CIS .50
Summary
| Country | 🇸🇬 Singapore |
| Category | Machine gun |
| Manufacturer | ST Kinetics |
Technical specifications
| CIS .50 | |
|---|---|
| Fire Rate | 400 - 600 rounds/min. |
| Caliber | .50BMG (12,7 x 99 mm) |
| Magazine | 100-belts rounds |
| Length | 1670 mm (65.7 in) |
| Weight | 30.0 kg (66.1 lb) |
| Range | 600 m (1969 ft) |
Description
The STK 50 MG, formerly known as the CIS 50MG, is a heavy machine gun developed and manufactured by Chartered Industries of Singapore (CIS), now ST Kinetics. Development began in the late 1980s in response to a request from the Singaporean Defence Ministry to replace the M2HB machine guns used by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). The goal was to create a new design chambered for the same .50 caliber ammunition as the M2HB, to improve the availability of spare parts for the SAF’s logistical network. The weapon, initially named CIS 50MG, was introduced in 1988 after a two-year development and testing period. The engineers at CIS incorporated knowledge from the American "Dover Devil GPHMG" program, particularly concepts related to a modular weapon design.
The STK 50 MG is based on a gas-operated, air-cooled, belt-fed mechanism. It uses dual gas pistons, positioned in tubes along both sides of the barrel, to operate the action. The barrel is secured by a rotary bolt featuring multiple radial lugs that engage a barrel extension. The firearm incorporates a "constant recoil" system, similar to that of the Ultimax 100 light machine gun. The quick-detachable barrel is fitted with a carrying handle to facilitate changes. A notable feature is the dual belt-feed system, which allows rapid selection and switching between ammunition types, including:
- Standard ball rounds
- Raufoss Mk 211 Armor-Piercing-Incendiary
- Saboted Light Armor Penetrator (SLAP) rounds
SLAP rounds can penetrate 25 mm of rolled homogeneous armor at a range of one kilometer. Dual feed systems of this type are also used on modern automatic cannons such as the M242 Bushmaster and Mk44 Bushmaster II.
The weapon is also manufactured under license in:
- Indonesia by PT Pindad, where it is designated the Pindad SMB-QCB, later renamed SM5 in 2018.
- Myanmar, reportedly by the Directorate of Defence Industries under the MA-16 designation.
The STK 50 MG is in service with military and security organizations in several countries, including the Bangladesh Navy (on various vessels), the Indonesian military (the locally produced SM5 variant), the Myanmar military (likely the MA-16 licensed version), the Nigerian Army, the Singapore Armed Forces, and the Police Coast Guard.