There will be a new machine gun
Not long ago, representatives of Kalashnikov Concern JSC showed several samples of promising weapons systems. Some of them are aimed at foreign markets, as they are designed for NATO standard ammunition. But one sample is especially interesting to us, and it is intended, no less, to help solve a rather pressing issue that has arisen acutely for our armed forces in recent years.
Journalists were shown the RPL-20 “in action”, in this case when firing from the hands, apparently emphasizing its “assault” orientation.
We are talking about the RPL-20 machine gun. We have already written about it in the material “Unborn domestic “saw””. And on August 11, an updated model of a machine gun was presented to the public.
The project not only did not die, but also developed. The machine gun apparently passed a cycle of military tests, as previously stated by representatives of Kalashnikov Concern JSC, and based on their results it was modified.
Infographics with the main characteristics of the machine gun. The weight figures look impressive.
The receiver has become “more compact”, the machine gun has clearly lost its dimensions and began to look neater. Mechanical sighting devices have also changed. A very noticeable visual difference was the new cocking handle, large and grippy. On the ergonomics of handling weapons They clearly put an emphasis on it, which is nice.
At the presentation of the product, the chief designer of Kalashnikov Concern JSC Sergei Urzhumtsev said that the RPL-20 machine gun is being developed as a fire support weapon for assault units and should complement weapons such as the Kalashnikov machine gun. Apparently, the emphasis on assault operations explains the fact that the standard equipment on the current version of the machine gun will include a front handle for hand-held shooting.
Changed mechanical sights and a new cocking handle became one of the most noticeable visual differences between the new version of the PRL-20 and the old one.
The rest of the machine gun, in general, remained the same. There is also no provision for quick barrel changes. It is stated that the machine gun will be able to fire up to 400 shots at a high rate before the need to cool the barrel. For comparison, the RPK-74M has 180 rounds. Considering that, unlike the RPK-74, the RPL-20 is a full-fledged machine gun and fires from the rear sear, this sounds more than plausible. The barrel can be changed, there are even two options - 590 and 415 millimeters long. But this will have to be done with a tool, a drift and slowly.
Unlike the legendary Kalashnikov machine gun, the gas engine in the RPL-20 is located above the barrel. According to representatives of the concern, this was done intentionally to ensure the greatest rigidity of the receiver, because it is initially intended to be used for installing various sights.
The developer’s representative’s emphasis on the “assault” nature of the weapon is a little alarming. Is it possible that the RPL-20 will not become a full-fledged replacement for the RPK-74 and a new fire support weapon for the squad, but will become a piece of equipment in the arsenal of individual units?
Folding and adjustable for the wedge and the reach of the “cheek” butt of the machine gun. “Operators” of old PCs/PCMs/Pechenegs can only dream of this or rely on commercial tuning kits. By the way, this detail migrated from the first version of the RPL-20 to the new one without changes. Here, apparently, the designers immediately hit the bull’s eye.
But this, unfortunately, will only become clear with time.
Almost the main one news The presentation was that not only an improved model of the RPL-20 had appeared, but a batch of these machine guns was ready for transfer to the troops.
This is great news. However, let’s not forget that it was military tests in real combat conditions in Syria that put an end to the concern’s previous similar project, the RPK-16. But let's hope for the best.
Visually about two trunks of different lengths. Here you can also see two versions of the bipod and soft boxes for the machine gun belt in two different sizes. Apparently, there will be nothing revolutionary in the tape itself; it will also consist of sections of 25 links.
The RPL-20 may not only be the answer to the aspirations of our infantry on the battlefield and finally give our soldiers a full-fledged modern analogue of the American SAW machine gun, but it will also finally become a full-fledged machine gun for infantry units, which is not produced at JSC Plant named after. V. A. Degtyareva." We have already written about the ordeals of this enterprise and the fact that it is now the only manufacturer of almost all machine guns for our armed forces. The appearance of a new machine gun at the level of the infantry squad, and most importantly, a new production site will certainly make it possible to overcome the not yet strong, but still impending machine gun famine in our troops. And it is very pleasant that we see real progress in this direction.
