the over-and-under cylinders.


The weapon was adopted in limited fashion through a first-production model as the "LUSA A1". Two sub-variants of this mark were then made, one with a nut-secured barrel and the other with a fixed barrel shrouded by a perforated barrel jacket to help with cooling and, indirectly, with accuracy by producing a heavier frontend. The "LUSA A2" then appeared in 1991 and retained the same form and function as the A1 but introduced an improved construction process that, in turn, begat a weapon that was both lighter of of more compact dimensions than the original. In 2004, INDEP sold its LUSA equipment to buyers in the United States who went on to form LUSA USA. The weapon was then remarketed and resold under the new brand across the American civilian, police, and military markets as well as for foreign delivery. It also saw several well-accepted chamberings introduced.

Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.
Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the LUSA (Lusitania). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national small arms listing.

Contractor(s): INDEP - Portugal; LUSA USA - USA
National flag of Portugal National flag of the United States

[ Portugal; United States ]
Going Further...
The LUSA (Lusitania) Submachine Gun (SMG) appears in the following collections:
HOME
SMALL ARMS INDEX
SPECIAL FORCES
ARMS BY COUNTRY
ARMS MANUFACTURERS
COMPARE ARMS
ARMS BY CONFLICT
ARMS BY TYPE
ARMS BY DECADE
COLD WAR ARMS
MODERN SMALL ARMS
Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookies

2024 Military Pay Scale Military Ranks of the World U.S. Department of Defense Dictionary Conversion Calculators Military Alphabet Code Military Map Symbols Breakdown U.S. 5-Star Generals List WWII Weapons by Country

The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world, WDMMA.org (World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft), WDMMW.org (World Directory of Modern Military Warships), SR71blackbird.org, detailing the history of the world's most iconic spyplane, and MilitaryRibbons.info, cataloguing military medals and ribbons. Special Interest: RailRoad Junction, the locomotive encyclopedia.


©2024 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2003-2024 (21yrs)