Russia Announces Mass Production of Lebedev MPL and MPL1 Pistols.

On April 21, 2024, Russia announced the start of mass production of the Lebedev Modular Pistol (MPL) and its specialized version, the MPL1, as reported by Dmitry Lebedev to TASS, one of the lead engineers at the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant.
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The Lebedev Modular Pistol (MPL) and its specialized variant, the MPL1, are now being mass-produced. (Picture source: Tass)

The Lebedev Modular Pistol (MPL) and its specialized variant, the MPL1, are now being mass-produced under the aegis of the Kalashnikov Group. This development marks a significant milestone in Russian defensive arms manufacturing. Designed by Dmitry Lebedev, these pistols represent a new generation of armaments intended to replace older models such as the Makarov and Yarigin pistols, reflecting an evolution in the capabilities and versatility expected from handguns in modern warfare.

The Lebedev pistols, including the MPL and MPL1, are recent Russian innovations in the field of handguns. Manufactured by Kalashnikov, these pistols have been in use since 2021 by various branches of the Russian security forces, including the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Aerospace Forces, the FSB, and the National Guard.

The MPL is a semi-automatic pistol weighing 0.80 kg without the magazine, with a length of 205 mm and a barrel of 112 mm. Its design makes it suitable for use in various operational conditions. It is chambered in 9x19 mm Parabellum, a standard caliber for reliability and availability of ammunition, and it has a 16-round magazine.

Both models operate on the principle of barrel recoil, a reliable mechanism for semi-automatic pistols, and offer performance characteristics that meet the demands of modern law enforcement, with the ability to support various customizations thanks to their modular design.

The MPL1, however, is tailored for use with a suppressor. It has a longer 5-inch barrel that is threaded to accommodate a suppressor, and is equipped with suppressor-height sights that would otherwise be obscured by the suppressor.

Both models share basic design elements, including a locked breech with a tilting barrel mechanism, ambidextrous controls such as a push-button magazine release, manual safety, and slide release lever. They also offer a high degree of modularity, allowing for various additions and customizations according to specific user needs.

The development and production of the MPL and MPL1 are part of a broader trend in Russian military manufacturing that focuses on modular and technologically advanced weapons, representing an investment in improving the operational efficiency of Russia's national defense and security apparatus.

Defense News April 2024