Kosovo Security Force
Encyclopedia
The Kosovo Security Force (KSF) is an emergency response force charged with conducting operations in Kosovo and abroad in the areas of Search and Rescue, Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Firefighting, and Hazardous Material Disposal. It is widely assumed that the KSF will take on an additional defense role after a governmental review of the organization in 2013. The Commander of the KSF is Lieutenant General Kadri Kastrati.
In March 2008, the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) and the Kosovo Protection Corps
(KPC) started preparations for the formation of the Kosovo Security Force. According to guidance laid out in the Ahtisaari Plan
, the security force is permitted to carry light weapons and the Government of Kosovo and the international community planned to bring the force in line with NATO standards. "The plan envisages that the security force be 2,500 active soldiers and 800 reservists at age 19-35." The admission and the training of personnel began in early June, when NATO experts arrived in Kosovo to guide the process. From early December 2008, enlisting began for the Kosovo Security Force. The age of candidates is 18–30 years old.
in 1999, United Nations
Security Council
Resolution 1244
placed Kosovo under the authority of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo
(UNMIK), with security provided by the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR). KFOR entered Kosovo on June 12, 1999 under a United Nations
mandate, two days after the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1244.
On March 19, 2008, United States
President George W. Bush
authorised military aid to Kosovo Security Force in another step to establish formal relations with the newly independent country.
On January 4, 2009, the names of those who were to be selected for the KSF from the KPC were announced. After being vetted by NATO, roughly 1,400 former members of the KPC were selected to serve as officers and rank and file members of the KSF.
On January 21, 2009, the Kosovo Security Force was officially launched. The KSF did not replace the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC) which was dis-banded several months later. KFOR was charged with mentoring the KSF and bringing the force to Full Operational Capability. As part of this effort, various nations that are part of KFOR have provided assistance to the force on a bilateral basis including uniforms which were supplied by the United States and vehicles which were donated by Germany. Mentoring efforts were meant to develop the KSF in line with NATO standards. Additionally Italy, Portugal and other NATO members are to help the KSF by donations and training. Slovenia
donated €30,000 towards the establishment of the KSF.
In addition, NATO established a NATO Advisory Team (NAT) to mentor and advise the Ministry of the Kosovo Security Force in its oversight of force operations. The NAT was composed of uniform and civilian area experts from several NATO and non-NATO nations.
The following senior officers took their oaths on June 16, 2009, under the supervision of then
KSF Commander Lieutenant-General Sylejman Selimi:
On September 15, 2009, the Kosovo Security Force officially began the work, with its initial operational capacities after an eight month training with NATO instructors.
In 2010, the KSF deployed to northern Albania on two separate occasions to perform flood relief operations in support of the Albanian domestic response.
On November 22, 2011, Lieutenant General Sylejman Selimi retired from the KSF and President Atifete Jahjaga appointed the former Director of Operations Major General Kadri Kastrati to succeed him as Commander of the force. President Jahjaga also promoted Kastrati to the rank of Lieutenant General.
The mission of the KSF is to conduct crisis response operations in Kosovo and abroad; civil protection operations within Kosovo; and to assist the civil authorities in responding to natural disasters and other emergencies.
Such duties will include search and rescue operations; explosive ordnance disposal (de-mining and UXO removal); the control and clearance of hazardous materials; fire-fighting; and other humanitarian assistance tasks. The KSF will represent and protect all the people of Kosovo.
Ministry for the Kosovo Security Force: Mission Statement
The Ministry for the Kosovo Security Force (MKSF) is responsible for exercising civilian control over the Kosovo Security Force (KSF), including management and administration. It comprises a mixture of civilian and KSF personnel and is accountable, through the Prime Minister
, to the Kosovo Assembly.
The mission of the MKSF, which is also the highest level KSF Headquarters, is to formulate, implement, evaluate and develop the policies and activities of the KSF within a framework of democratic governance and in accordance with the Constitution
and laws of the Republic of Kosovo.
, the KSF is a lightly armed civil emergency response organization. Given the history of conflict in the region, however, it is likely that individuals in the organization have access to a vast arsenal of weaponry that is unofficially stockpiled. Most of the weapons listed below were acquired during and after the War in Kosovo and are not part of the equipment currently used by the KSF.
