The MPT (Turkish: Millî Piyade Tüfeği, English: National Infantry Rifle)[8][9] is a modular rifle family designed by MKEK and produced by MKEK, Sarsılmaz Arms and Kalekalıp to meet the demands of the Turkish Armed Forces and to replace its aging rifles such as the Heckler & Koch G3 and Heckler & Koch HK33 due to most of them being near the end of their service life.[10][11] The MPT 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][12]
| MKE MPT | |
|---|---|
 MKEK MPT-76 with a bipod that retracts and doubles as a forward handgrip | |
| Type | Battle rifle (MPT-76) Assault rifle (MPT-55) Designated marksman rifle (KNT-76) Carbine (KAAN-717) |
| Place of origin | Turkey |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2014–present[1] |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars | |
| Production history | |
| Designer | MKEK |
| Designed | 2009[2] |
| Manufacturer |
|
| Produced | 2014-present[1] |
| No. built | 66,000 (MPT-76 and MPT-55)[4] |
| Variants | See Variants |
| Specifications | |
| Mass |
|
| Length |
|
| Barrel length |
|
| Cartridge |
|
| Action | Gas-operated, rotating bolt |
| Rate of fire | |
| Muzzle velocity |
|
| Effective firing range | |
| Feed system | 20 or 30-round detachable magazine[2] |
| Sights | Iron sights or various optics |
It made its first public appearance at the Eurosatory 2014,[13] ADEX 2014[14][15] and the MSPO 2014 events.[16]
History
After the first prototypes were built in 2008 as the Mehmetçik-1 in 5.56×45mm NATO,[17][18] the rifle was negatively received. Turkish soldiers testing it 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 18 May 2014 and received positive feedback.[13][19] The rifle was reported to be adequately accurate and reliable, but still outmatched by the G3 in all categories.[20] The Turkish Army plans to gradually phase out its G3 and to make the MPT-76 its main service rifle.[21] Azerbaijan plans to produce parts of the rifle in cooperation with Turkey.[14]
Serial production began in 2015.[22] The initial phase of the project will see a total of 35,014 MPT-76s being produced in two tranches. The first tranche of the initial phase, consisting of 20,000 rifles was contracted to the state-owned company Machines and Chemical Industries Board (MKEK) in June 2015.[23] The second tranche, consisting of 15,014 rifles, was contracted with local company Kalekalip in December 2015.[23]
The first batch of rifles was ready for delivery to the Turkish military in January 2017.[24] Approximately 25,000 MPT-76s have been built by December 2018 and there is 350,000+ firm order for the rifle in 2019.[25]
Design
The design was based on the AR-15, but the gas piston system was influenced by the HK417. It has a Picatinny rail system and mounting options for an under-barrel shotgun and grenade launcher.[26] The MPT-76 has some ergonomic deviations from what would be considered traditional AR-10 style rifles: the HK417[13][27] inspired buttstock must be rotated counter-clockwise about 30 degrees, to adjust the length of pull. It also possesses an angled foregrip-style plastic mount that bridges the transition between the lower receiver and the picatinny handguard. It must be removed for disassembly. The charging handle also possesses the retaining latch on the right side of the weapon, not the left, which is typical of most Stoner-derived weapon systems.[28]
Variants
The following variants are in production:[29]
- Battle Rifle with 16-inch barrel using 7.62×51mm NATO
- Carbine with 12-inch barrel using 5.56×45mm NATO
- Designated Marksman's Rifle with 20-inch barrel using 7.62×51mm NATO
MPT-76-MH
The MPT-76-MH is a lightened version of the standard MPT-76. The weight of the rifle has been reduced by 750 g (1.65 lb). The MPT-76's unloaded (without magazine) weight is 4.5 kilograms (9.9 lb).[30][31]
MPT-55
In May 2017, MKEK introduced the MPT-55, chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO. 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.[32][better source needed]
KNT-76
The KNT-76 (Keskin Nişancı Tüfeği, English: Sniper Rifle, lit. "Sharp Shooter Rifle") is the DMR version. KNT-76 are produced in Kırıkkale Arms Factory like the MPT-76. The rifle with the same "Gas Operated Rotary Bolt Action" mechanism can fire semi-automatically. The MPT-76 can fire fully automatic and semi-automatic. Trigger sensitivity in the KNT-76 is reduced by five Newtons which allows the trigger to move with less pressure. This reduction prevents the involuntary movement of the barrel due to trigger movement. The KNT-76 weighs 500 g (18 oz) more that the MPT-76, while the magazine capacity remains the same. The effective range increased from 600 m (660 yd) to 800 m (870 yd) due to the barrel being extending from 406 mm (16.0 in) to 508 mm (20.0 in), and accuracy is improved from 4 MOA (4 in (100 mm) at 100 yd (91 m)) to 1.5 MOA (1.5 in (38 mm) at 100 yd (91 m)).[7]
KAAN-717
The KAAN-717 is the carbine version, chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO. Designed for the Special Forces, it uses a short-stroke action. The KAAN-717 also comes with a different stock with a cheek rest.[33]
Users
Albania: 30 MPT-76s and 30 MPT-55s[34][35][36]
Montenegro: 30 rifles donated by Turkey in 2021[37]
Northern Cyprus: Around 2,500 MPT-76s delivered[38]
Senegal[39]
Somalia: 450 rifles delivered, used by Gorgor (Eagle) commandos[40]
Turkey: 66,000 MPT-76 and MPT-55s as of 2019[4]
Kosovo: Kosovo Security Force received PMT-76-57As to mount on SARP equipped armoured vehicles.[41]
Potential users
Azerbaijan[42][43]
Chile: Expressed interest in fully adopting the rifle for military service[43][needs update]
Pakistan[44]
See also
References
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