Decades late, the Russian version of the Minimi light machine gun appeared! I don’t know when and how long to equip the Russian army

When the Minimi light machine gun developed by the Belgian FN company became the NATO standard light machine gun, the Russian army was equipped with the RPK-74 light machine gun developed on the basis of the AK-74. Compared with the use of bullet chains for ammunition The RPK-74 light machine gun, which can only use magazines for ammunition, is called an automatic rifle by the US military. In fact, in the Russian infantry squad, the RPK-74 is not equipped with much, and it is difficult to bear. The role of a light machine gun is more often used as an assault rifle equipped with a larger capacity magazine.

Although the PK/PKM machine guns that fired 7.62X54mm bullets were distributed to platoon units, the Russian infantry squad often let the PK machine gun play the role of the squad machine gun. For the strong Russian soldiers, the empty gun is all heavy. The PKM machine gun of only 7.5 kg is not too burdensome, and it can even be fired from a standing position. Compared with the Minimi machine gun that fires 5.56X45 mm, the PKM fires stronger ammunition, its range and power are greater, and it is in actual combat. It proves that the greater range and power of the machine gun is beneficial: the American and British troops fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan will also put the FN MAG machine gun into the infantry squad. The FN-MAG is much heavier than the Russian PKM.

At the "Army-2020" International Technical Forum, Kalashnikov unveiled a new machine gun named RPL-20, which fires 5.45X45mm small-caliber rifle, the same as the AAK-74 assault rifle. Obviously , This is the Russian version of the Minimi light machine gun that has been late for decades. However, compared with the Minimi, which is compatible with the use of ammunition chains and magazines, the RPL-20 can only use ammunition chains, presumably 100 rounds or 50 rounds. The non-dispersible bullet chain is issued, and the reason why the magazine cannot be used is to reduce the weight and complexity to the greatest extent.

According to reports, the Russian army is not satisfied with the RPK-16 light machine gun developed by Kalashnikov based on the AK-12. The relationship between AK-12 and RPK-16 is similar to that of AK-74 and RPK-74. Although it has a higher degree of generalization with the AK-12 and is lighter in weight, it is difficult to meet the needs of the Russian army in continuous shooting ability and range. The Russian army that emphasizes fire suppression needs a bullet chain. In contrast, the US Marine Corps, which emphasizes precision shooting, replaced all Minimi light machine guns with M-27 (HK-416).

Judging from the current information, the new RPL-20 light machine gun is still being perfected and is in the prototype stage. It has not yet been officially approved by the Russian Ministry of Defense. It is reported that even if the RPL-20 light machine gun can be equipped with the Russian army in batches, It will also serve in the Russian infantry squad with PKM or "Pechenegg" medium-caliber machine guns, rather than replacing the latter. After all, the roles of the two are not the same, only partially overlapping, and probably only partially The army will be equipped with RPL-20 light machine guns. As for when the replacement will be completed, it is difficult to estimate. After all, even the AK-12 rifle can be replaced at a slower speed, let alone this kind of RPL-20 light machine gun that only has a prototype gun.了: In the case of limited military spending, compared to nuclear submarines and fighter jets, infantry light weapons are very low on the Russian military's procurement list.