MKE MPT


The MPT is a modular rifle family designed by MKE and produced by MKE, 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.

History

After the first prototypes were built in 2008 as the Mehmetçik-1 in 5.56×45mm NATO, 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 MPT made its first public appearance at the Eurosatory 2014, ADEX 2014 and MSPO 2014 events.
The first batch of 200 MPT-76s were delivered on 18 May 2014 and received positive feedback. The rifle was reported by Turkish soldiers to be extremely accurate and reliable, and outmatched the G3 in all categories.
Serial production began in 2015. 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 in June 2015. The second tranche, consisting of 15,014 rifles, was contracted with local company Kalekalip in December 2015.
The first batch of rifles was ready for delivery to the Turkish military in January 2017. Approximately 25,000 MPT-76s had been built by December 2018, with an order for 350,000+ more in 2019.

Design

The MPT is an AR-15-style rifle with a gas piston system based on the HK417, and features a Picatinny rail system and mounting options for an under-barrel shotgun and grenade launcher. It was designed to endure in prolonged combat and without maintenance, even under adverse environments, e.g., high altitude, extreme climates and weathers.
The MPT-76 has some ergonomic deviations from what would be considered traditional AR-10 style rifles: the HK417 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.

Variants

The following variants are in production:
  • 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. The MPT-76's unloaded weight is.

MPT-55

In May 2017, MKEK introduced the MPT-55, chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO. The standard version is with a barrel, and the shorter MPT-55K is with an barrel. Turkey planned to obtain 20,000 of the smaller-caliber rifles to replace license-produced HK416s within special forces.

KNT-76

The KNT-76 is the designated marksman rifle version. It is produced in Kırıkkale Arms Factory like the MPT-76. It fires semi-automatically using the same "Gas Operated Rotary Bolt Action" mechanism as the MPT-76. Trigger sensitivity in the KNT-76 is reduced by five Newtons. The KNT-76 weighs more that the MPT-76. The effective range is due to the barrel being extended to. Accuracy is 1.5 MOA.

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.

Users