Chinese Heavy Machine Guns in Ukraine

A number of Chinese small arms and light weapons have turned up in Ukraine since the invasion in 2022, including Type 69 RPGs and Type 56 rifles. Another weapon that has been seen infrequently in Ukraine is the W-85 heavy machine gun. Chambered in the Russian 12.7×108mm round, the W85 uses a long stroke gas piston system, and with mount weighs around 39 kg (86lbs). The W85 is predominantly an export weapon and has seen use around the world.

The W85 was first seen in imagery from Ukraine in late October 2022, mounted on what appears to be a Fort Ranger pick-up. This technical was seen in a series of photos through November, with the gun mounted on a pintle. The source suggests it was used to shoot down Shahed-136/Geran-2 one-way munitions (long range kamikaze drones) when they first began to appear in southern Ukraine.

The next sighting came in January 2024, when a photo of Ukrainian Territorial Defence forces posing next to another technical was shared. The gun appears to be mounted on a locally-produced mount on the back of a Nissan Navara.

In February 2025, 122nd Separate Territorial Defense Brigade shared photos of what they describe as a ‘mobile fire team’ equipped with a pick-up and a HMMWV. As well as an W85, an M2 Browning and a DShK. A month later at the start of March Weapons Illustrated shared a video showing a W85 being disassembled. The gun in the video can be identified as a Norinco CS/LM3 HMG from the receiver markings. This is interesting as the CS/LM3 is an export version of the W85 chambered in the 12.7x99mm NATO caliber. It is unclear if any of the other W85s sighted are also this variant and chambered, as imagery doesn’t enable us to positively identify them.

What isn’t clear is where the W85s or CS/LM3 originated from. One possible origin is that they were part of a seized shipment of small arms and light weapons supplied to the Houthis in Yemen by Iran, which was intercepted en route. It is worth noting, however, that no heavy machine guns have been seen in the released imagery of seized shipments.

On 22 May, the 122nd Separate Territorial Defense Brigade shared photos of a W85 outfitted for engaging Russian UAVs like Shahed-136s. The gun appears to have a high-power light mounted.

On 25 October, Ukrainian photographer Mykyta Kuznetsov photographed a mobile anti-drone unit on the outskirts of Kharkiv. The unit was photographed with their pick-up mounted with a W85 on a pintle. The Ford Ranger’s bed has been removed and replaced with a circular platform to allow the gunner to move more easily when engaging moving targets.

The number of W85 in Ukraine is unknown but likely small. It is unclear how the guns seen in 2022 arrived in country or if any of those seen subsequently originated from the US’ transfer of seized Iranian arms shipments. It appears that the guns have largely been issued to Territorial Defence Force units, which are predominantly tasked with air defence operations against Russian Shahed one-way munitions.

Addendum: There has been at least one sighting of a Chinese Type 54, a clone of the DSHk, in Ukrainian service dating from March 2024.

Chinese Type 54 HMG in service with Ukrainian forces during training, March 2024 pic.twitter.com/ZmhMfBqEIc
— B-AREV (@trip_to_valkiri) March 14, 2024

Update – 17/11/25:

An additional photo of a W85, dating from 2023, posted by the 241st Separate Brigade of the Territorial Defence Force.

Support Us: If you enjoyed this video and article please consider supporting our work here. We have some great perks available for Patreon Supporters – including early access to custom stickers and early access to videos! Thank you for your support!

Vintage SIG Sauer Brochures

POV – You’re just back from an exciting day walking around the 1989 Arms Expo. You begin unpacking all of the brochures about the latest cutting edge firearms that you picked up! You start with some SIG brochures a nice man from Bern enthusiastically gave you….

APILAS in Ukraine

The APILAS or Armour-Piercing Infantry Light Arm System, developed by France’s GIAT Industries in the early 1980s, is perhaps one of the rarest shoulder-fired anti-armour weapon systems to appear in Ukraine. APILAS is a 112mm anti-armour weapon with a 1.5kg shaped charge warhead capable of penetrating more than 750mm or rolled homogeneous armour.

