At the International Exhibition of Defense Systems and Equipment Partner-2011, held from June 28 to July 1 this year in Belgrade, the Serbian weapons manufacturer Zastava Arms showed a new 5, 56 mm M09 / M10 machine gun.
The Serbs do not hide that the design of their weapons is based on the famous PKM machine gun. This is evidenced by the receiver cover and the receiver itself, characteristic of the PKM. In addition, in the M09 model, the machine-gun belt box is also copied from Russian weapons. The M10 model uses a box for the machine gun belt from the M84 machine gun, slightly different from the PKM.
But this design also has its drawbacks. This refers to the supply of ammunition to the machine gun. The Serbian machine gun is equipped with a bracket that allows the use of conventional machine gun belt boxes with the FN Minimi. However, this condition determines that the ammunition will be fed from the right, and not from the left, as in the PKM. And since the belt tensioner is located on the right, the machine gun belt will interfere every time when reloading the weapon.
The weapon has fixed mechanical sights, and a universal mounting rail is placed on the receiver cover. The M09 has a simple stock, while the M10 has four Picanti bars. The machine gun is equipped with an ergonomic pistol grip and simple bipod, also copied from the PKM / M84.
The principle of operation of the machine gun is based on the removal of gases from the bore, the barrel is locked by turning the bolt. The trigger mechanism of this weapon is adapted for continuous shooting and firing in series of 3 shots. Unlike most similar models, the M09 or M10 are not equipped with removable barrels.
The mass of the M09 / M10 is 6.5 kg, including the barrel - 1.1 kg. Overall length - 1250 mm, barrel length - 495 mm (460 mm without flame arrester). The barrel has 6 right-hand grooves with a pitch of 178 mm. Muzzle velocity - 890 m / s Rate of fire - 700 rounds / min.
