« | The Velko SA-77 is a South African general-purpose machine gun chambered in 7.62x51 mm. It was designed in the late 1970s and has seen continuous combat action on the continent since. In the mid-1990s, a more compact variant was introduced to cut down on weight and improve handling. Field Manual
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The SA-77 is a 7.62 mm general-purpose machine gun used by North African CSAT forces, the SFIA, and in limited numbers with Tura tribesmen in ArmA 3. It was added with the release of the Western Sahara DLC.
Overview[]
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The SA-77 is a gas operated, belt-fed medium machine gun. It is chambered to fire the 7.62×51 mm cartridge.
It feeds exclusively from 100-round belts stored in soft pouches and has a muzzle velocity of 840 m/s.[CfgWp 6] The SA-77 is able to toggle between two fire rate modes: "fast" (800 rounds per minute[CfgWp 7][Formula 1]) and "slow" (600 RPM[CfgWp 8][Formula 2]). SA-77s have two rails for attaching accessories: top (for optics)[CfgWp 9] and side (for flashlights/laser pointers).[CfgWp 10]
The SA-77 can also be suppressed and is able to mount a 7.62 mm sound suppressor onto its muzzle.[CfgWp 11] However, external bipods are not supported as it uses an integral folding bipod instead.[CfgWp 12]
Variants[]
SA-77 Compact[]

The Compact variant is used primarily by CTRG operatives and UNA peacekeepers. It features a telescopic stock and a shortened barrel. Compared to the baseline SA-77, the Compact variant is lighter by ~ 18%[CfgWp 14] and easier to wield in close quarters due to its ~ 11% reduced inertia penalty (from 0.9 to 0.8).[CfgWp 16] Its folding bipod has also been replaced with an integral grippod instead.[CfgWp 18]
A consequence of its shorter barrel is that its muzzle velocity has been reduced to 820 m/s.[CfgWp 19] This also results in poorer accuracy since the Compact has ~ 9% increased dispersion compared to the baseline SA-77.[CfgWp 13]
Ironsights[]

If the SA-77 is fitted with an optical sight that allows for zeroing beyond 600 metres (e.g. TWS MG), the SA-77 will only allow for an absolute maximum zeroing of 1,400 metres.[CfgWp 22]

If the SA-77 Compact is fitted with an optical sight that allows for zeroing beyond 600 metres (e.g. TWS MG), the SA-77 will only allow for an absolute maximum zeroing of 1,000 metres.[CfgWp 25]
Camouflage[]
- Black: Standard matte black finish. Used by both UNA peacekeepers and the SFIA.
- Camo:** Semi-fractal pattern based on the AAF's Digital camouflage.
- Desert:** Two-tone arid camouflage scheme. Used by Tura fighters.
- Green Hex:** Tropical Hexacam camouflage pattern applied over a black finish for the stock and most parts (aside from the barrel).
- Hex:** Black finish but with an Arid Hexacam pattern applied over most parts, the stock and furniture (aside from the barrel). Used exclusively by North African CSAT forces.
- Snake:* Snakeskin-style spraypaint pattern applied over a tan finish. Exclusive to CTRG operatives.
(*) The Snake camouflage scheme is exclusively available to the SA-77 Compact.
(**) Camo/Desert/Green Hex/Hex are not available to the SA-77 Compact.
Ammunition[]
Ammo parameter | 7.62 mm (Ball/Red) | 7.62 mm (Ball/Green) | 7.62 mm (Ball/Yellow) |
---|---|---|---|
Base damage value | 11.6[CfgAm 1] | 11.6[CfgAm 2] | 11.6[CfgAm 3] |
Aerodynamic friction | -0.001[CfgAm 4] | -0.001[CfgAm 5] | -0.001[CfgAm 6] |
Muzzle velocity (m/s) | 840 [CfgMa 2][note 1] (SA-77: 840) [CfgWp 6] (SA-77 Compact: 820) [CfgWp 19] |
840 [CfgMa 3][note 1] (SA-77: 840) [CfgWp 6] (SA-77 Compact: 820) [CfgWp 19] |
840 [CfgMa 4][note 1] (SA-77: 840) [CfgWp 6] (SA-77 Compact: 820) [CfgWp 19] |
Expected velocity (m/s) | 800 [CfgAm 7][note 2] |
800 [CfgAm 8][note 2] |
800 [CfgAm 9][note 2] |
Penetration depth (mm) | 20.16 [CfgAm 10][Formula 3] (SA-77: 20.16) [Formula 4] (SA-77 Compact: 19.68) [Formula 5] |
20.16 [CfgAm 11][Formula 3] (SA-77: 20.16) [Formula 4] (SA-77 Compact: 19.68) [Formula 5] |
20.16 [CfgAm 12][Formula 3] (SA-77: 20.16) [Formula 4] (SA-77 Compact: 19.68) [Formula 5] |
Deflection angle (degrees) | 15°[CfgAm 13] | 15°[CfgAm 14] | 15°[CfgAm 15] |
Both the baseline SA-77 and its Compact sub-variant are able to feed from six types of "magazines".[CfgWp 26][CfgWp 27] They all share the same weight of 34 "mass" units:[CfgMa 5][CfgMa 6][CfgMa 7]
7.62 mm 100rnd Reload Tracer (Red) Belt[]