The APILAS seen in Ukraine are most likely to have originated from either France or Finland, with Finland being the more likely.

In late February 2022, with Russian forces massed on Ukraine’s borders, the Finnish government made a rare public declaration of military aid to Ukraine. This included figures for a number of different weapon systems. The announcement stated: “Finland will deliver 2,500 assault rifles, 150,000 cartridges for the assault rifles, 1,500 single-shot anti-tank weapons.” The announcement didn’t specify the type of anti-tank weapons to be sent; however, and from Finish inventory these may have included APILAS, M72 LAWs or even NLAWs.

An APILAS seen in a video dating from 2021, filmed during fighting on the Donbas line of contact *(via social media)*

APILAS have been seen in Ukraine before Russia’s invasion in 2022, one was seen in a video dating from November 2021. It is unclear when the first APILAS were first transferred to Ukraine, and the weapons seen subsequently may originate from an earlier, pre-2022 invasion transfer.

APILAS in a Ukrainian armoury, c.2023 *(via social media)*

In April 2023 a photo of an APILAS in a Ukrainian armoury surfaced, sadly no markings are visible in the image. Several months later, on 19 and 20 June, Red Line Team, a unit affiliated with the Ukrainian security services special forces unit, SBU-Alpha, shared imagery from a range trip where a wide variety of anti-armour systems were fired. One of the weapons featured in the video was an APILAS.

APILAS have also been seen with the Assault Bastards, a unit believed to be part of the Kraken Regiment’s 2nd Assault Company, which is part of the Department of Active Operations of Ukraine’s Intelligence Directorate (the GUR). On 13 May, the unit shared a group photo which also featured three APILAS.

Most recently Shybenyk.Squad, another unit with Kraken’s 2nd Assault Company, shared a photo of an APILAS. This photo also appears to have possibly been taken at a range rather than in the field. Speaking to Shybenyk.Squad they explained that they have a decent number of APILAS in store and have used them operationally.

APILAS has a reputation for having considerable concussive force when firing but Shybenyk.Squad noted that it’s blast isn’t that bad comparatively, describing it as ‘not critical’, during a recent trip to the training range the unit test fired 6 APILAS.

While APILAS are rarely seen in imagery from the conflict Shybenyk.Squad noted that they have a significant number of them in stores. They favour them for operations where more expensive complex systems, like NLAW or Javelin, may be lost. Shybenyk.Squad explained that “they can definitely be useful in certain situations… [systems such as] NLAW are much more expensive, high-tech, more effective, but losing it is much more problematic and in some risky tasks it is better to take a less expensive weapon.” In general they noted that they favour the AT4 and RGW-90 Matador “due to the weight to the corresponding firepower and ease of use.”

Operationally they favour the APILAS’ for its penetration capabilities, with sources suggesting it can penetrate around 2 metres of concrete, making it is an excellent weapon for mouse-holing – breaching structures. Shybenyk.Squad explained that they “once used it to break through a small wall to storm a building from a blind side not protected by the enemy.”

APILAS is one of the most rarely seen anti-armour weapons currently being fielded in Ukraine so I’m pleased to be able to share some good first hand imagery and feedback on its capabilities.

Special thanks to Shybenyk.Squad for sharing additional imagery and sharing their thoughts on APILAS.

New Fellowships from Centre for the Study of Arms History

Friends and colleagues at the Centre for the Study of Arms History (CSAH), a relatively new international organisation which is supporting academic research into arms history, reached out and asked if I could help get the word out about a pair of funded fellowships to support researchers who are just starting out. I’m all for this and I know that some people who follow TAB are researchers themselves and might be interested in applying.

Below is a video from historian Ashley Hlebinsky, one of the founders of the CSAH, explaining the fellowships and what they offer.

