Myrskykivääriä

Myrskykivääriä is a Finnish term that translates to "storm rifle" or "assault rifle" in English. It is a classification of firearm that has seen limited, but notable, use and development in Finland. The concept generally refers to a selective-fire rifle capable of semi-automatic and fully automatic fire, typically chambered for an intermediate cartridge.

Historically, Finland has not produced or widely adopted dedicated "storm rifles" in the same way as some other nations. Instead, their military has relied on various bolt-action rifles, submachine guns, and later, standard assault rifles developed and manufactured elsewhere. However, there have been instances of Finnish design and experimentation in this category.

One of the most significant Finnish designs that could be considered a precursor or parallel development to the storm rifle concept is the Lahti-Saloranta M/26. While primarily a light machine gun, its design incorporated features such as a detachable magazine and selective fire, placing it in a lineage of automatic weapons that influenced later firearm development.

In the post-World War II era, Finnish military procurement focused on acquiring existing foreign designs. However, domestic small arms development continued, with some projects exploring the storm rifle concept. These efforts often faced challenges related to funding, production capabilities, and the need to meet specific military requirements.

The term myrskykivääriä today is often used more broadly to encompass modern assault rifles that serve as standard infantry weapons. While Finland has not historically been a major manufacturer of such weapons, their military does utilize modern assault rifles, often acquired from international sources, to fulfill the role of a storm rifle. The term reflects a functional classification of a firearm rather than a specific, widely produced Finnish model.