Lately, the Russian Defense Ministry was looking for a new weapon to replace the successful RPK-74 light machine gun. The needs included a light machine gun with a high fire rate. To cover these needs, Kalashnikov Concern developed the new RPL-20. The gun is a new design and not a version of another Kalashnikov weapon. In action, it's the first Russian light machine gun with a belt type of magazine since the '60s, after the retirement of RPD. An operational RPL-20 was seen in 2020, but at that time the gun was still under development. The development didn't aim to be finished before 2022 or 2023.
In terms of design, the light machine gun is similar to the general-purpose PK, or the Pecheneg. However, it shoots the 5.45x39 ammunition. It may look bulky, but RPL-20 weights as the RPK-74.
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The machine gun features a design with detachable barrels. The barrel can be removed fast and be replaced. The different barrel sizes are a nice feature that has proved effective. For example, special forces tend to select guns with smaller barrels.
The fire modes are "safe" and "full-auto".
The gun receives a 100-round belt magazine. In contrary with other light machine guns, RPL-20 can't use magazines from assault rifles.
There is a full type-Picatinny rail on the top of the gun that lets it take a variety of different sights. But, iron sights are also available.
The gun comes with a bipod that can be folded and adjusted, just like the buttstock of the gun.