The ARES Emerging Experts Fellowship

Available to early-career researchers undertaking or having recently completed postgraduate study, the ARES Emerging Experts Fellowship supports the production of a discrete, publishable output—such as a journal article, technical report, or literature review—on a topic related to the study of contemporary arms or munitions (1800 to present day). Fellows are selected based on research excellence and potential, and are matched with a mentor from the ARES team. The fellowship provides financial and practical support to advance original, high-quality research and help position recipients as future leaders in the field. More info here.

Funder: Armament Research Services (ARES)
Application deadline: 31 November 2025
Appointments made: November–December
Term of appointment: 1 year
Location: Remote
Value of appointment: $1,000 USD

The CFM Early-career Fellowship

The Cody Firearms Museum (CFM) Early-career Fellowship is awarded to a researcher with fewer than three years of experience in arms history or a related field, and specifically includes those individuals seeking to pivot from an unrelated field or professionalise their informal experience (e.g., collectors). The CFM Early-career Fellowship is awarded to support a project which will benefit from access to the world-class collections of the museum, which forms part of the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming. Interactions with the Museum’s symposium, Arsenals of History, and journal, Armax: The Journal of Contemporary Arms, are encouraged. More info here.

Funder: Cody Firearms Museum (CFM)
Application deadline: 31 November 2025
Appointments made: November–December
Term of appointment: 1 year
Location: Remote with subsidised travel
Value of appointment: $1,500 USD

Find out more about the fellowships at www.armshistory.org

The SCAR Is Dead, Long Live the SCAR

This week, some surprising news broke: FN America confirmed that production of all SCAR variants had ceased. Rumours began to circulate last week, and a subsequent post on r/FNSCAR claimed that “both the US and Belgium plants have ended production of all (RCH and NRCH) SCAR 16S, 17S, AND 20S and all that is left is what is currently on the market.”

This led to FN social media channels being inundated by questions asking if the rumours were true. On Wednesday, FN America’s social media team began confirming the news, replying to posts on X, Facebook and Instagram. However, this raised additional questions: Is production in Belgium also set to end, or just in the US? What about spares and support? What about ongoing military contracts and support for weapons already in service around the world? Notably, many of FN America’s replies referred to the ‘legacy SCAR’, suggesting that there may be an updated ‘non-legacy’ SCAR in the works.

Finally, on 16 October, FN America posted a statement confirming the news officially. This statement explained that while production of all SCAR variants (except the SCAR 15P pistol) in the US was ending, “none of this affects FN’s global military SCARs – these are still in demand and still in production.”

Naturally, there was a lot of speculation about what FN would replace the SCAR with. The FN IWS, developed by engineers at FN America, was often highlighted as the probable successor. The FN Individual Weapon System, chambered in steel-cased 6.5x43mm round, was developed for a requirement set out by the Irregular Warfare Technology Support Directorate (IWTSD). It has since garnered interest from the special forces of a number of nations an FN recently announced they’d supplied operational test samples to enable ‘critical feedback’ for further refinement. Despite this the IWS isn’t yet a fully matured system.

*The FN IWS on display at SHOT Show 2023 (Matthew Moss)*

There is also the Mid Range Gas Gun (MRGG) rifles which were developed for US SOCOM. MRGG-A is a requirement for a 6.5 Creedmoor chambered ‘assault’ rifle. FN’s MRGG-A submission introduced internal changes, a new combination forward assist and brass deflector as well as ejection port cover and added an AR-style charging handle. I took a look at one of the prototypes at SHOT 2023.

*FN’s MRGG-A submission displayed at SHOT 2023 (Matthew Moss)*

As such, I think FN are likely to introduce a new generation of SCAR embodying improvements developed in recent years. The SCAR Mk3 will probably be a product improvement with new features and refinements bringing it in line with the latest weapons from competitors like the HK433, SIG SPEAR-LT and CZ Bren 3.

We may already have seen the FN’s successor to the legacy SCAR in a photo taken at the 2025 Cranfield Close Combat Symposium. At the centre of the photograph is a SCAR-like rifle with some noticeable changes to the upper and lower receivers, the gas system and the forend.

