196:
211:. Alternative designs experimented with a dual-feed option (i.e., capable of both magazine- and belt-feed), considered to be an improvement over the RPK-74. The choice to keep it belt-fed only was made to lighten the weapon and make it less complex than a dual-feed model, allowing the troops in the field to top off spent belts as a trade-off for not accepting standard-issue assault rifle magazines.
283:
solicited designs for a similar weapon beginning in 2011, for use by counter-terror teams, though it did not follow through with any actual orders. There have, however, been competitions to replace the RPK-74, leading to the selection of the RPK-16 for field trials. Based on feedback from these field
255:
light machine gun. The weapon was trialed, but rejected as being more complex and heavier than the new RPK-74, while still not providing squads with the boost in firepower a PK machine gun could provide. Meanwhile, a modernized development of the PK, the PKM, had been introduced. The PKM was lighter
214:
Aside from this, little is known about the RPL-20. The weapon is still in development, which
Kalashnikov Concern predicts will take another 2–3 years. Despite the weapon's developmental nature, Kalashnikov Concern has provided video of the weapon being handled and fired, demonstrating that they have
235:
would be issued at the company level to provide heavier fire. While the RPK was a simpler, lighter, easier to use weapon than the RPD it replaced, it did not always perform as well as had been hoped. The weapon's magazine feed system, light weight, and fixed barrel made it excellent for one-man
203:
Kalashnikov
Concern has stated that the RPL-20 is a new design, rather than being a derivative of the ubiquitous Kalashnikov-pattern rifle series. It is a belt-fed, open bolt, fully automatic light machine gun with a rotating bolt and a long-stroke gas piston.
284:
trials, Kalashnikov
Concern independently began development of the RPL-20. With an empty weight of 5.2-5.5 kg, the RPL-20 rivals the weight of an RPK-74 while providing belt-fed, open-bolt operation and quick-change barrels to enhance sustained fire.
178:
light machine gun, the RPL-20 is an entirely new design, utilizing an open-bolt, belt-fed action in lieu of the closed-bolt, magazine fed operation typical to
Kalashnikov-pattern weapons. It is anticipated to serve as a
256:
than its predecessor, at 7.5 kg, making it even easier to issue the weapon to squad machine gunners as necessary. In the US, there was a significant gap between the weight and firepower of the 2.89 kg
287:
As of
January 2024, Kalashnikov Concern completed preliminary tests of the RPL-20 machine gun, and Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation plans to conduct State trials of the machine gun in 2024.
187:
currently used for suppressive fire while still providing a higher practical rate of fire than is possible with RPK-based weapons. The RPL-20 was unveiled at the Army-2020 event in late August, 2020.
236:
operation, but also hampered its ability to provide continuous suppressive fire. As such, some squad machine gunners were equipped with PK machine guns as needed.
661:
247:
cartridge for its rifles and light machine guns, it considered adopting a dual-feed light machine gun in the new caliber to replace the RPK, similar to the
223:
Russian (at the time Soviet) military forces have not fielded a squad-level, intermediate caliber, belt-fed machine gun since the retirement of the
594:
276:
general-purpose machine gun that weighed little more than the 4.8 kg RPK, the
Soviets had little desire for the PU-21 or similar weapons.
280:
279:
Since the rejection of the PU-21, the
Russian military has not indicated any desire for a belt-fed, intermediate caliber machine gun. The
227:
in the early 1960s. Official Soviet doctrine from the 1960s onward dictated that squad-level suppressive fire would be provided by the
656:
174:
for the
Russian Military. Though designed in response to feedback following the purchase and testing of the company's magazine-fed
651:
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416:
107:
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119:
32:
619:
265:
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224:
208:
273:
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184:
195:
640:
244:
240:
128:
347:
268:. This sizable gap is what drove adoption of the intermediate caliber, 7.1 kg
139:
112:
251:
then being introduced in
Western armies. This resulted in the development of the
398:
91:
533:. Foreign Military Studies Office, United States Department of Defence. 2016.
