MMT machine gun (Turkey)

The MMT machine gun was first introduced by the Turkish state-owned company MKE in 2021. According to the company, this machine gun is intended to replace obsolete MG-3 machine guns of German origin, which were manufactured in Turkey under German license. MMT stands for Modern Makineli Tüfek – modern machine gun in Turkish.

 

MMT machine gun

MMT machine gun

 

It must be noted that Turkish military uses many types of machine guns besides aforementioned MG-3, including American M60E3, Belgian FN MAG (which is also manufactured by MKE as PMT-76) and Russian Kalashnikov PKM variants, procured from East Germany and Bulgaria. Apparently, the light weight and high reliability of the Russian gun so impressed Turkish military, that MKE ventured to produce a domestic version of this design, adapted to 7.62x51mm NATO ammunition.

The MMT machine gun is a gas operated, belt fed weapon which fires from an open bolt position and in full automatic mode only. It features long a stroke gas piston system and a rotary bolt locking, copied from the Kalashnikov PKM machine gun. The belt feed, which uses steel, non-disintegrating closed loops belts, is also copied from Russian design, including its two-stage “pull, then push” cartridge feed from belt to barrel. Similar feed system is also used for rimless 7.62x51mm cartridge in some Bulgarian and Chinese clones of PKM. Receiver is produced from stamped steel. Fluted barrel is easily and quickly removable, and its gas block is equipped with a manual gas regulator.

Gun is equipped with a lightweight folding bipod, plastic pistol grip and a non-folding, retractable shoulder stock. It is provided with iron sights, and has a Picatinny rail for mounting optics pinned to the top cover of the belt feed system.

It can be fed using steel non-disintegrating belts in capacities of 50, 100 and 200 rounds, which can be supplied from stand-alone boxes or containers that could be clipped under the gun for better maneuverability. It also can be mounted on a lightweight tripod or fitted to various vehicle mounts and remotely controlled turrets.

MMT machine gun, basic specifications

  • Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO
  • Barrel length: 604 mm
  • Overall length: 1120-1200 mm
  • Weight, empty: 8 kg
  • Rate of fire: 750 rounds per minute