UKM-2000
Summary
| Country | 🇵🇱 Poland |
| Category | Light machine gun |
| Manufacturer | n/a |
Technical specifications
| UKM-2000 | |
|---|---|
| Fire Rate | 600 - 700 rounds/min. |
| Caliber | 7.62 x 51 mm OTAN |
| Magazine | belt of 100 - 200 - 250 rounds |
| Length | 1203 mm (47.4 in) |
| Weight | 8.4 kg (18.5 lb) |
| Range | 1500 m (4921 ft) |
Description
The UKM-2000 (Uniwersalny Karabin Maszynowy) is a 7.62×51mm NATO general-purpose machine gun manufactured by Zakłady Mechaniczne Tarnów in Poland. Development began after Poland joined NATO on March 12, 1999, requiring the Polish Army to adapt its weapons to use standard NATO ammunition. The decision was made to develop a new general-purpose machine gun based on the PKM machine gun, which had previously been manufactured in Poland under license.
The UKM-2000 is based on the PKM, but was modified to accommodate 7.62×51mm NATO ammunition. The feeding method for the 7.62×51mm NATO rounds, which use metallic disintegrating open-M13 links, employs a push-through design, extracting rounds by pushing them forward out of the link directly into the chamber. This is different from the PKM's non-disintegrating closed-link belt and 7.62×54mmR rimmed rounds, which use a pull-out design where rounds are extracted rearward before being pushed forward into the chamber. The feed pawl mechanisms are also different: the 7.62×54mmR design uses a simple pivoting arm, while the 7.62×51mm NATO design, based on the MG 42 feeding method, utilizes a larger articulated assembly.
Several variants exist:
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UKM-2000C (coaxial, no stock, heavier barrel, gas regulator, electric trigger)
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UKM-2000CL (coaxial, left feed)
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UKM-2000D (airborne, folding stock)
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UKM-2000P (standard infantry, some with MIL-STD-1913 rail)
An earlier modernization attempt, the UKM-2000Z, featuring a telescoping stock and polymer grip, was not adopted. Modernized versions presented in 2012 include the UKM-2013C(L) and UKM-2013P. The UKM-2013P features ergonomic and functional improvements, including a folding and telescopic buttstock with cheekpiece, an integrated Picatinny rail with iron sight and 3-rail forehand attached to the gas tube, a new grip, cocking handle, and safety selector, an optional 440mm barrel, internal changes, and the ability to be fed from a soft ammo bag. The UKM-2000M/UKM-2015 version was reportedly in testing mid-2014. The UKM-2020S is a shorter, lighter version with a folding stock, while the UKM-2023CL is a coaxial variant with a left feed ('L' denotes left-side ammunition feed for coaxial versions).
The UKM-2000 is the primary general-purpose machine gun on most vehicles used by Polish Forces in Afghanistan, including the Cougar H, MaxxPro Dash, M-ATV, and Humvee. It is also used as a coaxial machine gun in the KTO Rosomak and Polish-modernized BRDM-2 vehicles. There is a proposal to upgrade current Polish UKM-2000 units to the UKM-2013 standard.
The primary user of the UKM-2000 is Poland, with approximately 1,200 units in service with the Polish Land Forces and Military Gendarmerie, and around 2,500 UKM-2000M units reportedly on order. Nigeria also operates approximately 50 examples of a version with a wooden buttstock. An unknown number have been provided to Ukraine since June 2022.