*FN UK display at CSS 2025 (FN via social media)*

Will the new rifle be called SCAR Mk3? This remains to be seen. Clues began to emerge earlier this year when FN trademarked a new product name, registering the name ARKA around the world [UK, Australia, US]. ARKA is listed as a trademark for a firearm/assault rifle. It remains to be seen if ARKA will be the name of the new FN rifle but it would align well with the new designation scheme started with the EVOLYS. Time will tell which approach FN takes and what their next generation of infantry rifles will look like.

Introduced in 2004, the SCAR has had an interesting service life all around the world, and while the Mk2’s days appear to be coming to a close it’s likely the SCAR’s legacy will continue within the engineering genetics of FN’s rifles for some time to come.

History of Weapons and War – Shutting Down

Sadly the History of Weapons and War video platform, set up by Ian of Forgotten Weapons (and featuring content creators including myself British Muzzleloaders, Bloke on the Range, Chieftain, and 9Hole Reviews amongst many more great channels) is set to close down at this end of the month. If you used the platform and supported my work there – thank you very much.

Special thanks to Ian for setting up and running this platform and for very kindly inviting me to join the project. It was great to be a part of a community of content creators which put together videos on the more nuanced, academic or technical side of guns and small arms.

Over the last year or so HoWW really subsidised my work in the sense that it provided a solid, reliable income – which YouTube sadly never has. It justified the hours of research, editing and production which go into most of my videos.

I love making videos and content on the topics I think are important and interesting and I hope I’ll be able to continue doing that but I can only say that since HoWW began YT has only gotten worse in terms of supporting my (and probably others) work in this area.

Annoyingly, Playeur, another video platform I joined about 5 years ago also closed down this month – this again shrinks the number of places that TAB videos can be found. We seem to be in a contracting space where more serious firearms content no longer has many viable homes.

So I’ll soldier on as long as I can justify taking the average of a solid couple of days out of my working week to make the content that I (and hopefully you guys) enjoy.

If you’d like to support the work I do on TAB (beyond very helpfully sharing my work with friends – thank you!) then the best thing you can do is head over to our Patreon page and check that out. You get all videos early and some thank you perks too! For everyone watching/reading this I’ve set up a discount that’s valid for the next week or so. 25% off joining the TAB Patreon for all HOWW users. Simply head to the page and use the code: TABHOWW25

Thanks as always for your continued support.
– Matt

Hands On With SIG Sauer’s Improved M7 Carbine

Last week at the DSEI defense exhibition in London, we had the opportunity to handle SIG Sauer’s product improved M7 rifle. Over the past year, SIG Sauer has taken user feedback from the US armed forces and refined the M7; the result is a handier weapon which feels more like a fighting rifle.

M7 Product Improved, with 10.5in barrel, at DSEI 2025 (Matthew Moss)

One of the key criticisms of the M7 is its weight, with the M7 weighing in at around 9.8 pounds (4.46 kg) with its SLX suppressor. By comparison, the improved M7 weighs in at around 7.5lbs (3.5kg) unloaded, with a suppressor but without an optic. This makes the refined M7 a full kilogram (2.2lbs) lighter.

M7 Product Improved at DSEI 2025, with suppressor removed (Matthew Moss)

M7 Product Improved at DSEI 2025, with suppressor mounted (Matthew Moss)

SIG Sauer achieved this weight reduction in a number of ways; the barrel has been shortened from 13 to 10.5 inches, and some of the internal components, such as the bolt, have been lightened. SIG explained that the muzzle velocity of the rifle has only been slightly decreased by the barrel length change, with the improved M7 achieving around 2,800-2,900 FPS (870 m/s) compared to the 3,000 FPS with the original 13-inch barrel. SIG say this still more than meets the Army’s ballistic and armor penetration requirements.

M7 Product Improved with new shorter SLX suppressor at DSEI 2025 (Matthew Moss)

The barrel itself has a lighter profile, and the handguard has been shortened and reprofiled to match the new barrel length. SIG have also removed the folding stock latch, with the fixed stock saving several grams. Arguably, for some applications, this is weight that could be justified to maintain the ability to fold the weapon’s stock for a more compact profile – better suited for vehicle operations.

