| MKE MPT | |
|---|---|
 MKE 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) Carbine(KAAN-717) |
| Place of origin | Turkey |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2014–present[1] |
| Used by | SeeUsers |
| Wars | |
| Production history | |
| Designer | MKE |
| Designed | 2009[2] |
| Manufacturer | |
| Produced | 2014-present[1] |
| No. built | 66,000 (MPT-76 and MPT-55, as of 2019)[4] |
| Variants | SeeVariants |
| Specifications | |
| Mass |
|
| Length |
|
| Barrel length |
|
| Cartridge |
|
| Action | Gas-operated short-stroke piston,rotating bolt |
| Rate of fire | |
| Muzzle velocity |
|
| Effective firing range | |
| Feed system | 20 or 30-round detachablemagazine[2] |
| Sights | Iron sights or various optics |
TheMPT (Turkish:Millî Piyade Tüfeği,lit. 'National Infantry Rifle')[8][9] is a modular rifle family designed byMKE and produced by MKE,Sarsılmaz Arms andKalekalıp to meet the demands of theTurkish Armed Forces and to replace its aging rifles such as theHeckler & Koch G3 andHeckler & Koch HK33 due to most of them being near the end of their service life.[10]
After the first prototypes were built in 2008 as the Mehmetçik-1 in5.56×45mm NATO,[11][12] the rifle was negatively received.
Turkish soldiers testing it reported that they preferred the7.62×51mm NATO round which has far greaterstopping 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 theEurosatory 2014,[13] ADEX 2014[14][15] and MSPO 2014 events.[16]
The first batch of 200 MPT-76s were delivered on 18 May 2014 and received positive feedback.[13][17] The rifle was reported by Turkish soldiers to be extremely accurate and reliable, and outmatched the G3 in all categories.[18][19]
Serial production began in 2015.[20] The initial phase of the project will see[needs update] 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.[21] The second tranche, consisting of 15,014 rifles, was contracted with local company Kalekalip in December 2015.[21]
The first batch of rifles was ready for delivery to the Turkish military in January 2017.[citation needed] Approximately 25,000 MPT-76s had been built by December 2018, with an order for 350,000+ more in 2019.[22][needs update]
The MPT is anAR-15-style rifle with a gas piston system based on theHK417, and features aPicatinny rail system and mounting options for an under-barrel shotgun and grenade launcher.[23] It was designed to endure in prolonged combat and without maintenance, even under adverse environments, e.g., high altitude, extreme climates and weathers.[2][24]
The MPT-76 has some ergonomic deviations from what would be considered traditional AR-10 style rifles: the HK417[13][25] 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.[26]
The following variants are in production:[27]
The MPT-76-MH is a lightened version of the standard MPT-76. The weight of the rifle has been reduced by 750 g (1.65 lb). The MPT-76's unloaded (without magazine) weight is 4.2 kilograms (9.3 lb).[28]
In May 2017, MKEK introduced the MPT-55, chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO. 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 planned to obtain 20,000 of the smaller-caliber rifles to replace license-producedHK416s within special forces.[citation needed]
The KNT-76 (Turkish:Keskin Nişancı Tüfeği,lit. 'Sharp Shooter Rifle') is thedesignated 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 500 g (18 oz) more that the MPT-76. The effective range is 800 m (870 yd) due to the barrel being extended to 508 mm (20.0 in). Accuracy is 1.5 MOA (1.5 in (38 mm) at 100 yd (91 m)).[7]
The KAAN-717 is thecarbine 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.[29]
Albania: 30 MPT-76s and 30 MPT-55s[30][31][32]
Cameroon: MPT-76 adopted by theRapid Intervention Battalion.[33]
Georgia: Unknown number of KNT-76s and MPT-55s handed over to Georgian special operations forces in 2025[34]
Kosovo:Kosovo Security Force received PMT-76-57As to mount onSARP equipped armoured vehicles.[35]
Montenegro: 30 rifles donated by Turkey in 2021[36]
Peru:[37] MPT-76MH used by Peruvian Special Forces.[38]
Senegal[39]
Somalia: 450 rifles delivered, used byGorgor (Eagle)commandos[40]
Turkey: 66,000 MPT-76 and MPT-55s as of 2019[4]{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
Media related toMPT-76 at Wikimedia Commons