Standard 100-round belt "magazine" stored in a soft belt box. It is loaded with a mix of 7.62 mm ball and red tracer ammunition.[CfgMa 8]
Every fifth round fired will emit a visible red tracer.[CfgMa 9] The last four rounds of the magazine will always emit visible red tracers.[CfgMa 10]
7.62 mm 100rnd Reload Tracer (Green) Belt[]

Alternate 100-round belt "magazine" loaded with a mix of 7.62 mm ball and green tracer ammunition instead.[CfgMa 11]
Every fifth round fired will emit a visible green tracer.[CfgMa 12] The last four rounds of the magazine will always emit visible green tracers.[CfgMa 13]
7.62 mm 100rnd Reload Tracer (Yellow) Belt[]

Alternate 100-round belt "magazine" loaded with a mix of 7.62 mm ball and yellow tracer ammunition instead.[CfgMa 14]
Every fifth round fired will emit a visible yellow tracer.[CfgMa 15] The last four rounds of the magazine will always emit visible yellow tracers.[CfgMa 16]
7.62 mm 100rnd Tracer (Red) Belt[]

Dedicated 100-round tracer "magazine" loaded exclusively with 7.62 mm red tracer ammunition.[CfgMa 17]
All one-hundred rounds of the "magazine" will emit visible red tracers.[CfgMa 18][CfgMa 19]
7.62 mm 100rnd Tracer (Green) Belt[]

Dedicated 100-round tracer "magazine" loaded exclusively with 7.62 mm green tracer ammunition.[CfgMa 20]
All one-hundred rounds of the "magazine" will emit visible green tracers.[CfgMa 21][CfgMa 22]
7.62 mm 100rnd Tracer (Yellow) Belt[]

