Heckler & Koch MG4

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MG4
HK MG4
Type	Light machine gun
Place of origin	Germany
Service history
In service	2003-present
Used by	Germany, Spain, Portugal, Sweden
Production history
Designer	Heckler & Koch
Manufacturer	Heckler & Koch
Variants	MG4E, MG4KE
Specifications
Weight	7.9 kg (17.4 lb)
Length	1030 mm

Cartridge	5.56x45mm NATO
Action	Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire	850-900 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity	920 m/s
Effective range	1000 m (max. 4000 m)
Feed system	Belt feed
Sights	Picatinny rail MIL-STD-1913 for support of optical sights

The MG4 is a belt-fed 5.56 mm light machine gun designed and developed by Heckler & Koch within the Infanterist der Zukunft ("infantryman of the future") project of the German Army. It is intended not to replace the heavier MG3 in the Bundeswehr, but to complement it and will also be the secondary armament of the new Puma Infantry Fighting Vehicle. It is designed to be light, to give the maximum of safety to the user and to be easy to handle for right- and left-handed shooters. It can also be fit to the U.S. US M112A1 Tripod for more accuracy.

The weapon is comparable to the FN MINIMI. Before its adoption by the German Bundeswehr as the MG4, the manufacturer referred to it as the MG43. The MG4 is gas-operated with a rotating bolt and is similar, except for its higher muzzle velocity, to the FN weapon.