SA AR9 Light Ops (SA-PX01 PRIME™ Aster II ETU) with Brushless Motor - Black / Tan

Compact CQB weapon – AR9 type

The AR9, a modern variant of the legendary AR platform, is designed for pistol-caliber rounds, typically 9mm Luger. This concept combines the advantages of the popular AR-15 rifle with the benefits of smaller and more affordable ammunition.
The origins of the AR9 date back to the 1960s when the original AR-15 was designed by Eugene Stoner and manufactured by Armalite for military use. In the 1980s and 1990s, the AR platform gained popularity among civilian users, prompting manufacturers to experiment with different variants, including those chambered in pistol calibers.
By 2000, the AR9 had emerged as a specialized variant, with its popularity soaring due to its versatility, low ammunition costs, and reduced recoil.
The AR9 is highly modular, similar to the AR-15, allowing for easy component swaps and customization to suit the user's needs. Using 9mm rounds provides benefits such as lower ammunition costs and reduced recoil, making the weapon easier to control. This firearm is ideal for sport shooting, home defense, and training due to its compact size and ease of handling.
Today, the AR9 remains a popular choice for many shooters seeking a versatile and cost-effective firearm.

What does the SA AR9 Light Ops (SA-PX01 PRIME™) from Specna Arms offer?

Prime™ is the top-tier series. It represents the best, most refined, most tuned, most perfected, and most reliable that Specna Arms has to offer. In short, Specna decided to take the perfectly fitted body from the Edge/Edge 2.0 series with a Nano Coating finish, which boasts enhanced scratch resistance and durability, and fill it with top-tier upgrade components.
They started with the motor upgrade— a brushless motor housed in a newly designed QD pistol grip for quick motor access. The gun also features a fully reworked AETHER gearbox, capable of handling AEG springs up to M140.
Inside, you'll find a Bluetooth ASTER II ETU processor unit, CNC 16:1 ratio gears, a CNC cylinder head and piston head with a CNC nozzle, 8mm ball bearings on the sector and bevel gears, and a sliding bearing on the spur gear. Accuracy is enhanced by a 6.02mm inner barrel, paired with a Helium Flat-Hop bucking inside a redesigned MAGNUS™ chamber with TDC pressure system.
The package includes three different AEG spring tensions, allowing you to equip an M90 spring for CQB games. In just a minute, thanks to the ESA2 quick spring change system, you can install an M115 spring for events with power limits. Or, you can equip the strongest M135 spring and turn your gun into a precise DMR with excellent range.
If you're looking for a versatile airsoft gun built from the best components without the need for further investment, then the Prime™ series is the right choice. From a fast CQB shooter to a precision DMR rifle, that's the magic of Prime™. The package includes two mid-cap S-Mag magazines for 120 BBs and a speedloader for quick reloading.

High-quality external components

The submachine gun features a premium build with a Nano Coating finish for enhanced scratch resistance. The body is matte-lacquered, giving it an elegant appearance. The ergonomic AR15-inspired design and modern AR9 construction ensure comfortable handling and easy operation.
CNC metal M-LOK handguard allows for attaching accessories like a grip, AN/PEQ box, or flashlight. The adjustable Light Ops stock accommodates Buffer Stick batteries. A new addition in the Prime™ series is the redesigned QD pistol grip, which enables quick motor access via a hinged bottom cover.

Gate ASTER II Bluetooth® Processor Unit

It ensures safe motor operation, protects internal components, enhances trigger response, extends battery life, and increases rate of fire. It also supports Li-Pol batteries 7.4V and 11.1V. The battery connector is T-Dean with wiring routed into the stock buffer tube.
Using an app for Android, iOS, or Windows/Mac, you can easily configure the processor unit. All functions are displayed on your phone without the need for a programming card or trigger presses. The app also allows firmware updates, ensuring you always have the latest features.

ASTER II features include:

• Adjustable trigger sensitivity – 5 optical sensors allow precise customization
• Configurable burst mode – from 2 to 10 rounds with only 4ms delay
• Customizable fire selector – SAFE - SEMI/BURST - BURST/AUTO
• Pre-cocking function – improves semi-auto response
• Rate of fire control
• DMR mode – adjustable delay between semi-auto shots
• Smart trigger – optimizes firing cadence
• Battery protection and low-voltage warning
• Smart fuse – prevents motor damage from overheating or overloading
• Active braking – reduces motor wear

Redesigned Specna Arms ÆTHER™ Gearbox

ÆTHER™ represents the most durable stock gearbox on the market. The fully reinforced shell is capable of handling the included Specna Arms M135 spring, and Specna Arms has even patented it (European Patent No. 015044865-0001).

