[News Terms] 'Low-Risk Pistols' to Be Issued to On-Site Police Officers

One-Tenth Power of Currently Operated Pistols
Plan to Supply About 50,000 Police Officers Within 3 Years

The 'low-risk pistol' has reduced lethality compared to conventional pistols but is sufficient to subdue criminals.

The low-risk pistol 'STRV9 (SNT Motiv Revolver, 9mm)', developed and completed by SNT Motiv over five years since 2016, has been adjusted to 35J, about one-tenth of the power of the 38-caliber revolver pistol currently operated by the police, which has a power of 360~380J (joules).

According to experiments conducted by SNT Motiv during the manufacturing process, 35J is powerful enough to penetrate about 5~6 cm into a pig's hind leg. However, it is difficult to break bones, and if it hits a major organ accurately, it could be life-threatening.

The low-risk pistol 'STRV9 (SNT Motiv Revolver, 9mm)', developed and completed by SNT Motiv over five years since 2016.
[Photo by SNT Motiv]

Its range is about three times longer than that of an electronic shock device (Taser gun), which has a range of only 5~6 meters, and it allows continuous firing and is lightweight, making aiming easier.

The police cite the advantages of the low-risk pistol compared to the 38-caliber revolver pistol as having about 10% of the power, weighing 515g which is about 30% lighter, and having much less recoil when fired. In addition to the blue plastic bullets exclusive to the low-risk pistol, it can also use blanks and live ammunition (9mm Parabellum rounds compatible with the military's standard issue K5 pistol). It is equipped with a smart module and GPS function that automatically records information such as shooting time and location, angle, type of bullet, and number of shots fired.

The STRV9 completed safety inspections in late 2021, and in 2022, 100 units were introduced on a trial basis for field verification. On the 29th of last month, the government announced a budget of 1.1476 trillion won to strengthen crime response capabilities and stated that the low-risk pistols will be deployed in actual operations over the next three years starting next year.

Next year, 5,700 low-risk pistols will be initially distributed to police officers assigned to district police stations and patrol offices responsible for patrol duties, and within three years, about 50,000 district police station and patrol office officers will each possess 'one firearm per police officer' (including 22,000 existing 38-caliber revolvers and 29,000 low-risk pistols). Subsequently, low-risk pistols will be supplied to other police officers such as detectives in phases.