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MKEK registers first exports of MPT-76 assault rifle
Turkey’s state-owned company Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation (MKEK) announced that it has registered its first overseas sales for the MPT-76 assault rifle.Anadolu Agency reports that 450 MPT-76 rifles were delivered to Somalia, while the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus ordered 2,500 rifles.
The Turkish Armed Forces inducted the MPT-76 in January. Turkey’s Undersecretariat of Defence Industries (SSM) issued its launch order of 15,014 MPT-76 rifles for $18 million U.S. in December 2015. Besides MKEK, the Turkish companies Kalekalip and Sarsilmaz will also produce the rifle.
Chambered for 7.62×51 mm, the MPT-76 will replace Turkish Army’s Heckler & Koch (HK) G-3 battle rifles. The MPT-76 is also a piece of Turkey’s efforts to indigenize its supply of armaments. Turkish officials describe the MPT-76 as being ‘effective as the G-3, as reliable as the AK-47 and as practical as the M-16.’ It has a range of up to 600 m and can fire 600 rounds per minute at a muzzle velocity of 800 m per second.
MKEK also has a 5.56×45 mm variant, i.e. MPT-55.
Notes & Comments:
The MPT-76 is derived from the popular AR-15 platform, which has spurred the development of several other assault rifle models, such as the Caracal CAR-817AR, Ukroboronprom M4-WAC-47 and the venerable HK-416 from the United Arab Emirates, Ukraine and Germany, respectively. Firearm makers have managed to chamber the platform for 7.62×51 mm, 5.56×45 mm and 7.62×39 mm.
In 2016, MKEK had also marketed the MPT-76 to Pakistan for the latter’s assault rifle evaluation program. The Deputy Undersecretary of the SSM Mustafa Şeker told MSI Turkish Defence Review that MKEK sent 200 pre-production rifles (from Turkish Army stocks) to Pakistan, where they were put through summer and winter tests. The MPT-76 had several critical issues during its summer trials, which MKEK promised to correct with its serial production version.
1 Comment
by Faisal Jawaid
Sorry off topic. Bilal can you discuss the short coming of JF-17 in terms of engine power. what are options for PAF. PAF in any way considering engine replacement.Tejas on the other hand planned to get the F414 engines. what benefits it bring in terms of load carrying and range for Tejas.
If engine with 55-60 KN dry thrust is available to PAF. PAF will go for airframe changes? to extend range and load carrying capacity which be beneficial for JF-17 in strike role. Can you also shed some light how JF-17 will replace Mirages in strike role.