Kord machine gun
| Kord 6P50 | |
|---|---|
 Kord machine gun with a scope and 12.7x108mm rounds on belt displayed at the Interpolitex-2011 | |
| Type | Heavy machine gun |
| Place of origin | Russia |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1998–present |
| Used by | Russian Army and Police (MVD) |
| Wars | |
| Production history | |
| Designer | A.A. Namitulin, N.M. Obidin, Ju.M. Bogdanov and V.I. Zhirokhin[1] |
| Designed | 1990s |
| Manufacturer | V.A. Degtyarev Plant |
| Produced | 1998–present |
| Variants | 6P50-1, 6P50-2, 6P50-3, 6P49 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 25.5 kg (56.22 lb) (6P50) 32 kg (71 lb) (6P50-1) 60 kg (130 lb) (6P50-2), 80 kg (180 lb) (6P50-3), 27 kg (60 lb) (6P49) |
| Length | 1,980 mm (78.0 in) (6P50-1, 6P50-2, 6P50-3) 1,625 mm (64.0 in) (6P49) |
| Barrel length | 1,070 mm (42.1 in) |
| Cartridge | 12.7×108mm 12.7×99mm NATO (export)[2] |
| Action | Gas-operated, rotating bolt |
| Rate of fire | 600–650 rounds/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 860 m/s (2,821.5 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 2000 m |
| Feed system | 50-round linked belt |
| Sights | Iron sights |
The Kord-12.7 mm heavy machine gun is a Russian design that entered service in 1998[3] replacing the older NSV machine gun. Externally the weapon resembles the NSV; however, the internal mechanism has been extensively reworked, changing from a horizontally pivoting breech block to a rotating bolt design.[3] Additionally the gas system has been changed and the muzzle baffle redesigned. These changes give the weapon reduced recoil compared with the NSV, allowing greater accuracy during sustained fire.
Development
[edit | edit source]The catalyst for the development of the weapon was a complete lack of any heavy machine guns in construction at that time in the Russian Federation. Prior to the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the weapon that had functioned as the heavy machine gun was the NSV, or "Utyos" ("утёс", meaning one lonely cliff in Russian, this name was its designation during development)[4] machine gun. The main production centre for the NSV was located in what is now Kazakhstan.[3]
The Russian Degtyarev bureau was given the job of producing an updated version of the weapon chambered in the 12.7×108mm cartridge, which could be used for support, mounted on vehicles or in an anti-aircraft capacity. All variants of the weapon are also available chambered in the .50 BMG (12.7×99mm NATO) cartridge for export sales.[2]
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The weapon employs new construction, and consequently is significantly lighter than its predecessor. The firing mechanism is very rugged, and is capable of a greater rate of fire and significantly less recoil. Because a new barrel made of a high-tech alloy minimizes distortion and drop, accuracy has increased tremendously over previous Soviet machine guns. Unlike its predecessor, it may be fired from a bipod; a rather unusual feature for 12.7 mm/.50 caliber heavy machine guns. Its relatively light weight and lesser recoil allows stronger soldiers to move the gun around without assistance.[5]
Variants
[edit | edit source]- 6P49: Baseline variant for vehicle mounting.[3]
- 6P50: Basic infantry version.[3]
- 6P50-1 (6P57): 6T19 Bipod-mounted infantry version. Bipod provides ±15° range of traverse.[3]
- 6P50-2 (6P58): Infantry variant.[3]
- 6P50-3 (6P59): Mounted on boats, sea-going ships, and stationary objects on a 6U16 multipurpose mount. Casing ejection is to the right side.[3]
- 6P51: Co-axial version with left-hand feed system and forward casing ejection.[3]
Remote weapon stations
[edit | edit source]- 6C21 is a Russian remote weapon station using Kord machine gun or PKMT machine gun.[6]
Combat history
[edit | edit source]The Kord first saw use with Russian forces in 2001 during the Second Chechen War, serving as a "light heavy machine gun" for clearing rooftops;[7] and in 2008 during the Russo-Georgian War.[8]
During the Syrian Civil War, the Kord was mounted on remote-controlled modules on Tigr infantry mobility vehicles for counter-insurgency operations. Syrian opposition fighters obtained Kord machine guns after capturing Assad regime MT-LBs or Tigr-M vehicles.[9]
Faced with personnel shortages during Russo-Ukrainian War, the Russian Army created assault companies equipped with a handful of armoured vehicles, automatic grenade launchers, Kord machine guns, anti-tank missiles, with snipers, mortars and artillery support to conserve manpower while maximizing firepower, a tactic that was employed by the Wagner Group.[10]
The 6P67, 6P68, 6P69 versions entered service in 2019.[11]
Users
[edit | edit source]Current
[edit | edit source]- Error creating thumbnail: Namibia[12]
- File:Flag of Russia.svg Russia[13]
- File:Flag of Syria (2025-).svg Syria[14]
- File:Flag of Vietnam.svg Vietnam − on T-90S tank[citation needed]
- File:Flag of Ukraine.svg Ukraine − Limited use of captured guns[15]
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Former
[edit | edit source]- File:Flag of Syria (2025-).svg Syrian opposition − Made use captured weapons during the Syrian Civil War[16]
Evaluation-only
[edit | edit source]- File:Flag of Finland.svg Finland − for purposes of NSV replacement testing.[17][needs update]
Gallery
[edit | edit source]-
6P49
-
6P57
-
6P60
See also
[edit | edit source]- List of Russian weaponry
- STK 50MG
- Rheinmetall RMG.50
- HMG PK-16
- Zastava M87
- Type 77 heavy machine gun
- W85 heavy machine gun
- QJZ-89
- QJZ-171
References
[edit | edit source]- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Modern Firearms - NSV-12.7 machine gun Archived 24 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Russian Udarnaya Sila TV show, excerpt showing Russian officer firing Kord from the hip while moving [1] Archived 13 January 2017 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Thompson 2025, p. 53.
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).[better source needed]
- ^ Thompson 2025, pp. 61−62.
- ^ Thompson 2025, pp. 64, 66.
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Thompson 2025, p. 30.
- ^ Thompson 2025, p. 62.
- ^ Finnish Army HQ Materiel Department decision MI37585/27.12.2012 (Päätös MAAVEMATOS ak MI37585/27.12.2012)
Bibliography
[edit | edit source]- Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
External links
[edit | edit source]
- V.A. Degtyarev Plant – official site
- Modern Firearms
- Image of Kord on Tripod
- «KORD» large caliber machine gun