Heavy Weaponry which was used by the KLA
, like the few dozen Albanian donated Type 59
main battle tanks, Howitzers, Stinger
and Strela 2
MANPADS, several types of modern western and soviet ATGM and Recoilless rifle
s, also infantry and heavy mortars such as 60mm, 82mm, 120mm & 160mm, most of which was purchased from Black market or donated by Albanian military generals, were smuggled back to Albania for storage or into Macedonia for the war there. The same fate was for the Serbian captured ATGMs, artillery pieces, mortars & Recoilless rifles.
Some weaponry captured from Serbian forces, especially those in the Battle of Košare
, like the several T-55
, M80
, BOV
& M53/59 Praga
which were captured were turned over to KFOR
after the war, whilst a few others were turned into museum pieces.
style="font-size:100%;"
Weapon
Cartridge
Country Manufactured
Notes
Picture
Pistols
Glock 17
9x19mm Parabellum
Submachine guns
M84 Škorpion
.32 ACP
(7.65x17mm)
H&K
MP5
9x19mm Parabellum
/
Various Varients
UZI / ERO
9x19mm Parabellum
/
Assault Rifles
AK-47 / AKs-47
7.62x39mm
/
AKM / AKMS
7.62x39mm
/
Type 56 / ASH-82
7.62x39mm
/
Zastava
M70
7.62x39mm
AK SOPMOD
7.62x39mm
Republic of Kosovo
Domestically Modified
AK's of all variants.
M16
5.56x45mm NATO
H&K
G36
5.56x45mm NATO
Carbines
Zastava
M59/66
7.62x39mm
M4 SOPMOD
5.56x45mm NATO
Grenade Launchers
M203
40x46mm grenade
Attaches to rifle
H&K
AG36
40x46mm grenade
Attaches to rifle
Metallic RBG-6
40x46mm grenade
Automatic
Sniper Rifles
PSL
7.62x54mmR
/
Dragunov SVD
7.62x54mmR
/
Zastava
M76
7.92x57mm
Anti-tank
RPG-7
40mm rocket
/
M72 LAW
66mm rocket
/
M80 "Zolja"
64mm rocket
M79 Osa
90mm rocket
General Purpose Machine Guns
RPK / ASh-78 (Tip-2)
7.62x39mm
/
PK
7.62x54mmR
/
RPD
7.62x39mm
/
Zastava
M72
7.62x39mm
Zastava
M84
7.62x54mmR
Heavy Machine Guns
Browning M2
12.7x99mm NATO
DShKM
12.7x108mm
/
In March 2008, the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) and the Kosovo Protection Corps
Kosovo Protection Corps
The Kosovo Protection Corps was a civilian emergency services organisation in Kosovo active from 1999 to 2009.The KPC was created on September 21, 1999 through the promulgation of UNMIK Regulation 1999/8 and the agreement of a "Statement of Principles" on the KPC's permitted role in Kosovo...
(KPC) started preparations for the formation of the Kosovo Security Force. According to guidance laid out in the Ahtisaari Plan
Ahtisaari Plan
The Ahtisaari Plan, formally the Comprehensive Proposal for the Kosovo Status Settlement , is a status settlement proposal covering a wide range of issues related to the Kosovo status process for kosovo....
, the security force is permitted to carry light weapons and the Government of Kosovo and the international community planned to bring the force in line with NATO standards. "The plan envisages that the security force be 2,500 active soldiers and 800 reservists at age 19-35." The admission and the training of personnel began in early June, when NATO experts arrived in Kosovo to guide the process. From early December 2008, enlisting began for the Kosovo Security Force. The age of candidates is 18–30 years old.
History
Following the Kosovo WarKosovo War
The term Kosovo War or Kosovo conflict was two sequential, and at times parallel, armed conflicts in Kosovo province, then part of FR Yugoslav Republic of Serbia; from early 1998 to 1999, there was an armed conflict initiated by the ethnic Albanian "Kosovo Liberation Army" , who sought independence...
in 1999, United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Security Council
United Nations Security Council
The United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of...
