ST Kinetics (CIS) Ultimax 100

Light Machine Gun (LMG)

Singapore | 1982

"The design team responsible for the CIS Ultimax 100 was headed by American Jim Sullivan."

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 08/10/2023 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

Right side view of the CIS Ultimax 100 light machine gun; note forward carrying handle and 100-round drum magazine

The Ultimax 100 lightweight infantry support weapon was designed in 1977 by American firearms engineer Leroy James Sullivan (Jim Sullivan) whose credits also included the Stoner 63, Ruger Mini-14 and the M16 rifle - all scaled down versions of larger existing weapon systems. Development centered around producing a weapon of high quality that was reliable under battlefield conditions, was portable by a single individual and could bring a good amount of firepower to bear on a target or target area. The resulting weapon system - the Ultimax 100 (or "M100" or "U100") - was introduced into the Singapore Armed Forces in 1982 and has seen operational use elsewhere since. Production was initially handled by the Chartered Industries of Singapore, known collectively as "CIS", and made largely of pressings and stampings with a plastic pistol grip, foregrip and butt for a lighter end-product. In 2000, CIS was acquired by ST Kinetics who now lays claim to the Ultimax 100 line. It is believed that some 80,000 examples have been produced to date with production still ongoing.

The Ultimax 100 is chambered for the 5.56x45mm NATO standard cartridge and can fire from a standard 20- or 30-round STANAG curved magazine or a 100-round Beta C-Mag ammunition drum. The weapon is gas-operated with a rotating bolt action. Weight of the system is approximately 10.5lbs, varying only slightly between variants in the series. The machine gun fields a running length of about 1,030mm and made shorter by having its detachable buttstock removed. The standard barrel length measures in at 508mm (20 inches) while the "short" barrel is just 330mm (13 inches) - either is of the "quick change" type and sports a flash hider and support for grenade launching. The shortened barrel form is optimal for special forces operatives or paratrooper elements where portability is key to equipment. Muzzle velocity is rated at about 3,100 feet per second depending on cartridge utilized - either the M193 or the SS109/M855 series. Sights consist of a fully-adjustable rear aperture tangent leaf sight (windage) coupled with an adjustable front post (windage and elevation) and accuracy is further facilitated by way of a bipod fitted ahead of the forend and a foregrip under the barrel housing. Each barrel retains its own respective front sight meaning that the barrels can be fine-tuned ("zeroed") to the individual weapon. Rate-of-fire is listed between 400 and 600 rounds per minute, a rather low rate when compared to other weapons of this class though due to the use of a patented "constant recoil" system that keeps weapon "jump" to a bare minimum. The cocking handle is fitted to the upper left side of the body near the pistol grip.

The Ultimax 100 has since been developed into five distinct variants, or "marks". The Mark I designation was used to define the preproduction models with quick-change barrels. Mark II forms were given fixed barrel assemblies. Both the Mark I and Mark II featured their carrying handles at the midway point of the receiver. Mark III variants featured quick-change barrels in a standard and short/compact barrel length, the latter for improved portability. The Mark IV was a proposed development for the United States Marine Corps specifically during the Infantry Automatic Rifle Program competition. A revised fire selector was instituted but the USMC elected to go in a different direction. The Mark V became a modernized version of the abandoned Mark IV and revised with a folding buttstock, support for the M16-style STANAG magazine or drum and a Picatinny-style accessories rail system. By this point, the Ultimax 100 has also been modified for firing from vehicle mounts.

The Ultimax 100 is currently in use by the forces of Singapore, Brunei, Croatia, Indonesia, Peru, Philippines, Slovenia and Zimbabwe. The weapon has seen extensive action in campaigns across the former Yugoslavia, Indonesia, Philippines, the Fijian coup, Afghanistan and the Sri Lankan Civil War.

CIS marketed the Ultimax 100 under the claim that it was "...the lightest of all light machine guns designed at the outset for one-man operation."

Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.

Physical
The physical qualities of the ST Kinetics (CIS) Ultimax 100. Information presented is strictly for general reference and should not be misconstrued as useful for hardware restoration or operation.

1,030 mm
40.55 in
O/A Length

508 mm
20.00 in
Barrel Length

10.47 lb
4.75 kg
Weight

Gas-Operated; Rotating Bolt
Action

5.56x45mm NATO
Caliber(s)

20- or 30-round box magazine OR 100-round drum
Feed

Rear Aperture; Front Post
Sights

Performance
Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the ST Kinetics (CIS) Ultimax 100. Information presented is strictly for general reference and should not be misconstrued as useful for hardware restoration or operation.

3,280 ft
999.7 m | 1,093.3 yds
Max.Eff.Range

500
Rounds-Per-Minute
Rate-of-Fire

3,182 ft/sec
970 m/sec
Muzzle Velocity

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the ST Kinetics (CIS) Ultimax 100 Light Machine Gun (LMG) family line.

Mark 1 - Pre-Production and Initial Production Model; quick-change barrel.

Mark 2 - Fixed barrel

Mark 3 - Quick-change barrel; standard and short barrel lengths; slotted flash suppressor; carrying handle; variable gas regulator; vertical foregrip; detachable buttstock; adjustable bipod.

Mark 4 - Developed for USMC trials as Infantry Automatic Rifle Program; revised with new fire selector; not selected for production.

Mark 5 - Modernized Mark 4 model; folding stock; Picatinny rail systems for accessories; 30-round STANAG magazine or 100-round drum.

U100 - Alternate Designation

M100 - Alternate Designation

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the ST Kinetics (CIS) Ultimax 100. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national small arms listing.

Contractor(s): Chartered Industries of Singapore (CIS) - Singapore

[ Brunei; Croatia; Indonesia; Peru; Philippines; Singapore; Slovenia; Zimbabwe ]

1 / 1

Image of the ST Kinetics (CIS) Ultimax 100

Right side view of the CIS Ultimax 100 light machine gun; note forward carrying handle and 100-round drum magazine

Design Qualities
Some designs are single-minded in their approach while others offer a more versatile solution to requirements.

FIRE SUPPORT

SPECIAL FORCES

Recognition
Some designs stand the test of time while others are doomed to never advance beyond the drawing board; let history be their judge.

Military lapel ribbon representing modern aircraft

Military lapel ribbon representing special forces

Going Further...
The ST Kinetics (CIS) Ultimax 100 Light Machine Gun (LMG) appears in the following collections:

Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookies

2025 Military Pay Scale Military Ranks U.S. DoD Dictionary Conversion Calculators Military Alphabet Code Military Map Symbols US 5-Star Generals WW2 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 Global Firepower, WDMMA.org, WDMMW.org, and World War Next.

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