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IDEF 2017: MKEK continues small arms upgrade
10th May 2017 - 8:47 by Grant Turnbull in Istanbul
Turkey's state-run arms manufacturer MKEK has used this year's IDEF in Turkey to display its portfolio of assault rifles and sniper rifles, several of which are now being fielded to the country's armed forces.
MKEK is responsible for the design and production of the Turkish Army's National Infantry Rifle, known as the MPT-76. This rifle is replacing the army's currently in-service Heckler & Koch G3, which was licensed produced by MKEK, along with the German company's HK33 and MP5 products, until 2009.
The squad-level semi-automatic sniper rifle variant based on the MPT-76 is known as the KNT-76 – which completed qualification testing in 2015.
In addition, the Turkish armed forces are also receiving the MPT-55, which is in the National Infantry Rifle family but is chambered to fire 5.56x45mm NATO ammunition. The MKEK spokesperson told Shephard that 15,000 MPT-55 rifles will be delivered by the end of 2018.
The 3.3kg MPT-55 shares similar design features with the MPT-76, including ambidextrous controls and picatinny rail system, and also comes in a carbine version known as the MPT-55K. The Turkish armed forces have not opted for the carbine version of either the 5.56mm or 7.62mm rifle variants, according to the spokesperson.
On sniper rifle development, MKEK is developing the MAM-15 anti-materiel sniper rifle. The bolt-action rifle fires a 12.7x99mm NATO round and is currently going through trials with serial production likely to begin early in 2018.
The company also develops the JMK Bora-12, a bolt-action rifle that fires a 7.62x51mm NATO round. The JMK Bora-12 was the first fully indigenous Turkish rifle produced by MKEK, and is now also available in a configuration that allows it to fire subsonic rounds.
According to the spokesperson, 600 units of the JMK Bora-12 have been ordered by the Turkish Marine Forces.
The standard MPT-76 7.62x51mm rifle is currently being fielded, with a MKEK spokesperson telling Shephard that 'almost 1,000 have now been delivered.'
'At the end of 2018 we will have delivered 20,000 rifles,' he added.
The first tranche of 500 rifles was delivered to the Turkish Land Forces Command in January this year, under a contract awarded in July 2015.
To diversify serial production, the MPT-76 is also manufactured by two other privately-run companies; Kalekalıp Makina ve Kalip Sanayi and Sarsılmaz Silah Sanayi. The latter was awarded a contract in March to manufacture 10,000 examples of the rifle.
Designed indigenously, it has features of other AR15-style assault rifles including ambidextrous controls for the cocking handle, safety and magazine release. It has a 360 degree picatinny rail system that allows the attachment of accessories.
The 4.18kg rifle is gas-operated, short stroke-piston system with a rotary bolt and can be fired in both semi-automatic and fully automatic modes – utilising a 20-round polycarbonate magazine. It is available in three versions: standard configuration with 16in barrel; sniper version with 20in barrel; and a 12in barrel carbine.
https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/landwarfareintl/idef-2017-mkek-continues-small-arms-upgrade/
10th May 2017 - 8:47 by Grant Turnbull in Istanbul
Turkey's state-run arms manufacturer MKEK has used this year's IDEF in Turkey to display its portfolio of assault rifles and sniper rifles, several of which are now being fielded to the country's armed forces.
MKEK is responsible for the design and production of the Turkish Army's National Infantry Rifle, known as the MPT-76. This rifle is replacing the army's currently in-service Heckler & Koch G3, which was licensed produced by MKEK, along with the German company's HK33 and MP5 products, until 2009.
The squad-level semi-automatic sniper rifle variant based on the MPT-76 is known as the KNT-76 – which completed qualification testing in 2015.
In addition, the Turkish armed forces are also receiving the MPT-55, which is in the National Infantry Rifle family but is chambered to fire 5.56x45mm NATO ammunition. The MKEK spokesperson told Shephard that 15,000 MPT-55 rifles will be delivered by the end of 2018.
The 3.3kg MPT-55 shares similar design features with the MPT-76, including ambidextrous controls and picatinny rail system, and also comes in a carbine version known as the MPT-55K. The Turkish armed forces have not opted for the carbine version of either the 5.56mm or 7.62mm rifle variants, according to the spokesperson.
On sniper rifle development, MKEK is developing the MAM-15 anti-materiel sniper rifle. The bolt-action rifle fires a 12.7x99mm NATO round and is currently going through trials with serial production likely to begin early in 2018.
The company also develops the JMK Bora-12, a bolt-action rifle that fires a 7.62x51mm NATO round. The JMK Bora-12 was the first fully indigenous Turkish rifle produced by MKEK, and is now also available in a configuration that allows it to fire subsonic rounds.
According to the spokesperson, 600 units of the JMK Bora-12 have been ordered by the Turkish Marine Forces.
The standard MPT-76 7.62x51mm rifle is currently being fielded, with a MKEK spokesperson telling Shephard that 'almost 1,000 have now been delivered.'
'At the end of 2018 we will have delivered 20,000 rifles,' he added.
The first tranche of 500 rifles was delivered to the Turkish Land Forces Command in January this year, under a contract awarded in July 2015.
To diversify serial production, the MPT-76 is also manufactured by two other privately-run companies; Kalekalıp Makina ve Kalip Sanayi and Sarsılmaz Silah Sanayi. The latter was awarded a contract in March to manufacture 10,000 examples of the rifle.
Designed indigenously, it has features of other AR15-style assault rifles including ambidextrous controls for the cocking handle, safety and magazine release. It has a 360 degree picatinny rail system that allows the attachment of accessories.
The 4.18kg rifle is gas-operated, short stroke-piston system with a rotary bolt and can be fired in both semi-automatic and fully automatic modes – utilising a 20-round polycarbonate magazine. It is available in three versions: standard configuration with 16in barrel; sniper version with 20in barrel; and a 12in barrel carbine.
https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/landwarfareintl/idef-2017-mkek-continues-small-arms-upgrade/
