Turkey's Indigenous Multi-Caliber Sniper Rifle to Enter Service in June

Turkey’s first indigenously made sniper rifle KN-12 that can fire 7.62- and 8.59-millimeter rounds will enter service with the Turkish Armed Forces this month.

The rifle, along with other light and heavy weapon systems developed by the Machinery and Chemical Industry (MKE) was exhibited as part of the EFES-2022 Combined Joint Field Fire Exercise that is conducted in the Aegean.

MKE General Manager Yasin Akdere told government-owned Anadolu Agency that they have completed Turkey's first variable caliber sniper rifle. The 7.2 kg and 1 meter (3.2 feet) rifle can use two different ammunition, 7.62 and 8.59 millimeters. The weapon has a magazine capacity of five for 8.59 millimeters and ten for 7.62 millimeters. The KN-12 has a range of 1,500 meters.

Akdere said the rifle has successfully completed the tough qualification tests within the scope of NATO standards. He added that the mass production of the domestic 8.59-millimeter ammunition will be starting in the Gazi Fişek factory in the capital Ankara.