Close-up of the tape and an early version of the soft box. Representatives of Kalashnikov Concern JSC do not hide the fact that the tape is made on the basis of the tape of the Kovrov machine gun “Kord-5.45”, which was developed by order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. At the same time, it is stated that if the customer requires, the tape can also be made loose.
Journalists were shown the RPL-20 “in action”, in this case when firing from the hands, apparently emphasizing its “assault” orientation.
We are talking about the RPL-20 machine gun. We have already written about it in the material “Unborn domestic “saw””. And on August 11, an updated model of a machine gun was presented to the public.
The project not only did not die, but also developed. The machine gun apparently passed a cycle of military tests, as previously stated by representatives of Kalashnikov Concern JSC, and based on their results it was modified.
Infographics with the main characteristics of the machine gun. The weight figures look impressive.
The receiver has become “more compact”, the machine gun has clearly lost its dimensions and began to look neater. Mechanical sighting devices have also changed. A very noticeable visual difference was the new cocking handle, large and grippy. On the ergonomics of handling weapons They clearly put an emphasis on it, which is nice.
At the presentation of the product, the chief designer of Kalashnikov Concern JSC Sergei Urzhumtsev said that the RPL-20 machine gun is being developed as a fire support weapon for assault units and should complement weapons such as the Kalashnikov machine gun. Apparently, the emphasis on assault operations explains the fact that the standard equipment on the current version of the machine gun will include a front handle for hand-held shooting.
Changed mechanical sights and a new cocking handle became one of the most noticeable visual differences between the new version of the PRL-20 and the old one.
The rest of the machine gun, in general, remained the same. There is also no provision for quick barrel changes. It is stated that the machine gun will be able to fire up to 400 shots at a high rate before the need to cool the barrel. For comparison, the RPK-74M has 180 rounds. Considering that, unlike the RPK-74, the RPL-20 is a full-fledged machine gun and fires from the rear sear, this sounds more than plausible. The barrel can be changed, there are even two options - 590 and 415 millimeters long. But this will have to be done with a tool, a drift and slowly.
Unlike the legendary Kalashnikov machine gun, the gas engine in the RPL-20 is located above the barrel. According to representatives of the concern, this was done intentionally to ensure the greatest rigidity of the receiver, because it is initially intended to be used for installing various sights.
The developer’s representative’s emphasis on the “assault” nature of the weapon is a little alarming. Is it possible that the RPL-20 will not become a full-fledged replacement for the RPK-74 and a new fire support weapon for the squad, but will become a piece of equipment in the arsenal of individual units?
Folding and adjustable for the wedge and the reach of the “cheek” butt of the machine gun. “Operators” of old PCs/PCMs/Pechenegs can only dream of this or rely on commercial tuning kits. By the way, this detail migrated from the first version of the RPL-20 to the new one without changes. Here, apparently, the designers immediately hit the bull’s eye.
But this, unfortunately, will only become clear with time.
Almost the main one news The presentation was that not only an improved model of the RPL-20 had appeared, but a batch of these machine guns was ready for transfer to the troops.
This is great news. However, let’s not forget that it was military tests in real combat conditions in Syria that put an end to the concern’s previous similar project, the RPK-16. But let's hope for the best.
Visually about two trunks of different lengths. Here you can also see two versions of the bipod and soft boxes for the machine gun belt in two different sizes. Apparently, there will be nothing revolutionary in the tape itself; it will also consist of sections of 25 links.
The RPL-20 may not only be the answer to the aspirations of our infantry on the battlefield and finally give our soldiers a full-fledged modern analogue of the American SAW machine gun, but it will also finally become a full-fledged machine gun for infantry units, which is not produced at JSC Plant named after. V. A. Degtyareva." We have already written about the ordeals of this enterprise and the fact that it is now the only manufacturer of almost all machine guns for our armed forces. The appearance of a new machine gun at the level of the infantry squad, and most importantly, a new production site will certainly make it possible to overcome the not yet strong, but still impending machine gun famine in our troops. And it is very pleasant that we see real progress in this direction.
Close-up of the tape and an early version of the soft box. Representatives of Kalashnikov Concern JSC do not hide the fact that the tape is made on the basis of the tape of the Kovrov machine gun “Kord-5.45”, which was developed by order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. At the same time, it is stated that if the customer requires, the tape can also be made loose.
Information