456:"Отечественные пулеметы с унифицированной подачей (Тема "Поплин") | LiveGuns"
327:
307:
248:
132:
322:
317:
312:
42:
194:
595:"Kalashnikov Concern Reveals The RPL-20 Belt-Fed 5.45x39mm LMG -"
399:"RPL-20: prototype of a new belt-fed 5.45x39mm light machine gun"
302:
252:
207:
The RPL-20 uses a non-disintegrating linked belt similar to the
620:"Вопрос закрыт. Пулемёт РПК-16 | Оружейный журнал «КАЛАШНИКОВ»"
459:
257:
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in
Russian military use, supplementing the heavier-caliber
442:
The Soviet Army: Troops, Organization, and Equipment
148:
138:
118:
106:
90:
82:
74:
69:
61:
53:
48:
38:
28:
21:
215:at least completed a fully-functioning prototype.
170:) is a prototype light machine gun developed by
570:"Kalashnikov RPK-16 light machine gun (Russia)"
199:RPL-20 light machine gun during Army-2022 Forum
444:. United States Department of the Army. 1991.
8:
18:
339:
86:1,085–1,145 mm (42.7–45.1 in)
239:As the Soviet military moved from the
7:
162:(Russian: Ручной Пулемёт Ленточный,
14:
65:August 2020 (prototype unveiled)
662:Post–Cold War weapons of Russia
78:5.2–5.5 kg (11–12 lb)
1:
545:"Kord-5.45 Light Machine Gun"
458:. 2010-12-06. Archived from
260:and either the 10.5 kg
678:
373:"RPL-20 Light Machine Gun"
348:"RPL-20 Light machine gun"
164:Ruchnoy Pulemot Lentochnyy
97:590 mm (23.2 in)
101:
39:Place of origin
622:(in Russian). 2024-01-19
298:PKP Pecheneg machine gun
152:Non-disintegrating belt
657:5.45×39mm machine guns
652:Machine guns of Russia
531:The Russian Way of War
200:
181:squad automatic weapon
140:Rate of fire
272:. With a 7.5 kg
198:
168:Belt-fed Machine Gun
397:Kalashnikov Group.
172:Kalashnikov Concern
57:Kalashnikov Concern
647:Light machine guns
201:
49:Production history
506:"Kalashnikov RPK"
485:Forgotten Weapons
156:
155:
33:Light machine gun
16:Light machine gun
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599:The Firearm Blog
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264:or 12.5 kg
149:Feed system
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510:Modern Firearms
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421:Modern Firearms
417:"Degtyarov RPD"
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377:Modern Firearms
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233:PK machine guns
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185:PK machine guns
144:~600 rounds/min
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5:
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191:Design details
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70:Specifications
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546:
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486:
482:
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462:on 2010-12-06
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243:round to the
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129:rotating bolt
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20:
624:. Retrieved
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603:. Retrieved
601:. 2020-08-27
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589:
578:. Retrieved
576:. 2016-09-01
573:
564:
553:. Retrieved
551:. 2020-08-27
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539:
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514:. Retrieved
512:. 2010-10-27
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500:
489:. Retrieved
487:. 2012-12-14
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464:. Retrieved
460:the original
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425:. Retrieved
423:. 2010-10-27
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381:. Retrieved
379:. 2020-08-27
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356:. Retrieved
354:. 2023-08-29
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125:Gas operated
94: length
166:; English:
641:Categories
626:2024-01-19
605:2021-02-11
580:2021-02-11
555:2021-02-11
516:2021-02-11
491:2021-02-11
481:"PK / PKM"
466:2021-02-11
427:2021-02-11
383:2021-02-11
358:2023-08-29
334:References
245:5.45×39 mm
241:7.62×39 mm
328:FN EVOLYS
308:IWI Negev
249:FN Minimi
133:open bolt
113:5.45×39mm
108:Cartridge
292:See also
231:, while
62:Produced
54:Designer
403:YouTube
323:QJY-201
318:QJS-161
219:History
23:RPL-20
313:QJY-88
176:RPK-16
160:RPL-20
120:Action
92:Barrel
83:Length
43:Russia
253:PU-21
303:IP-2
270:M249
266:M240
158:The
75:Mass
29:Type
281:MVD
274:PKM
262:M60
258:M16
229:RPK
225:RPD
209:RPD
643::
597:.
572:.
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483:.
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375:.
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131:,
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629:.
608:.
583:.
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386:.
361:.
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