The ÆTHER™ gearbox offers the following features:

• Spring release function (to prevent spring compression stress after a game session)
• Window for checking AoE and pre-cocking tension levels
• Reinforced front section of the gearbox shell
• Adjustable trigger pull
• Alignment holes for precise gearbox positioning inside the gun body

Premium Internal Components in the Gearbox

Inside the gearbox, you’ll find CNC steel gears with a 16:1 ratio, an ideal setup providing high rate of fire while maintaining durability when using stronger springs such as the Specna Arms M135.
8mm J-Cage bearings—ball bearings on the bevel and spur gears, while the sector gear is equipped with a bushing for higher durability. This setup was optimized through extensive testing to find the perfect balance between durability and rotational speed.
Reinforced polycarbonate piston with 14 steel teeth ensures optimal gear-to-piston engagement (AoE) and prevents gearbox jamming. It’s durable yet doesn’t slow down the cycle unnecessarily.
The piston features a CNC piston head with enlarged vents that efficiently direct airflow into a CNC cylinder head with double sealing. The system is housed in a stainless steel ribbed cylinder, which aids in cooling when firing in automatic mode.
Air is directed into the chamber through a CNC aluminum nozzle, seated on a reinforced tappet plate. Reliable BB feeding is ensured by a strong tappet spring and a sector gear delayer for improved consistency.

Precision Gate Quantum Trigger 2

The Quantum Trigger paired with ASTER V2 allows you to adjust trigger sensitivity from ultra-light to full travel. Version 2 features an adjustable reset via the mobile app, a highly durable aerospace-grade 7075 aluminum construction, and is compatible with the Gate TACTICKER module for realistic trigger pull simulation.

What to expect from the Quantum 2 trigger?

• Ultra-precise adjustments—up to 60 trigger sensitivity levels for the first millimeter of movement, ensuring every nuance of your trigger pull is captured.
• 470 possible sensitivity levels—across the entire travel range, allowing full customization to suit your needs.
• Designed for professionals—Quantum Trigger is tailored for experienced players who demand maximum performance and reliability.
• CNC-machined aluminum construction—each component is precisely made using CNC machining, making it not only a high-performance tool but also an aesthetic masterpiece.

Specna Arms Dark Matter 27k Brushless Motor

Long-type Dark Matter™ brushless motor by Specna Arms with 27,000 RPM brings a revolution in airsoft performance! This motor ensures higher efficiency, improved performance, and enhanced rate of fire as well as better trigger response.
It provides up to 5x more shots per battery charge than conventional motors. (5000+ shots on an 11.1V 1000mAh battery). Additionally, it is housed in a rugged aluminum casing for ultimate durability, supporting springs up to M190!

TDC Magnus™ Hop-Up Chamber, Helium™ Flat-Hop Bucking, and Precision Barrel

The extremely precise polymer chamber features a TDC pressure system. This is a special structural element of hop-up chambers that allows for the optimal adjustment of pressure on the BB through the hop-up rubber protrusion. The pressure is applied directly above the barrel window and perfectly perpendicular, rather than at an angle via a lever. This allows players to achieve greater shooting accuracy, stronger hop-up effects with heavier BBs, and consistency in every shot.
The chamber is equipped with a Helium™ hop-up rubber featuring a Flat pressure system. This means that the rubber has no protrusion but is completely smooth inside. As a result, it eliminates issues with BBs curving due to incorrect installation and increases the contact surface between the BB and the hop-up rubber, effectively providing better spin and more consistent trajectory. This ensures greater range and precision and allows for the use of heavier BBs.
And for those who want even more precision, BBs travel through a 6.02mm precision inner barrel.

ESA2 Quick Spring Change System

The spring can be replaced without special tools. A long screwdriver is no longer necessary—simply loosen the buffer tube nut, and you will have direct access to the QSC spring guide. The spring guide features a ball-bearing system that makes compression easier.
The Prime™ series includes three different springs in the package:

• M90 spring – ideal for CQB and short-range engagements where reducing the risk of injury is important.
• M115 spring – suitable for most outdoor games with medium-range engagements.
• M135 spring – the strongest included spring, designed for long-range single-shot firing, making it perfect for DMR setups.

Important Notice

Some manufacturers produce overpowered springs (e.g., an M130 spring may have an actual power equivalent to M140–M150), which could exceed the declared durability of the gearbox.
It is recommended to use only the included Specna Arms springs. If using springs from other manufacturers, it is advisable to choose springs rated M120 or lower to avoid potential damage caused by springs that exceed their designated rating.
When installing a spring with progressive (irregular) winding, ensure that the end with tighter coils is placed on the spring guide facing outward from the gearbox.

Hop-Up Adjustment Wheel

By default, the hop-up adjustment wheel is very loose to allow for quick and easy adjustments. However, what works for some may not work for others.
Your friend at Anareus has thought of everything, which is why we've included a special O-ring in the package. This allows you to insert it beneath the adjustment wheel, increasing resistance and preventing unintentional loosening of the hop-up setting.

Package Contents

• AEG AR9 Submachine Gun Specna Arms Prime™
• 2x S-MAG mid-cap magazine (125 BBs)
• Adapter for batteries with a small Tamiya connector
• Speed loader
• Flip-up iron sights
• Spare weaker spring (M90) for CQB
• Spare stronger spring (M135)
• Specna Arms promotional stickers
• User manual

Download Link for Gate Control Station (GCS) App

• Android
• iOS
• Windows/Mac

Pairing the App

To pair the GCS app with the ASTER II unit, you must enter its code, which is located on the label on the wiring. Ideally, leave this label on the gun or at least keep it. Without the code, the unit cannot be paired with the app.