Resolution 1244
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244, adopted on June 10, 1999, after recalling resolutions 1160 , 1199 , 1203 and 1239 , authorised an international civil and military presence in Kosovo ) and established the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo .Resolution...
placed Kosovo under the authority of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo
United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo
The United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo or UNMIK is the interim civilian administration in Kosovo, under the authority of the United Nations. The mission was established on 10 June 1999 by Security Council Resolution 1244...
(UNMIK), with security provided by the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR). KFOR entered Kosovo on June 12, 1999 under a United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
mandate, two days after the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1244.
On March 19, 2008, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
authorised military aid to Kosovo Security Force in another step to establish formal relations with the newly independent country.
On January 4, 2009, the names of those who were to be selected for the KSF from the KPC were announced. After being vetted by NATO, roughly 1,400 former members of the KPC were selected to serve as officers and rank and file members of the KSF.
On January 21, 2009, the Kosovo Security Force was officially launched. The KSF did not replace the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC) which was dis-banded several months later. KFOR was charged with mentoring the KSF and bringing the force to Full Operational Capability. As part of this effort, various nations that are part of KFOR have provided assistance to the force on a bilateral basis including uniforms which were supplied by the United States and vehicles which were donated by Germany. Mentoring efforts were meant to develop the KSF in line with NATO standards. Additionally Italy, Portugal and other NATO members are to help the KSF by donations and training. Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
donated €30,000 towards the establishment of the KSF.
In addition, NATO established a NATO Advisory Team (NAT) to mentor and advise the Ministry of the Kosovo Security Force in its oversight of force operations. The NAT was composed of uniform and civilian area experts from several NATO and non-NATO nations.
The following senior officers took their oaths on June 16, 2009, under the supervision of then
KSF Commander Lieutenant-General Sylejman Selimi:
- Major-General Rrahman Rama – KSF Deputy Commander and Commander of Land Force Command
- Major-General Kadri Kastrati – Director of Operations
- Brigadier-General Bashkim Jashari – General Inspectorate of KSF
- Brigadier-General Nazmi Brahimaj – Commander of Rapid Reaction Brigade
- Brigadier-General Zymer Halimi – Chief of Operations and Training Department
- Brigadier –General Imri Ilazi – Commander of Operations Support Brigade
- Brigadier-General Enver Cikaqi – Commander of Training and Doctrine Command
On September 15, 2009, the Kosovo Security Force officially began the work, with its initial operational capacities after an eight month training with NATO instructors.
In 2010, the KSF deployed to northern Albania on two separate occasions to perform flood relief operations in support of the Albanian domestic response.
On November 22, 2011, Lieutenant General Sylejman Selimi retired from the KSF and President Atifete Jahjaga appointed the former Director of Operations Major General Kadri Kastrati to succeed him as Commander of the force. President Jahjaga also promoted Kastrati to the rank of Lieutenant General.
Mission statement
The Kosovo Security Force (KSF) is a new, professional, multi-ethnic, lightly armed and uniformed Security Force that is subject to democratic, civilian control.The mission of the KSF is to conduct crisis response operations in Kosovo and abroad; civil protection operations within Kosovo; and to assist the civil authorities in responding to natural disasters and other emergencies.
Such duties will include search and rescue operations; explosive ordnance disposal (de-mining and UXO removal); the control and clearance of hazardous materials; fire-fighting; and other humanitarian assistance tasks. The KSF will represent and protect all the people of Kosovo.
Ministry for the Kosovo Security Force: Mission Statement
The Ministry for the Kosovo Security Force (MKSF) is responsible for exercising civilian control over the Kosovo Security Force (KSF), including management and administration. It comprises a mixture of civilian and KSF personnel and is accountable, through the Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Kosovo
The Prime Minister of Kosovo is Head of Government of the disputed Republic of Kosovo .The Prime Minister and the Government of Kosovo, which he or she heads, are responsible for their actions to the Assembly of Kosovo, of which they must all be members...
, to the Kosovo Assembly.
The mission of the MKSF, which is also the highest level KSF Headquarters, is to formulate, implement, evaluate and develop the policies and activities of the KSF within a framework of democratic governance and in accordance with the Constitution
Constitution of Kosovo
The Constitution of Kosovo currently refers either to the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo or to the Constitutional Framework for the Provisional Self-Government of Kosovo....
and laws of the Republic of Kosovo.
