How the New Machine Gun Supports Russian Assault Troops

The Russian armed forces have obtained a new RPL-20 machine gun.

Author: Alexander Gulin, Angelina Burmistrova

The Russian Armed Forces have begun equipping a new type of machine gun—the RPL-20 weapons system. What are its differences from previous generations of equipment? Which tasks will Russian troops primarily address with it in the special operation areas?

Kalashnikov Group has officially announced that the first batch of mass-produced RPL-20 light machine guns (5.45 mm caliber, belt-fed) has been produced, and the weapon was completed in September last year. Test results show that General Manager Alain Lushnikov pointed out: "The RPL-20 has passed field tests in the special military operation area, and has performed excellently based on feedback from 'chains.' Our soldiers rate it highly."

The RPL-20 is the first modern Russian general-purpose machine gun to adopt the 5.45 mm caliber belt-fed system. Overall, it continues the tradition of Western-designed belt-fed light machine guns that originated a century ago, such as the famous German MG-34 and MG-42 machine guns. After World War II, the concept of general-purpose machine guns was embodied in American M60 and Belgian FN MAG machine guns.

Soviet firearms designers developed the PK machine gun and its improved version, PKM (lighter by 1.5 kilograms), in the 1960s. Its simple structure, convenient use, and high rate of fire quickly gained popularity in Soviet and post-Soviet Russian armies. In 1999, Kalashnikov Group's new machine gun, the 6P41 "Pecheneg," entered mass production.

Almost all general-purpose machine guns aim to create weapons that are lightweight (7-8 kilograms) but highly effective in combat. With relatively short barrels, these machine guns need to maintain ballistic performance to achieve high firepower density while avoiding ammunition wastage. Additionally, they must support the installation of various muzzle devices and sights (optical or collimator, depending on the scenario), as they need to suppress not only enemy forces but also strike point targets on the ground and in the air.

In the current special operations, drones are one of the main threats; thus, this machine gun is also used to counter such targets.

The RPL-20 generally meets the aforementioned standards. Its automatic principle is short recoil, using a long-stroke piston and the traditional rotary locking mechanism of Kalashnikov. This makes it easy to clean even after prolonged firing generates a lot of residue and unburned powder.

An important feature of a machine gun is its ability to provide sustained suppressive fire. The RPL-20 is equipped with 100 or 200-round belts, and despite its non-replaceable barrel, it can withstand 400 consecutive rounds of fire (though slightly inferior to the "Pecheneg," which can fire up to 600 rounds). The barrel length of 415 or 590 millimeters and the folding telescoping stock make the weapon portable. Like most modern machine guns, the "20 series" is equipped with a carry handle for quick relocation by the shooter.

To mount sighting devices, the machine gun features Picatinny rails, allowing the addition of optical sights or collimator sights (more suitable for urban street fighting). However, the grip feel of the Picatinny rail-equipped body is generally poor, affecting hip or shoulder shooting stability, which is somewhat compensated by the presence of a tactical grip.

However, the highly adjustable bipod of the machine gun extends forward of the body when folded, which is not an optimal design—it is more complex (and costlier), and there is less need for adjustment in actual combat situations, requiring extra time. A fixed bipod made by stamping technology, which can be folded and stored in a slot on the body, is actually easier to use.

When discussing the operational efficiency of the machine gun, the ease of disassembly and cleaning cannot be ignored. The RPL-20 excels in this regard: it is simple to operate and does not require the shooter to have specialized knowledge. Fewer parts and unique structural design (such as the hinge connection between the gas piston rod and bolt carrier, and the independent firing mechanism base) allow for quick incomplete disassembly and necessary cleaning, which is a significant advantage over its predecessors.

The RPL-20 is mainly used to provide fire support for assault troops who need compact lightweight weapons to shoot from unstable positions. In this regard, the "20 series" fully meets the requirements: its size, weight, firepower density, and shooting accuracy make it suitable for various actions in open terrain and limited spaces. This versatility surpasses many other machine guns, including domestic models.

The RPL-20, which has undergone practical testing, also possesses other key advantages of modern battlefields: although its rate of fire is lower than that of the PKM and "Pecheneg," it is lighter (5.5 kilograms, folding stock included), making it easier to carry and more concealable than the 7.5-kilogram PKM and 8-kilogram "Pecheneg," especially suitable for urban assault operations.

Another important advantage is the 5.45 mm caliber, which is consistent with Russia's main AK-12 assault rifle (the PKM and "Pecheneg" use 7.62 mm ammunition). Although the RPK-74 light machine gun also uses 5.45 mm ammunition, it is only equipped with a 45-round magazine, and belt loading via a dedicated device is much simpler than "loading magazines." On the battlefield, saved loading time may become crucial for a soldier's survival.

However, the final reputation of the new machine gun still requires large-scale practical testing. The Ukrainian special operation once again proves that it has become the main testing ground for modern Russian weapons.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7510180353047429673/

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