MKE MPT

The MPT (stands for 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 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] The Turkish government has invested US$22 million into the project.[10]

MKE MPT
MKEK MPT-76 with a bipod that retracts and doubles as a forward handgrip
TypeBattle rifle (MPT-76)
Assault rifle (MPT-55)
Designated marksman rifle (KNT-76)
Place of originTurkey
Service history
In service2014–present[1]
Used bySee Users
WarsKurdish–Turkish conflict (2015–present)
Operation Peace Spring
Operation Euphrates Shield
Production history
DesignerMKEK
Designed2009[2]
Manufacturer
Produced2014-present[1]
No. built66,000 (MPT-76 and MPT-55)[4]
VariantsSee Variants
Specifications
Mass
  • 4.1 kg (9.0 lb) (MPT-76)
  • 4.7 kg (10 lb) (KNT-76)[5]
Length
  • 920 mm (36 in) (MPT-76)
  • 1,020 mm (40 in) (KNT-76)[5]
Barrel length
  • 406 mm (16.0 in) (MPT-76)
  • 508 mm (20.0 in) (KNT-76)[5]
Cartridge
ActionGas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire
  • 700 rounds/min (MPT-76)[6]
  • 200 rounds/min (KNT-76)[5]
Muzzle velocity
  • 800 m/s (2,600 ft/s) (MPT-76 and KNT-76)[7]
Effective firing range
  • 600 m (660 yd) (MPT-76)[2]
  • 800 m (870 yd) (KNT-76)[5]
Feed system20 or 30-round detachable magazine[2]
SightsIron 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 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 18 May 2014 and received positive feedback.[13][19] 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.[20] Azerbaijan plans to produce parts of the rifle in cooperation with Turkey.[14]

Serial production began in 2015.[21] 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.[22] The second tranche, consisting of 15,014 rifles, was contracted with local company Kalekalip in December 2015.[22]

The first batch of rifles was ready for delivery to the Turkish military in January 2017.[23]. Approximately 25,000 MPT-76s have been built by December 2018 and there is 350,000+ firm order for the rifle in 2019.[24].

Design

The design was based on the AR-15, but the gas piston system was influenced by the HK417.[13][25] It has a Picatinny rail system and mounting options for an under-barrel shotgun and grenade launcher.[26]

Variants

The following variants are in production:[27]

MPT-76

The MPT-76 is a gas operated, selective fire weapon, chambered for a standard NATO 7.62×51mm ammunition. Number in the designation denotes the 7.62 mm caliber. There is also an MPT-56 assault rifle, chambered for the standard NATO 5.56×45mm ammunition. However as of 2016 the 5.56×45mm version was not adopted. It looks like the Turkish soldiers preferred the more powerful 7.62×51mm round over the 5.56×45mm due to longer range and penetration.[28]

MPT-55

In May 2017, MKEK introduced the MPT-55 of the MPT, 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.[29]

KNT-76

The KNT (Keskin Nişancı Tüfeği, English: Sniper Rifle) is the DMR version of the MPT series. KNT-76 is 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 is reduced by five Newtons which allows the trigger to move with less pressure. This drop prevents the involuntary movement of the barrel due to trigger movement. The KNT-76 weighs 500 grams heavier while the magazine capacity remains the same. The effective range increased from 600 meters to 800 meters thanks to the barrel extending from 406 mm to 508 mm. MOA is reduced to 1.5 MOA in KNT-76 as it was 4 MOA with the MPT-76.[30]

KAAN-717

KAAN-717 is the Carbine version of the MPT series chambered in 7.62x51 NATO. Designed for Special Forces, it uses a short-stroke action unlike MPT-76. KAAN-717 also comes with a different stock with cheek rest.[31]

Users

Potential Users

See also

References
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  2. "Milli Piyade tüfeği üretimine başlandı". Hürriyet (in Turkish). Archived from the original on 7 February 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  3. https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/savunma-sanayisinde-yerli-silah-mesaisi/milli-piyade-tufeginde-40-bin-teslimat-basarisi/1560194
  4. https://www.trthaber.com/haber/ekonomi/mkekde-hedef-66-bin-silah-uretimi-408378.html
  5. "KNT-76 Manga Tipi Milli Keskin Nişancı Tüfeği". millisavunma.com. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  6. "Cumhurbaşkanı Erdoğan'a yerli silahlı koruma" (in Turkish). Archived from the original on 5 January 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  7. http://en.c4defence.com/Archive/national-sniper-from-mkek-knt76/7008/1
  8. "7.62 mm MPT-76 National Infantry Rifle". NAVDEX. Archived from the original on 25 February 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  9. "MKEK MPT-76 - Modern Firearms". Modern Firearms. 15 July 2014. Archived from the original on 20 July 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  10. "Turkey defense spending arms procurement". Al-Monitor. Archived from the original on 19 July 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  11. "The Turkish HK416: Mehmetçik-1 - The Firearm Blog". The Firearm Blog. 7 November 2008. Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  12. "Milli Piyade Tüfeği'nin ilk prototipleri hazır". TRT Türk (in Turkish). Archived from the original on 18 May 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  13. Nicholas de Larrinaga (18 June 2014). "Eurosatory 2014: MKEK delivers first MPT-76 rifles to Turkey". Jane's 360. Archived from the original on 11 February 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  14. "News.Az - Turkey to display MPT-76 infantry rifle at Baku defense exhibition in September". www.news.az. Archived from the original on 25 February 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  15. "ADEX-2014: MKE şirkəti MPT-76 piyada tüfəngini Bakıda sərgiləyəcək". Azeridefence (in Azerbaijani). 5 September 2014. Archived from the original on 25 February 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
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  21. "Turkey to begin serial production of MPT-76 rifles | IHS Jane's 360". www.janes.com. Archived from the original on 22 June 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  22. "Turkey orders more MPT-76 service rifles | IHS Jane's 360". www.janes.com. Archived from the original on 30 May 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
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  28. http://www.military-today.com/firearms/mpt_76.htm
  29. "IDEF 2017- MKEK Introduces 5.56x45mm MPT-55 Rifle". TheFireArmBlog.com. 22 May 2017. Archived from the original on 24 May 2017.
  30. http://en.c4defence.com/Archive/national-sniper-from-mkek-knt76/7008/1
  31. https://www.defenceturk.net/kaan-717-karabina-tipi-piyade-tufegi
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  34. "Somalia, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to Receive MPT76s". TheFireArmBlog.com. 3 November 2017. Archived from the original on 30 July 2018.
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  38. raillynews.com https://raillynews.com/2020/04/turkey-arnavutluka-mpTrim-had-76-and-55-grants-mpTrim/. Retrieved 7 June 2020. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  39. "Official army site".
  40. "https://www.savunmasanayi.org/turkiye-arnavutluka-30-adet-mpt-76-ve-mpt-55-hafif-piyade-tufegi-hibe-etti/". Savunma Sanayi (in Turkish). 26 April 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2020. External link in |title= (help)
  41. "Türkiye'den Pakistan'a milyar dolarlık rekor satış geliyor!" (in Turkish). Archived from the original on 29 October 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  42. "MPT-55 için ihracat hazırlığı". Ensonhaber (in Turkish). Retrieved 8 June 2020.
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