Organogram
Weapons and equipment
According to its mandate and conditions imposed by the Ahtisaari PlanAhtisaari Plan
The Ahtisaari Plan, formally the Comprehensive Proposal for the Kosovo Status Settlement , is a status settlement proposal covering a wide range of issues related to the Kosovo status process for kosovo....
, the KSF is a lightly armed civil emergency response organization. Given the history of conflict in the region, however, it is likely that individuals in the organization have access to a vast arsenal of weaponry that is unofficially stockpiled. Most of the weapons listed below were acquired during and after the War in Kosovo and are not part of the equipment currently used by the KSF.
Heavy Weaponry which was used by the KLA
Kosovo Liberation Army
The Kosovo Liberation Army or KLA was a Kosovar Albanian paramilitary organization which sought the separation of Kosovo from Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the 1990s....
, like the few dozen Albanian donated Type 59
Type 59
The Type 59 main battle tank is a Chinese produced version of the Soviet T-54A tank, an improvement over the ubiquitous T-54/55. The first vehicles were produced in 1958 and it was accepted into service in 1959, with serial production beginning in 1963...
main battle tanks, Howitzers, Stinger
FIM-92 Stinger
The FIM-92 Stinger is a personal portable infrared homing surface-to-air missile , which can be adapted to fire from ground vehicles and helicopters , developed in the United States and entered into service in 1981. Used by the militaries of the U.S...
and Strela 2
Strela 2
The 9K32 “Strela-2” is a man-portable, shoulder-fired, low-altitude surface-to-air missile system with a high explosive warhead and passive infrared homing guidance...
MANPADS, several types of modern western and soviet ATGM and Recoilless rifle
Recoilless rifle
A recoilless rifle or recoilless gun is a lightweight weapon that fires a heavier projectile than would be practical to fire from a recoiling weapon of comparable size. Technically, only devices that use a rifled barrel are recoilless rifles. Smoothbore variants are recoilless guns...
s, also infantry and heavy mortars such as 60mm, 82mm, 120mm & 160mm, most of which was purchased from Black market or donated by Albanian military generals, were smuggled back to Albania for storage or into Macedonia for the war there. The same fate was for the Serbian captured ATGMs, artillery pieces, mortars & Recoilless rifles.
Some weaponry captured from Serbian forces, especially those in the Battle of Košare
Battle of Košare
The Battle of Košare was fought during the Kosovo war between the military forces of Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on one side and the KLA. The battle was fought around Rasa Koshares on the border between FR Yugoslavia and Albania from 9 April until 10 June during the NATO bombing of FR...
, like the several T-55
T-55
The T-54 and T-55 tanks were a series of main battle tanks designed in the Soviet Union. The first T-54 prototype appeared in March 1945, just before the end of the Second World War. The T-54 entered full production in 1947 and became the main tank for armored units of the Soviet Army, armies of...
, M80
BVP M-80
The BVP M-80, is a Yugoslavian infantry fighting vehicle, produced in the 1980s until the Yugoslav civil wars in the 1990s.-Development:Early research and development of the M-80 began in 1969, with testing of the first completed prototype in 1974. First examples of the, BVP M-80 rolled out in 1979...
, BOV
BOV (APC)
The BOV , literally "Combat Armored Vehicle", is an all-wheel drive armoured vehicle manufactured in the former Yugoslavia.-Description:The BOV has a capactiy of 10, including a driver, gunner and eight infantrymen...
& M53/59 Praga
M53/59 Praga
The M53/59 Praga is a Czechoslovak self-propelled anti-aircraft gun developed in the late 1950s. It consists of a heavily modified Praga V3S 6 wheel drive truck chassis, armed with a twin 30 mm AA autocannon mounted on the rear for which the vehicle typically carries 900 rounds of ammunition, each...
which were captured were turned over to KFOR
KFOR
The Kosovo Force is a NATO-led international peacekeeping force responsible for establishing a secure environment in Kosovo.KFOR entered Kosovo on 12 June 1999 under a United Nations mandate, two days after the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1244...
after the war, whilst a few others were turned into museum pieces.
Small arms
{.32 ACP
.32 ACP , also known as the .32 Automatic is a pistol cartridge. It is a semi-rimmed, straight-walled cartridge developed by firearms designer John Browning, initially for use in the FN M1900 semi-automatic pistol...
