page_title: RPK
section_title: Users
hierarchical_section_title: RPK / Users
caption_attribution_description: Part of the Georgian Train and Equip Program (GTEP), members of the Georgian Army fire their weapons on a live firing range during Tactical Arms training to prepare in defending their boarders against Rebels from near by Chechnya. ID: DF-SD-04-11509
context_page_description: The RPK is a 7.62×39mm light machine gun of Soviet design, developed by Mikhail Kalashnikov in the early 1960s, parallel with the AKM assault rifle. It was created as part of a program designed to standardize the small arms inventory of the Soviet Army, where it replaced the 7.62×39mm RPD light machine gun. The RPK continues to be used by the armed forces of countries of the former Soviet Union and certain African and Asian nations. The RPK is also manufactured in Bulgaria, Romania and Serbia.
context_section_description:  Afghanistan
   Albania: Uses both Soviet and locally produced ASh-78 Tip-2 rifles.
   Bulgaria: Produced by Arsenal as the LMG in three different calibers, 7.62×39mm, 5.45×39mm and 5.56×45mm NATO. Uniquely had milled receivers. A folding stock variant is known as the LMG-F.
   Burundi
   Cambodia
   Cape Verde
   Cameroon
   Central African Republic
   Chad
   China: Manufactured locally as the Type 56M/Type 56-5; only made for export.
   Comoros
   Congo-Brazzaville
   Cuba
   Djibouti
   Egypt
   Equatorial Guinea
   Ethiopia
   Fiji: RPK-201 variant.
   Georgia: RPK-74 variant is still in use by the Georgian Army and special forces.
   South Ossetia: RPK-74 variant in use.
   Ghana
   Guinea-Bissau
   Hungary
   Iran: Locally known as "BB-Kalash".
   Iraq Also manufactured locally as Al Quds
   Kazakhstan: RPK-74
   Latvia
   Lesotho
   Libya
   Malaysia: RPK-74 variant is used by the Grup Gerak Khas (GGK) of the Malaysian Army.
   Mali: Armed and Security Forces of Mali.
   Malta
   Moldova: Mainly Regular Army.
   Mongolia
   Morocco
   Namibia
   Mozambique
   Nicaragua
   Nigeria
   North Korea: Type 64.
   Poland: Around 1,000–5,000 RPK and RPKS were bought from USSR in mid-70 to be examined. Formerly manufactured locally as the M64. Some are in storage and its status on being adopted is unknown.
  RPK-74: Limited usage by airborne forces, last known RPK-74s were withdrawn from service in 2005 with Tantals.
   Romania: Built by Fabrica de Arme Cugir SA as the Puşcă Mitralieră model 1964 ("model 1964 light machine gun") and later, a 5.45mm version based on the PA md. 86—the Mitralieră md. 1993 ("model 1993 light machine gun").
   Russia: RPK-74 and RPK-74M.
   Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic: Used by the Polisario Front.
   Seychelles
   Serbia: Manufactured locally as the Zastava M72.
   Sierra Leone
   Somalia
   Sudan
   Syria
   Tanzania
   Uganda
   Lord Resistance Army
   Ukraine: RPK-74 and RPK, also used by separatists
   Uzbekistan
   Vietnam
   Yemen
   Zimbabwe
caption: Georgian army fire team with mix of AKM rifles and RPK LMGs
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