M7 Product Improved with fixed stock at DSEI 2025 (Matthew Moss)

In addition to a shorter barrel, SIG Sauer has also shortened the SLX suppressor which is paired with the M7, by approximately an inch; this helps improve the rifle’s balance. SIG have also paired the new shorter suppressor with a new lightweight thermal shield, which significantly reduces the heat signature of the suppressor. SIG are also offering a mesh shroud (similar to that seen issued with SURG kits) and an anti-mirage shroud. With the thermal shield, the suppressor’s heat glow under night vision and thermal optics only becomes visible at around 100 rounds, rather than 40 rounds without the shield.

M7 Product Improved muzzle close-up at DSEI 2025 (Matthew Moss)

SIG’s work on the M7 was undoubtedly driven by US military feedback and a desire for refinements, but it is worth noting that it is unclear whether the rifle seen at DSEI will be the configuration the military moves towards in the future. Another variant of the improved rifle, with the shorter barrel and new handguard but a new upper receiver profile, was seen recently at the Maneuver Warfighter Conference 2025 in a released (and subsequently redacted) photo shared by the US Army. The rifle is also seen to be equipped with a Millbrook Strategic Services MFMD suppressor.

M7 Product Improved at DSEI 2025 (Matthew Moss)

The US Army now has around 25,000-30,000 M7 rifles in inventory; it is unlikely that rifles already in service will be retrofitted to the new M7 Product Improved spec. The iterative refinement of the M7 isn’t a surprise; testing, feedback and improvement are key to the Next Generation Squad Weapons program’s spiral development strategy. As such the M7 and M250 only recently completed desert environmental testing with troops in August. Time will tell if the configuration seen at DSEI (or something similar) is adopted by the US Army to supplement the M7s currently in service. In the meantime questions regarding the M7 PI’s accuracy, reliability, parts wear and signatures are yet to be definitively answered but it is interesting to see the potential direction of refinement the rifle is moving in.

Update – 24/9/25:

A social media video shared by the US Army highlighting a visit by the Secretary of the Army to the 101st Airborne included a brief shot of a board that offered some details on the “M7 PIE” and the “M7 ‘Carbine'”. (H/T to @TangirayL) PIE standing for ‘Product Improvement Effort’.

The board lists the major changes made to the two rifles and gives some weight and length specs on the variants. This would indicate that rather than just one improved variant there are two and the one shown at DSEI is the M7 ‘Carbine’ (or PIE RAPTOR).

Update 14/10/25:

At AUSA 2025 SIG Sauer displayed both the product improved M7 [which SIG refer to as the M7 Enhanced Rifle] and the product improved M7 carbine. Solider Systems Daily shared good side by side photos illustrating the two new versions of the M7. Noteably the design of the handguard between the M7 PIE Carbine seen at DSEI and AUSA differs in their side MLOK configurations.

SSD also reports that: “regarding barrel life. The program requirement was for 5,000 rounds which is the same specification as the M4. However, SIG has noted barrel life for the M7 in excess of 10,000 rounds.”

Taiwan’s Hellfire Truck

On 14 August, Taiwan’s Military News Agency YouTube channel, run by Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense, shared a video update on new technologies including Taiwan’s new Cheetah IFV, drones and new T112 rifles. Another system showcased briefly was a commercial truck mounted with a Hellfire twin rail firing post.

The video shows what appears to be a commercial Isuzu truck being outfitted with a firing post and sensor system. The Hellfire Truck has been developed by the 209th Arsenal of Taiwan’s Armaments Bureau.

The development comes as Taiwan seeks conventional and asymmetrical methods of countering a potential Chinese invasion. Taiwan’s Hellfires are normally launched from Cobra and Apache attack helicopters but the new truck-mount may allow them to be used if Taiwan’s attack helicopters are suppressed by Chinese air defences. It also provides a new mobile method of utilising the missiles from the ground.

