Floro MK-9 - Development

Development

Though several Philippine enterprises are involved in the manufacture of small arms, submachine gun production is mostly limited to copies of foreign designs such as the MAC-10 and the KG-9 assembled in clandestine workshops for sale in the black market. There are few openly marketed indigenous submachine gun designs owing to the availability and popularity of imported weapons such as the Israeli Uzi and the H&K MP5.

The Floro Mk. 9 submachine gun was developed as a private venture by Floro International Corporation, an ISO 9000 certified company providing precision manufacturing and digital/optical media services. It was offered for evaluation to the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police. Initial responses were favorable and some sales were made, particularly to the AFP's Anti-Crime Task Force and the Philippine Navy's Special Warfare Group. The Philippine Marine Corps had a standing requirement for submachine guns to serve as personal defense weapons for armor crews and the Floro Mk. 9 was an option. Limited funds and the availability of M3 Grease Guns from reserve weapon stockpiles caused these to be issued instead. The M3 had the advantage of using the .45 ACP cartridge which is more widely used in the AFP and has greater stopping power than the 9x19mm Parabellum.

Floro International currently markets an updated Mk. 9 and a shorter, lighter version, the MP-9. It is believed to be formerly known as the MK-19 submachine gun.