A Turkish news outlet has reported that Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (Millî İstihbarat Teşkilatı or MİT) will be the next organisation to receive the country’s new domestically produced infantry rifle, the MPT-76.

A Haber, a Turkish TV news channel, supportive of Turkey’s President Recep Erdoğan, has reported that MİT units will receive the rifle for operational and protection duties early this year. A report published on 4th January stated that (via google translate): “According to the information received, the security forces will be given the speed of deployment of the national infantry rifle MPT-76 in the new year.”

The 7.62x51mm MPT-76, made by MKEK – Turkey’s state-owned small-arms manufacturer, is a select-fire, gas-operated derivative of Heckler & Koch’s HK416/417. It is currently entering service to replace Turkey’s G3A7 and G3A7A1 rifles.

MİT are Turkey’s leading security and intelligence organisation and the announcement that they will receive the new rifle this year follows the MPT-76’s deployment with the President and the Prime Minister’s protection details.

The A Haber article goes on to confirm MKEK’s production target for 2018 and discuss the 5.56x45mm variant, of the MPT-76, the MPT-55:

In this context, MIT, Land Forces Command, General Directorate of Security and other law enforcement agencies will be delivered 38 thousand MPT-76 this year. As for the security forces, until the year 2026, a total of 250 thousand MPT-76s are planned to be purchased.

The MPT-55 rifle, which is considered as the continuation of the national infantry rifle production project, and 90,000 units for other rifles of the same size will be delivered.

Sources: 

‘MIT staff will be given local gun MPT-76.’, A Haber, 04.01.2018, Retrieved from source