Alongside the firing post the truck also has what is likely a small radar and a sensor turret with electro-optical and infrared cameras and perhaps a laser designator. This is mounted on a telescoping mast which raises out of the roof of the truck’s cargo area.

In the video we are shown the mounting of the mast base and an A-frame to hold the Hellfire rail, before Taiwanese troops are seen loading and firing a AGM-114L LongBow Hellfire. The AGM-114L has a 20lbs or 9kg tandem shaped charge high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT). It uses a fire and forget millimeter-wave (MMW) radar seeker guidance system. The footage shows the missile being fired at a shipping container floating off-shore – this potentially simulates the engagement of a PLA-Navy landing craft.

The Taiwanese development is reminiscent of the commercial vans equipped with Hellfire-derived Brimstone missiles seen in Ukraine. We have previously covered these Brimstone-launch platforms in a number of article/videos. The Brimstone vans seen in Ukraine were developed by the UK to provide a mobile launch platform for using Brimstone as as a surface to surface missile. While Hellfire isn’t as sophisticated as Brimstone the laser guided and millimeter-wave radar-guided Hellfire variants can be used effectively against ground or naval targets. In a brief to-camera segment Colonel Su, with the 209th Arsenal, notes that “during launch, we may need to modify the firing logic to ensure accurate impact,” adding that “this is a key technical challenge we must overcome” suggesting the targeting process for the system is still being refined.

The concealability and mobility provided by a truck-based system may allow Taiwanese forces to rapidly move to threatened coastal areas and quickly engage enemy vessels or landed enemy vehicles or positions. The system also has the benefit of being comparatively cheap to produce, with the sensor suite and missiles being the most expensive elements of the system. Colonel Su notes that “the vehicle-mounted missile system is designed for asymmetric warfare” and as such is somewhat easy to conceal within an urban area.

It’s unclear if Taiwan was inspired by Ukraine’s Brimstone vans but given the threat Taiwan faces the ability to think outside the box and deploy asymmetric assets alongside conventional ones will be essential.

Ukraine’s MANPADS-Unmanned Ground Vehicle

Following on from our recent examination of RPG-UGVs a new armed unmanned ground vehicle variant has appeared – the MANPADS-UGV. MANPADS or Man-Portable Air Defence Systems have been a key weapon during the war in Ukraine. They enable troops to engage drones and UAVs of various sizes as well as helicopters.

On 4 August, photographers Libkos, shared a video showcasing an Igla-1 MANPADS mounted on a four-wheeled UGV operated by Ukraine’s 28th Mechanized Brigade. In an Instagram post, Libkos explained the idea behind the MANPADS-UGV:

“If before they were quite easy to shoot down with MANPADS, now Russian UAVs control every movement of our infantrymen and often do not even allow them to leave the trench. That is why the guys from @28ombr created this robotic platform. It independently guides and hits any large air target. The guys have already tested it in action and it already has one enemy helicopter on its account. So we are collecting 10 more such platforms. This is an effective and innovative weapon that is independently manufactured by the military from 28 Ombr.”

Strela on a UGV. #DareToDreamBig #UkraineRussiaWar #UkraineWar #SALW #Ukraine #MANPADS pic.twitter.com/smhBZzrb7y
— Matthew Moss | The Armourer's Bench (@historicfirearm) August 4, 2025

The available imagery, shared by Libkos and the brigade, shows the UGV being test-fired. The Igla is mounted on an angled mount, which seems to have a degree of elevation and traverse. There appears to be a motor and servo system attached to the front of the weapon to act on its trigger. Behind this is what may be a camera and transmitter/receiver. In part of the promo video a pair of operators are seen in a nearby trench, one wearing a headset for the UGV’s camera feed.

Ukrainian media outlet Defender reports that the MANPADS-UGV has been named “Alycha”.

