MPT-76

MPT-76

The MKEK MPT-76 with a bipod that also doubles as a forward handgrip
Type Battle rifle
Place of origin Turkey
Service history
In service 2014–present[1]
Used by See Users
Production history
Designer MKEK
Designed 2009
Manufacturer MKEK
Produced 2014-present[1]
Specifications
Weight 4.1 kg (9.0 lb)
Length 920 mm (36 in)[2]
Barrel length 410 mm (16 in)
Cartridge 7.62×51mm NATO
5.56×45mm NATO
Action Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire 650 rounds/min[2]
Muzzle velocity 800 m/s (2,600 ft/s)[2]
Effective firing range 600 m (660 yd)[2]
Feed system 20-round detachable magazine[2]
Sights Iron sights or various optics

The MPT-76 (stands for Turkish: Milli Piyade Tüfeği, English: National Infantry Rifle)[3][4] is a modular rifle designed by MKEK Kalekalıp and produced by MKEK to meet the demands of the Turkish Armed Forces and to replace its aging Heckler & Koch G3 battle rifles due to most of them being near the end of their service life.[5][6] The MPT-76 was designed for robust high altitude, all weather combat, capable of functioning in extreme hot and cold weather. The MKEK MPT is a rifle intended to take abuse and extreme mistreatment and still maintain high accuracy and reliability in order to survive in true battle environments.[2][7] The Turkish government has invested USD 22 million into the project.[5]

It made its first public appearance at the Eurosatory 2014,[8] ADEX 2014[9][10] and the MSPO 2014 events.[11]

History

After the first prototypes were built in 2008 as the Mehmetçik-1 in 5.56×45mm NATO,[12][13] the rifle received negative feedback from Turkish soldiers testing it who reported that they preferred the 7.62×51mm NATO round which has far greater stopping power and range similar to those of the existing G3 service rifles. The proposed Mehmetcik-1 was therefore cancelled after the first prototype and engineers started the redesign process.

The first batch of 200 MPT-76s were delivered on May 18, 2014 and received positive feedback.[8][14] The rifle was reported to be extremely accurate, reliable, and outmatched the G3 in all categories. The Turkish Army plans to gradually phase out its G3 and to make the MPT-76 its main service rifle.[15] Azerbaijan plans to produce parts of the rifle in cooperation with Turkey.[9]

Serial production began in 2015.[16] The initial phase of the project will see a total of 35,014 MPT-76's being produced in two tranches. The first tranche of the initial phase, consisting of 20,000 rifles was contracted to state-owned company Machines and Chemical Industries Board (MKEK) in June 2015.[17] The second tranche, consisting of 15,014 rifles, was contracted with local company Kalekalip in December 2015.[17]

The first batch of rifles was ready for delivery to the Turkish military in January 2017.[18]

Design

Its design was based on the AR-15, but with the gas piston system influenced by the HK417.[8][19] It has a Picatinny rail system and mounting options for an under-barrel shotgun and grenade launcher.[20]

Variants

The following are planned to be in production:[21]

MPT-55

In May 2017, MKEK introduced the MPT-55 of the MPT-76, which is chambered in 5.56×45mm. The standard version is 7.3 lb (3.3 kg) with a 14.5 in (370 mm) barrel, and the shorter MPT-55K is 6.6 lb (3.0 kg) with an 11 in (280 mm) barrel. Turkey plans to obtain 20,000 of the smaller-caliber rifles to replace license-produced HK416s within special forces.[22]

Users

Potential Users

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Milli Piyade Tüfeği’nin ilk sevkiyatı yapıldı". TRT Haber. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Milli Piyade tüfeği üretimine başlandı". Hürriyet. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  3. ↑ "7.62 mm MPT-76 National Infantry Rifle". NAVDEX. Archived from the original on 25 February 2015. Retrieved 2015-02-25.
  4. ↑ http://world.guns.ru/assault/turk/mpt-76-e.html
  5. 1 2 http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/01/turkey-defense-spending-arms-procurement.html#
  6. ↑ http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2008/11/07/the-turkish-hk416-mehmetcik-1/
  7. ↑ "Milli Piyade Tüfeği'nin ilk prototipleri hazır". TRT Türk. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  8. 1 2 3 Nicholas de Larrinaga (2014-06-18). "Eurosatory 2014: MKEK delivers first MPT-76 rifles to Turkey". Jane's 360. Archived from the original on 2015-02-11. Retrieved 2015-02-25.
  9. 1 2 http://www.news.az/articles/society/91266
  10. ↑ http://www.azeridefence.com/news.php?id=8655
  11. ↑ http://www.armyrecognition.com/mspo_2014_official_show_daily_news_coverage_report/turkish_company_mkek_displays_its_new_national_infantry_rifle_mpt-76.html
  12. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 January 2010. Retrieved 2009-01-27.
  13. ↑ http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/articles/10385/turkeys-procurement-diplomacy-bears-fruit
  14. ↑ http://www.teknolojioku.com/haber/tsk-ilk-parti-mpt-76-milli-piyade-tufegine-kavustu-18795.html
  15. ↑ "The new Turkish MKEK Mehmecik MPT-76 National Rifle". The Firearm Blog. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  16. ↑ "Turkey to begin serial production of MPT-76 rifles | IHS Jane's 360". www.janes.com. Retrieved 2016-04-21.
  17. 1 2 "Turkey orders more MPT-76 service rifles | IHS Jane's 360". www.janes.com. Retrieved 2016-04-21.
  18. ↑ "First MPT-76 rifles delivered to the Turkish Military". The Firearm Blog. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  19. ↑ http://21stcenturyasianarmsrace.com/2013/09/20/the-assault-rifles-of-the-near-future/
  20. ↑ http://www.armyrecognition.com/eurosatory_2014_show_daily_news_coverage_report/mke_displays_its_new_mpt-76_rifle.html
  21. ↑ http://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarms/detail.asp?smallarms_id=943
  22. ↑ IDEF 2017- MKEK Introduces 5.56x45mm MPT-55 Rifle - Thefirearmblog.com, 22 May 2017
  23. ↑ http://news.az/articles/region/94852
  24. 1 2 http://www.haberler.com/milli-piyade-tufegi-mpt-76-yi-abd-de-istiyor-sili-8277812-haberi/
  25. ↑ http://www.yenisafak.com/en/economy/turkey-to-mass-produce-local-made-mpt-76-rifles-2565378
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