Tests of prototypes of the new RPL-20 light machine gun have begun in Russia. The weapon will have to confirm the characteristics determined by the technical task. This was stated by the chief designer of JSC "Concern "Kalashnikov" Sergey Urzhumtsev in an interview with RIA Novosti .
"Currently, we have reached the stage of testing prototypes, which are carried out in order to confirm their compliance with the requirements of the tactical and technical task," the chief designer noted.
The RPL-20 is based on military reviews collected during field tests of the RPK-16 machine gun, which was considered as a replacement for the Soviet RPK-74. Kalashnikov is developing a new machine gun on an initiative basis. The first prototype of a belt-powered light machine gun was shown at the Army-2020 forum.
It is known that the RPL-20 is being developed for a 5.45 by 39 mm caliber cartridge. The remaining characteristics of the machine gun have not yet been disclosed.
The RPK-16 machine gun, which became the starting point in the development of the RPL-20, uses cartridges of the same caliber of 5.45 by 39 millimeters. The weapon provides a rate of fire at the level of 700 rounds per minute. The machine gun weighing 4.5 kilograms received replaceable barrels and a telescopic butt. The main difference between the RPK-16 and the promising RPL-20 is the store-bought food.
Earlier, Sergey Urzhumtsev spoke about the beginning of the development of a new shooting complex using neural networks. A promising system will help the shooter to identify targets and carry out aiming.
Daniil Irinin