It’s difficult to tell how the system would be used in practice or how effective it would be. MANPADS such as Igla-1 use infrared homing and require the operator to track the target before launching. The operator has to visually detect the target, activate the power supply unit, aim at the target via the fore and rear sights and pull the trigger. While the operator doesn’t have to track the target once the missile is fired they must track it immediately prior to launch. How capable the UGV is of doing this is currently unclear. For the best image clarity and response time for identifying and tracking a target it would make sense for the UGV to utilise a fibre-optic control cable but there is no evidence of this in the available imagery.

It is unclear if the system can be equipped with different types of MANPADS. In theory the UGV could be mounted with Igla, Strela, Piorun or even Stinger, as such one variable to consider is the system’s engagement range. The Igla-1’s operational engagement range is 6km (3.5 miles) with an 11,000 feet engagement ceiling. Given Ukraine’s focus on defensive strong-points the gap between positions able to engage aerial threats with a MANPADS may be relatively wide. If small Ukrainian units are defending strong-points along a stretch of front they may have a limited embedded anti-air capability. A MANPADS team would have to expose itself to reach various points along the unit’s sector of the front so having a UGV which can be rapidly deployed makes sense.

Nevertheless the concept is an interesting one. the 28th Mechanised Brigade claims that the system has already been used operationally and the UGV has successfully engaged an enemy helicopter. Verifiable proof of this kill has not yet been provided. There are no doubt useful applications for the system, such as patrolling an area, as a quick reaction asset and in removing the need for troops to leave cover to engage aerial threats.

Check out our other articles on UGV developments.

Rare M60 Appearances in Ukraine

There are a lot of different types of general purpose machine guns in use in Ukraine and one of the most surprising to appear so far is the M60. The first appearance of an M60 in Ukraine came in September 2024, when the 23rd Mechanised Brigade shared an album of training photos which included an individual firing an M60D.

A month later the same brigade shared another photograph of the M60D. The M60D is usually mounted on helicopters as a door gun and as such it has been adapted with no stock or traditional rear sight, instead it has a pair of rear spade grips and a large ring sight. It’s unclear how many M60Ds are in Ukraine or where the guns originated from as a number of potential donor countries operate M60Ds as door guns. It may be the case that a donor nation provided the gun aboard a donated helicopter, we have previously seen French AANF-1 GPMGs appear in Ukraine – likely supplied with VAB APCs. Alternatively, the gun(s) may simply have been provided by a donor for whom it was surplus to requirements and ready for disposal.

Another sighting of an M60D came in May 2025, when the 65th Mechanized Brigade shared a series of photographs of a machine gun team training with one of the guns. Sadly, no markings are visible to confirm if this might be the same gun as previously seen with the 23rd Mechanised Brigade.

The M60D is not the easiest variant to utilise in a ground role with the absence of a stock to shoulder the weapon making it somewhat difficult to aim and keep on target while firing. It does have a folding carry handle but it also had an exposed trigger linkage which is far from ideal for ground use. The best use for this variant would probably be as a pintle-mounted an anti-air gun.

Most recently a new variant of the M60 was seen in a photo posted, on 18 July, by the 20th Separate Regiment of Unmanned Systems “K-2”. The gun appears to be either an M60E3 or an M60E4, with what appears to be a 22 inch barrel, the first ground role variant to be seen in-country. As with the M60Ds it is unclear where this M60 may have originated from, there are only a small number of nations which operate the weapons which may have donated it. Elements of the Czech Republic’s special operations forces operate E4s in small numbers but its unclear if this is the source of the gun seen in the recent photo.

It remains unclear just how many of the various variants of M60 are on the ground in Ukraine and where they came from but it is one of the weapons that I’ll continue to track, if you spot any let me know!

Update 12/10/25:

Serhii Filimonov, a member of the 1st Assault Regiment (Da Vinci Wolves), has shared several photos that appear to include an M60E4.

There is also a short video of him firing the weapon. Below is a still from the video.

Update – 17/11/25:

On 14 November, Raven Group, affiliated with the Ukrainian Directorate of Intelligence, shared a serious of range photos featuring an M60E4 (in what appears to be the Mk43 Mod 0 configuration). [H/t to Praise the Steph].