The UKM-2000 (Uniwersalny Karabin Maszynowy-2000, General purpose machine gun of 2000 in Polish) is a Polish general-purpose machine gun that is based on the Soviet-era PKM.
History[]
The UKM-2000 was developed in 1999 on the decision that a new general purpose machine gun be developed due to Poland having problems with accepting NATO ammunition as Poland had joined NATO that same year. The UKM-2000 is the standard coaxial mounted machine gun on various vehicles in the Polish army such as the KTO Rosomak. The UKM-2000 was modernized in 2013 to become the UKM-2013.
Design Details[]
The UKM-2000 is heavily based on the PK machine gun, and as such has very similar working principles and properties.
Variants[]
- UKM-2000P
Standard general purpose machine gun version.
- UKM-2000C(L)
Coaxial version of the UKM-2000. Feeds from the left, hence the "(L)" designation.
- UKM-2000D
Paratrooper version with a folding stock.
- UKM-2000Z
First attempted modernization of the UKM-2000 with a telescoping stock and black polymer pistol grip that failed to get adopted.
- UKM-2000M (initially called UKM-2013P)
Second attempted modernization of the UKM-2000 presented in 2012, with notably better ergonomics and new additions, such as Picatinny rails, a new dual-function folding and telescoping buttstock with integrated monopod and cheekrest, and a new soft ammo bag for containing the belt among other things.
- UKM-2013C(L)
Coaxial version of the UKM-2013. Feeds from the left, hence the "(L)" designation.
- UKM-2014/UKM-2015
Third attempted modernization of the UKM-2000 which is due to be tested.
Gallery[]