(7.65x17mm)
Heckler & Koch
Heckler & Koch GmbH is a German defense manufacturing company that produces various small arms. Some of their products include the SA80, MP5 submachine gun, G3 automatic rifle, the G36 assault rifle, the HK 416, the MP7 personal defense weapon, the USP series of handguns, and the high-precision...
MP5
Heckler & Koch MP5
The Heckler & Koch MP5 is a 9mm submachine gun of German design, developed in the 1960s by a team of engineers from the German small arms manufacturer Heckler & Koch GmbH of Oberndorf am Neckar....
Assault rifle
An assault rifle is a selective fire rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge and a detachable magazine. Assault rifles are the standard infantry weapons in most modern armies...
AK-47
The AK-47 is a selective-fire, gas-operated 7.62×39mm assault rifle, first developed in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is officially known as Avtomat Kalashnikova . It is also known as a Kalashnikov, an "AK", or in Russian slang, Kalash.Design work on the AK-47 began in the last year...
AKM
The AKM is a 7.62mm assault rifle designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is an upgraded version of the AK-47 rifle and was developed in the 1950s....
Type 56 Assault Rifle
The Type 56 assault rifle is a Chinese copy of the Kalashnikov AK-47 assault rifle, which has been manufactured since 1956. It was produced by State Factory 66 from 1956-73, then by Norinco from 1973 onwards.-Service history:...
Zastava Arms
Zastava Arms is a Serbian manufacturer of firearms and artillery. It was founded in 1853 when it cast its first cannons. It is currently the leading producer of firearms in Serbia and is a large contributor to the local defence industry...
M70
Zastava M70
The Zastava M70 is a 7.62mm assault rifle developed in Yugoslavia by Zastava Arms. The M70 was designed on the basis of the AKM and became the standard issue assault rifle in the Yugoslav People's Army in 1970. The M70 is air-cooled, magazine-fed, selective fire rifle...
Republic of KosovoAK's of all variants.
M16 rifle
The M16 is the United States military designation for the AR-15 rifle adapted for both semi-automatic and full-automatic fire. Colt purchased the rights to the AR-15 from ArmaLite, and currently uses that designation only for semi-automatic versions of the rifle. The M16 fires the 5.56×45mm NATO...
5.56x45mm NATO
5.56×45mm NATO is a rifle cartridge developed in the United States and originally chambered in the M16 rifle. Under STANAG 4172, it is a standard cartridge for NATO forces as well as many non-NATO countries. It is derived from, but not identical to, the .223 Remington cartridge...
Heckler & Koch
Heckler & Koch GmbH is a German defense manufacturing company that produces various small arms. Some of their products include the SA80, MP5 submachine gun, G3 automatic rifle, the G36 assault rifle, the HK 416, the MP7 personal defense weapon, the USP series of handguns, and the high-precision...
G36
Heckler & Koch G36
The Heckler & Koch G36 is a 5.56×45mm assault rifle, designed in the early 1990s by Heckler & Koch in Germany as a replacement for the 7.62mm G3 battle rifle. It was accepted into service with the Bundeswehr in 1997, replacing the G3...
5.56x45mm NATO
5.56×45mm NATO is a rifle cartridge developed in the United States and originally chambered in the M16 rifle. Under STANAG 4172, it is a standard cartridge for NATO forces as well as many non-NATO countries. It is derived from, but not identical to, the .223 Remington cartridge...
Zastava Arms
Zastava Arms is a Serbian manufacturer of firearms and artillery. It was founded in 1853 when it cast its first cannons. It is currently the leading producer of firearms in Serbia and is a large contributor to the local defence industry...
M59/66
SKS
The SKS is a Soviet semi-automatic rifle chambered for the 7.62x39mm round, designed in 1943 by Sergei Gavrilovich Simonov. SKS-45 is an acronym for Samozaryadnyj Karabin sistemy Simonova, 1945 Simonov system, 1945), or SKS 45. The Sks is a scaled down version of the PTRS-41 anti-tank rifle also...
M4 carbine
The M4 carbine is a family of firearms tracing its lineage back to earlier carbine versions of the M16, all based on the original AR-15 designed by Eugene Stoner and made by ArmaLite. It is a shorter and lighter variant of the M16A2 assault rifle, with 80% parts commonality.It is a gas-operated,...
