Valmet KVKK
Summary
| Country | 🇫🇮 Finland |
| Category | Light machine gun |
| Manufacturer | Valmet |
Technical specifications
| Valmet KVKK | |
|---|---|
| Fire Rate | 1100 rounds/min. |
| Caliber | 7.62 x 39 mm |
| Magazine | belt of 100 rounds |
| Length | 1085 mm (42.7 in) |
| Weight | 8.3 kg (18.3 lb) |
| Range | 600 m (1969 ft) |
Description
Development of a Finnish assault rifle chambered for the 7.62×39mm Soviet intermediary cartridge began in the 1950s. The design, heavily influenced by the Soviet AK-47, was initiated in 1957 and finalized in 1962 by Valmet engineer Lauri Oksanen, basing it on the Polish licensed version of the AK-47. The initial prototype, designated RK 60 and produced at the Valmet factory in Tourula in 1960, closely copied the AK-47 internally and featured a metallic buttstock, plastic handguard and pistol grip. The first version notably lacked a trigger guard, though this was later reinstated after military testing. The modified RK 60 was subsequently adopted as the 7.62 RK 62. Production of the M62 rifle, encompassing 350,000 units, was undertaken jointly by Valmet and Sako between 1965 and 1994. The RK 62 served as the design basis for the Israeli IMI Galil assault rifle. In August 2015, the Finnish Defence Forces announced a phased modernization program for existing RK 62 rifles, upgrading them to the RK 62 M standard.
The RK 62 is regarded as a high-quality variant within the AK-47 family, particularly noted for its enhanced sight system and manufacturing quality. Unlike most AK variants which mount the rear sight on the gas piston housing, the RK 62's rear sight is situated on the rear of the receiver cover. This setup, combined with an aperture rear sight on a sliding tangent and a forward hooded post, provides a 470 mm sight radius. Both front and rear sights feature tritium illuminated elements for night use, with the rear sight being a flip-over peep diopter. A distinctive feature is the open-ended, three-pronged flash suppressor which includes a bayonet lug and can be used to cut barbed wire. The design is engineered to perform reliably under the extreme environmental conditions encountered in Northern Europe.
The RK 62 design has resulted in numerous variants spanning military, export, and civilian markets, alongside prototypes and derivative designs. Military variants include:
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the early RK 60 prototype
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the standard production RK 62
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later developments featuring stamped receivers such as the RK 62 76 and RK 71
The modern RK 95 TP represents an improved evolution. The ongoing Finnish Defence Forces modernization program has introduced the RK 62 M series, including the M1, M2, and M3, incorporating updated furniture, mounting rails, and other features. Export models were produced under designations such as Valmet M62, M72, and M76, and the proposed Sako M95. Civilian semi-automatic variants, like the Valmet M62/S, M71/S, M76, M78, M82, M83, and Petra/Hunter M/83 and M/88, were manufactured in various configurations and chamberings. Notably, the design forms the basis for the Israeli IMI Galil assault rifle family, which led to further derivative designs produced under license in other countries.
The RK 62 serves as the standard issue infantry rifle for the Finnish Defence Forces. A program was initiated in August 2015 for the gradual modernization of the existing RK 62 rifle inventory to the RK 62 M standard.
Users of the RK 62 include Finland, Indonesia, Libya, and Qatar.