Dedicated 100-round tracer "magazine" loaded exclusively with 7.62 mm yellow tracer ammunition.[CfgMa 23]
All one-hundred rounds of the "magazine" will emit visible yellow tracers.[CfgMa 24][CfgMa 25]
Magazine compatibility[]
S77_762x51 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weapon name (Classname) |
7.62 mm 100rnd Reload Tracer (Red) Belt![]() |
7.62 mm 100rnd Reload Tracer (Green) Belt![]() |
7.62 mm 100rnd Reload Tracer (Yellow) Belt![]() |
7.62 mm 100rnd Tracer (Red) Belt![]() |
7.62 mm 100rnd Tracer (Green) Belt![]() |
7.62 mm 100rnd Tracer (Yellow) Belt![]() |
SA-77 7.62 mm (Camo) (LMG_S77_AAF_lxWS) |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
SA-77 Compact 7.62 mm (LMG_S77_Compact_lxWS) |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
SA-77 Compact 7.62 mm (Snake) (LMG_S77_Compact_Snakeskin_lxWS) |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
SA-77 7.62 mm (Desert) (LMG_S77_Desert_lxWS) |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
SA-77 7.62 mm (Green Hex) (LMG_S77_GHex_lxWS) |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
SA-77 7.62 mm (Hex) (LMG_S77_Hex_lxWS) |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
SA-77 7.62 mm (LMG_S77_lxWS) |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Trivia[]
- The SA-77 is directly based[1] on the real-world South African-made "Vektor SS-77" GPMG.[2][3] However, not all of its internal components are precisely modelled after the real SS-77, as the DLC's developers were unable to obtain clear photographic references of the weapon's internals during development.[4][5][6]
- Both the baseline SA-77 and its Compact derivative were not originally available as part of the DLC's launch content. They were only added after the release of Update 1.1.[7][8]
- Upon release, both variants of the SA-77 were heavier to wield and weighed 320 (baseline) and 260 (Compact) "mass", respectively. Update 1.1.2 subsequently reduced the weight of both weapons to more reasonable figures.[9]
- The information below details unused, pre-release or removed content.
- Excluding the lack of visible cartridges and a belt, its appearance is identical to that of the cloth pouches used by Navid GPMGs from the official Marksmen DLC (the model even shares the same Arid Hexacam texture from the Navid).
Gallery[]
Config/script references[]
CfgAmmo
CfgMagazines
CfgWeapons
Formulae
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Notes[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 This value only applies to the magazine itself. Even though the magazine's initSpeed shares the same muzzle velocity with the weapon (840 m/s), the weapon's initSpeed value always takes precedence over the magazine's muzzle velocity (the weapon's initSpeed value is not defined as a coefficient).
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Damage will be reduced if the projectile's velocity drops below this value.
References[]
- ↑ Keßner, S 2022, it's called SA77 in ws, Discord [Social Media], viewed 27 February 2025, <https://discord.com/channels/700262636096323634/901047449098006559/1024345801234862090>.
- ↑ McCollum, I 2023, SS77: South Africa Builds a GPMG on the Shoulders of Giants, 14 October, viewed 2 March 2024, <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYGm-eUe0lc>.
- ↑ Johnson, S 2008, 'AAD 08: Vektor SS77 Compact', The Firearm Blog, 22 September, viewed 2 March 2024, <https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2008/09/22/aad-08-vektor-ss77-compact/>.
- ↑ Anello, A 2023, i remember us wrapping up the ss77 and like 2 weeks later he came out with the mini77 video with all the details easily visible, Discord [Social Media], viewed 27 February 2025, <https://discord.com/channels/700262636096323634/901049882083721246/1162446244870881350>.
- ↑ Anello, A 2023, however watching that one it seemed like we got most of the details right in the end, Discord [Social Media], viewed 27 February 2025, <https://discord.com/channels/700262636096323634/901049882083721246/1162446347652313159>.
- ↑ Anello, A 2022, Arma 3 Western Sahara SA-77 Machine Gun, ArtStation, viewed 27 February 2025, <https://www.artstation.com/artwork/eJwQob>.
- ↑ Nillers et al. 2021, Western Sahara - Changelog, Bohemia Interactive Forums, viewed 28 September 2022, <https://forums.bohemia.net/forums/topic/236830-western-sahara-changelog/?tab=comments#comment-3466561>.
- ↑ Rotators Collective 2023, OPREP - WESTERN SAHARA UPDATE 1.1, Arma 3, viewed 23 November 2023, <https://dev.arma3.com/post/oprep-western-sahara-update-11>.
- ↑ Nillers et al. 2021, Western Sahara - Changelog, Bohemia Interactive Forums, viewed 14 December 2022, <https://forums.bohemia.net/forums/topic/236830-western-sahara-changelog/?do=findComment&comment=3469588>.
- ↑ ARMA 3: Western Sahara 2021 [Video Game], Rotators Collective, \lxws\weapons_1_f_lxws\machineguns\s77\s77_box_lxws.p3d
External links[]
See also[]
Weapons of comparable role and configuration[]
- Navid (CSAT counterpart, ArmA 3: Marksmen only)
- SPMG (NATO counter, ArmA 3: Marksmen only)
Weapons of Western Sahara | |
---|---|
Shotguns | AA40 |
Carbines | Velko R5 5.56 mm (R5 GL) |
Assault rifles | Galat ARM 7.62 mm • SLR 7.62 mm (GL, Para) • Velko R4 5.56 mm • XMS 5.56 mm (SG, GL) |
Squad automatic weapons | XMS SW 5.56 mm |
Machineguns | SA-77 7.62 mm (Compact) |
Grenade launchers | GLX |
Static | ZU-23-2 |
(Parenthesis) denote variants. |
![]() | |
---|---|
Handguns | P07 9 mm |
Shotguns | AA40 |
Carbines | Velko R5 5.56 mm (GL) |
Assault rifles | SLR Para 7.62 mm |
Designated marksman rifles | Mk18 ABR 7.62 mm |
Sniper rifles | GM6 Lynx 12.7 mm |
Machineguns | SA-77 Compact 7.62 mm |
Grenade launchers | GLX |
Launchers | MAAWS Mk4 Mod 1 |
(Parenthesis) denote variants. Tanks DLC |
![]() | |
---|---|
Handguns | ACP-C2 .45 |
Submachine guns | Vermin .45 |
Carbines | Velko R5 5.56 mm (R5 GL) |
Assault rifles | Velko R4 5.56 mm |
Squad automatic weapons | Mk200 6.5 mm |
Machineguns | SA-77 Compact 7.62 mm |
![]() | |
---|---|
Handguns | Rook-40 9 mm • Zubr .45 |
Assault rifles | SLR 7.62 mm (GL) • Velko R4 5.56 mm |
Squad automatic weapons | Zafir 7.62 mm |
Machineguns | SA-77 7.62 mm |
Launchers | RPG-42 |
(Parenthesis) denote variants. |
![]() | |
---|---|
Handguns | ACP-C2 .45 • P07 9 mm |
Submachine guns | PDW2000 9 mm • Sting 9 mm |
Carbines | Velko R5 5.56 mm |
Assault rifles | Galat ARM 7.62 mm • SLR 7.62 mm |
Machineguns | SA-77 7.62 mm |
Launchers | RPG-42 • Titan MPRL |
Static | M2 • Mk6 Mortar • ZU-23-2 |
![]() | |
---|---|
Submachine guns | PDW2000 9 mm |
Assault rifles | Galat ARM 7.62 mm (Old) • SLR 7.62 mm |
Machineguns | SA-77 7.62 mm |
Launchers | RPG-42 |
Static | M2 • Mk6 Mortar • ZU-23-2 |
(Parenthesis) denote variants. |