Pecheneg

The PKP Pecheneg, designated 6P41, is a Russian general-purpose machine gun designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov in 1995. It serves as a development of the PKM machine gun. The weapon is manufactured by TsNIITochMash and the Degtyaryov Plant. Its designation is derived from the Pecheneg people, a Turkic tribe historically located in the steppes of southern Russia and Ukraine.

The 6P41 is a gas-operated, belt-fed firearm utilizing non-disintegrating links. It retains 80% parts commonality with the PKM but features a heavier, forced-air-cooled barrel. A steel jacket encloses the barrel from the trunnion to the muzzle, incorporating transverse grooves and oval air access holes. Four longitudinal grooves connect the gas block to the muzzle device; low pressure at the front of the jacket draws cool air through these grooves during firing. This cooling system, similar to that of the Lewis machine gun, reduces dispersion and prevents heat haze from obstructing the operator's line of sight. The manufacturer specifies a barrel service life of 25,000 to 30,000 rounds, with the capacity to sustain 600 rounds in rapid-fire cycles or 1,000 rounds per hour without performance degradation. The receiver is equipped with a rail for mounting telescopic or night vision optics.

The weapon entered service in 2001 and is utilized by Russian infantry and Spetsnaz units. It has been deployed in the Second Chechen War, the Russo-Georgian War, the Syrian Civil War, and the Russo-Ukrainian War. State users include Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Namibia, and Syria. Several variants exist, including the 6P41N, which features a mounting rail for night vision sights. The 6P69 Pecheneg-SP is an improved model featuring titanium construction, a Picatinny rail, a telescopic folding stock, and a shortened barrel equipped with a suppressor; its serial production commenced in 2017. A bullpup conversion was also developed by the Degtyaryov plant. An unlicensed version, the STrL-P, is produced in Vietnam by the Z111 Factory.