5.56x45mm NATO
5.56×45mm NATO is a rifle cartridge developed in the United States and originally chambered in the M16 rifle. Under STANAG 4172, it is a standard cartridge for NATO forces as well as many non-NATO countries. It is derived from, but not identical to, the .223 Remington cartridge...
Grenade launcher
A grenade launcher or grenade discharger is a weapon that launches a grenade with more accuracy, higher velocity, and to greater distances than a soldier could throw it by hand....
M203 grenade launcher
The M203 is a single shot 40 mm grenade launcher designed to attach to a rifle. It uses the same rounds as the older M79 break-action grenade launcher, which utilize the High-Low Propulsion System to keep recoil forces low. Though versatile, and compatible with many rifle models, the M203 was...
Heckler & Koch
Heckler & Koch GmbH is a German defense manufacturing company that produces various small arms. Some of their products include the SA80, MP5 submachine gun, G3 automatic rifle, the G36 assault rifle, the HK 416, the MP7 personal defense weapon, the USP series of handguns, and the high-precision...
AG36
PSL (rifle)
The PSL is a Romanian military designated marksman rifle. It is also called PSL-54C, Romak III, FPK, FPK Dragunov and SSG-97...
Zastava Arms
Zastava Arms is a Serbian manufacturer of firearms and artillery. It was founded in 1853 when it cast its first cannons. It is currently the leading producer of firearms in Serbia and is a large contributor to the local defence industry...
M76
RPG-7
The RPG-7 is a widely-produced, portable, unguided, shoulder-launched, anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade launcher. Originally the RPG-7 and its predecessor, the RPG-2, were designed by the Soviet Union, and now manufactured by the Bazalt company...
M72 LAW
The M72 LAW is a portable one-shot 66 mm unguided anti-tank weapon, designed in the United States by Paul V. Choate, Charles B. Weeks, and Frank A. Spinale et al...
M80 Rocket Launcher
The M80 nicknamed the "Zolja", meaning WASP in English, is a portable one-shot disposable 64 mm anti-tank weapon, designed in the former Yugoslavia...
General purpose machine gun
A general-purpose machine gun is a multi-purpose weapon: it is a machine gun firing a full-power rifle cartridge and which can be used in a variety of roles, from a bipod- or tripod-mounted infantry support weapon to a helicopter door gun or a vehicle-mounted support weapon...
RPK
The RPK is a 7.62x39mm light machine gun of Soviet design, developed by Mikhail Kalashnikov in the late 1950s, parallel with the AKM assault/battle rifle...
PK machine gun
The PK is a 7.62 mm general-purpose machine gun designed in the Soviet Union and currently in production in Russia. The PK machine gun was introduced in the 1960s and replaced the SGM and RPD machine guns in Soviet service...
RPD
The RPD is a 7.62mm light machine gun developed in the Soviet Union by Vasily Degtyaryov for the intermediate 7.62x39mm M43 cartridge. It was created as a replacement for the DP machine gun chambered for the 7.62x54mmR Mosin rifle round...
Zastava Arms
Zastava Arms is a Serbian manufacturer of firearms and artillery. It was founded in 1853 when it cast its first cannons. It is currently the leading producer of firearms in Serbia and is a large contributor to the local defence industry...
M72
Zastava M72
The Zastava M72 is a 7.62mm light machine gun developed and manufactured by Zastava Arms of Serbia, . The M72 is based on the RPK rifle from the USSR.-Overview:...
Zastava Arms
Zastava Arms is a Serbian manufacturer of firearms and artillery. It was founded in 1853 when it cast its first cannons. It is currently the leading producer of firearms in Serbia and is a large contributor to the local defence industry...
M84
Zastava M84
The Zastava M84 is a 7.62mm general-purpose machine gun manufactured by Zastava Arms. The M84 is based on the PK machine gun. The M84 chambers the 7.62×54mmR round. It is gas-operated, air-cooled, belt-fed and fully automatic.-M84:...
Heavy machine gun
The heavy machine gun or HMG is a larger class of machine gun generally recognized to refer to two separate stages of machine gun development. The term was originally used to refer to the early generation of machine guns which came into widespread use in World War I...