MKE MPT

MKE MPT
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)
Place of origin	Turkey
Service history
In service	2014–present[1]
Used by	See Users
Wars	Kurdish–Turkish conflict (2015–present); Operation Peace Spring; Operation Euphrates Shield
Production history
Designer	MKEK
Designed	2009[2]
Manufacturer	MKEK; Sarsılmaz Arms[3]; Kalekalıp;
Produced	2014-present[1]
No. built	66,000 (MPT-76 and MPT-55)[4]
Variants	See 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	7.62×51mm NATO (MPT-76 and KNT-76); 5.56×45mm NATO (MPT-55 and MPT-55k);
Action	Gas-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 system	20 or 30-round detachable magazine[2]
Sights	Iron sights or various optics

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]

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-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.[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]

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

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, lit. "Sharp Shooter 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 the Special Forces, it uses a short-stroke action. KAAN-717 also comes with a different stock with cheek rest.[31]

Users

Azerbaijan: Requested to take part in the project as a fellow Turkic nation. Ordered an unknown number of rifles with an eventual intent of full adoption for service.[32][33]
Northern Cyprus: Around 2,500 MPT-76s delivered.[34]
Somalia: A total of 450 rifles were delivered to Somalia, which is dealing with an insurgency.[35]
Turkey: 66,000 MPT-76 and MPT-55s as of 2020[36]
Albania: 30 MPT-76s and 30 MPT-55s[37][38][39][40]

Potential users

Chile: Expressed interest in fully adopting the rifle for military service.[33]
Pakistan[41]
Afghanistan[42]

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