Tag: weapons in Ukraine

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.

Update – 17/11/25:

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

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French Machine Guns In Ukraine

Since February 2022, France has provided Ukraine with a wide range of weapon systems and military equipment including self-propelled artillery, armoured personnel carriers, anti-tank guided missiles, hand grenades and air defence systems. In this article/video we’ll look at the rarely seen machine guns which France has provided.

In the summer of 2022 France announced the transfer of armoured personnel carriers and AMX-10 RC armoured fighting vehicles. The APCs appear to have largely consisted of Véhicule de l’Avant Blindé (VAB)s, a wheeled 4×4 which entered French service in the late 1970s and is set to be replaced by the VBMR Griffon. The VABs are largely operated by the 46th Separate Airmobile Brigade and the 47th Mechanised Brigade and have been seen in action since July 2022.

A French FN MAG mounted on a VAB (46 OAeMBr)

The majority of the VABs in Ukrainian service appear to be equipped with 12.7x99mm Browning M2 heavy machine guns, however, some have been seen equipped with 7.62x51mm general purpose machine guns. Most intriguingly, in late May 2023 a photograph of a Ukrainian soldier holding an AANF1 emerged. An earlier video, shared in July 2022, of a VAB in the field may have been mounted with an AANF1 but due to low resolution it is difficult to be definitive. The later May 2023 photograph, however, confirms that France has supplied an unknown quantity of GPMGs. It is likely that the AANF1 was provided along with a VAB, notably the weapon is without its bipod. At the time of writing there have been no further sightings of AANF1s.

Ukrainian combatant with an AANF1 (via social media)

The AANF1 is the 7.62×51mm variant of AA-52, a lever-delayed blowback operated belt-fed machine gun introduced in the 1950s. Since the 2010s, the AANF1 has slowly been superseded by the FN MAG. French FN MAGs have been seen in use with members of the 46th Separate Airmobile Brigade. They have been seen both mounted and dismounted from the VABs. While a significant number of MAG-patterned guns have been provided to Ukraine by numerous countries including the US (M240), Sweden (Ksp 58) and the UK (L7A2) the French MAG 58s are identifiable by the their railed top cover and a handguard attached to the gas tube which provides additional rail space.

A dismounted French FN MAG (46 OAeMBr)

In early November 2022, a video showed the best part of a mechanised battalion equipped with VABs, which are armed with a mix of M2 heavy machine guns and GPMGs. Later in November the 46th Separate Airmobile Brigade shared photos of troops training including several photos of French MAG 58s mounted on VABs. In late January 2023, the Brigade shared a photo of the guns being used in the dismounted role while conducting urban warfare training. Several days later another photo was shared of a dismounted French MAG at a range. Another training photograph of a MAG mounted on a VAB was shared in March 2023.

The French MAGs haven’t been seen in use with any other Ukrainian units so far. But with significant numbers of French armoured vehicles its possible we’ll see further MAGs and AANF1s in the future.

Update 21/10/23:

Update – 10/3/24: The French government has released an updated document listing the equipment and some of the quantities provided to Ukraine. The document states that 210 ‘Mitrailleuse 7.62mm’ (the pattern of gun is not stated) and 710 ‘Mitrailleuse 12.7mm’ (likely M2 Brownings) have been provided between 1 March, 2022 and 1 May, 2024.

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Sources:

Model 1958 general support machine gun – MAG 58, French Ministry of Defence, (source)

NATO automatic weapon model F1 caliber 7.62 mm (AANF1), French Ministry of Defence, (source)

Joint declaration of France and Ukraine, Élysée, (source)

Arms For Ukraine: French Weapons Deliveries To Kyiv, Oryx, (source)

Thank you to Recon UAV on twitter for flagging the French MAGs and to Ukraine Weapons Warfare for bringing the AAFN1 to my attention. Special thanks to Dragonists Society for insights.