Kalaşnikov sends “on all sectors of the front” in Ukraine the new machine gun RPL-7, designed “in record time”, for the assault units of the Russian army
A Russian soldier armed with a new version of Kalașnikov's assault rifle trains for battle in an undisclosed location in Ukraine, on June 10, 2025. Photo: Russian Defense Ministry Press Service / AP / Profimedia
Kalaşnikov, the largest manufacturer of light weapons in Russia, announced on Thursday that he will start testing his new RPL-7 machine guns under real fighting on the Ukraine front, after developing this weapon in record time at the request of the Russian army, writes the Spanish press agency EFE.
“Kalaşnikov sends for his new light machine gun RPL-7, the 7.62 mm caliber and provided with a ammunition belt. The company designed this weapon in record time and adapted it on the basis of the client,” said a message published on Telegram, Kalaşnikov, according to Agerpres.
The manufacturer mentions that it has formed a team of specialists who will deal with monitoring the operation and maintenance of Russian military weapons and equipment on the “front sectors” in Ukraine.
“The activity of this team will allow us to react quickly to the particularities observed in the use of Kalaşnikov products under real fighting conditions,” says the company.
The new machine-gun RPL-7 “was created for Russian assault units based on the RPL-20 machine gun, taking into account the current trends and keeping its operational and combat characteristics, which were highly appreciated by the army.”
The main distinct features of the new machine guns are its compact design, low weight, high capacity charger, a rail that allows the installation of a wide range of modern eye accessories, which allows the attachment of a shock absorber and the foldable telescopic bed, details Kalaşnikov.
The manufacturer emphasizes that the 7.62 mm caliber ammunition is very popular abroad, which considerably increases its export potential. Its charger contains 80 cartridges arranged on the belt, and pulling up to 400 cartridges in a short period of time does not cause a critical heat of the pipe, as opposed to other weapons in the same category.
In March last year, Kalaşnikov announced the beginning of the series production of the RPL-20 machine gun, which was perfected based on the experience of the Ukraine war.
This company does not only produce the emblematic AK-47, the first and most soldist-granted gun made by Kalaşnikov, adopted by 55 countries, but also a diverse range of light weapons, recognition drones, as well as anti-aircraft missiles.
The consortium Kalaşnikov is subject to sanctions imposed by the European Union, the US, the United Kingdom and other countries following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
