The lightened version of the MPT-76 National Infantry Rifle, which continues to be developed with Turkish Armed Forces feedback, is now ready for use by security forces.

February 07, 2021, President of Defense Industries İsmail DEMİR announced on his official social media account that the qualification of the lighter version of the National Infantry Rifle, MPT-76-MH, has been completed. "We continue our efforts to ensure that our security forces use their equipment more effectively in the field. Designed by MKEK, the qualification of the lighter National Infantry Rifle MPT-76-MH has been completed." Demir said in his statement.

Serial production of the MPT-76, which was developed entirely by Turkish engineers within the scope of the Modern Infantry Rifle project carried out under the coordination of the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) to meet the modern assault rifle needs of the Turkish Armed Forces, started in 2016. Today, more than 40 thousand rifles, produced and delivered by the Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation (MKEK), Sarsılmaz, and Kale, are actively used by security forces.

While the deliveries are ongoing, development efforts continued in line with the feedback from the field. Initially, the MPT-76 weighed 4.2 kilograms; however, MKEK made further improvements on the rifle and reduced its weight by more than 400 grams. Thus, the new MPT-76-MH became approximately 3 kilograms and 750 grams. Following the completion of its qualification process, the lighter National Infantry Rifle MPT-76-MH is expected to be used by security forces in the coming period.

The National Infantry Rifle (MPT-76), which was produced completely using national resources and without technical support from abroad, passed 42 different environmental tests such as cold and hot air, sand, rain, and mud, all prepared according to NATO standards. The rifle can operate at -40°C and 65°C under pressurized water and mud without malfunctioning. The MPT-76 uses 7.62x51 mm NATO bullets, has an effective range of up to 600 meters, a barrel life of up to 12 thousand shots, and has a firing rate of 650 shots per minute.