Rheinmetall (and various licensees)

The MG3 is a German general purpose machine gun chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO, a direct evolution of the legendary MG42 of World War II. It retains the MG42's signature roller-locked short recoil operating system, quick-change barrel, and extremely high cyclic rate of approximately 1,200 rounds per minute, giving it a distinctive ripping sound that soldiers describe as 'ripping canvas.' The MG3 features an improved bolt design, a more durable feed mechanism, and a polymer buttstock and pistol grip. It is belt-fed from 50- or 120-round belts and can be mounted on a bipod for the light machine gun role or a tripod for sustained fire. Despite being a design from the 1960s, the MG3 remains in frontline service with the German Bundeswehr and over 30 other national armed forces.