At BEDEX 2026 (Brussels European Defence Exhibition), held March 12–14 in Brussels, Polish Armaments Group (PGZ) presented the WLKM 12.7 mm multi-barrel machine gun, developed by Zakłady Mechaniczne Tarnów (ZMT), which in the public sphere has been nicknamed the Monster from Tarnów.
Photo: Jakub Link-Lenczowski, MILMAG
The weapon system will enter service with the Polish Armed Forces in a quantity of 36 units, as part of 18 battery modules of anti-aircraft systems (BMO) capable of countering unmanned aerial systems, codenamed San.
The technology demonstrator was first presented in 2016, and was subsequently incorporated into the UAS Countermeasure System project carried out in 2018–2022 by a consortium consisting of Zakłady Mechaniczne Tarnów (leader) and the Military University of Technology. The project received funding from the National Centre for Research and Development under the program Future Technologies for Defense – Young Scientists Competition. The system made its public debut during the 29th International Defence Industry Exhibition (MSPO) 2021 in Kielce.
From 2021, it underwent field testing in Ustka and was displayed at MSPO 2022 mounted on a Ford F6060 chassis. The following year it was integrated onto the Waran 4×4 Tactical Multi-Purpose Vehicle, and in 2025 it was installed in a remote weapon station on the 4-ton PIAP HUNTeR unmanned ground vehicle.
Now, as part of the aforementioned San program, it will be installed on the KIA KLTV Cab Chassis Truck 4P platforms contracted yesterday. The project carries the internal designation Autonomous System for Countering Unmanned Aerial Systems, codename KINMA-R.
According to information obtained by the MILMAG editorial team, the WLKM 12.7 mm machine gun has entered serial production. The weapon has completed its factory testing cycle, and preparatory work is currently underway for extended factory trials resulting from the full configuration of the WLKM 12.7 mm firing unit within the San program, which will precede military qualification tests. Deliveries under the San program are currently planned for 2026–2027. In parallel, capabilities and opportunities to offer the system on export markets from 2027 onward are being analyzed, along with further development of the design.
The WLKM multi-barrel machine gun is a Gatling-type externally powered weapon chambered for 12.7 × 99 mm NATO (.50 BMG) ammunition fed from a disintegrating M9 link belt. The use of a four-barrel rotating cluster allows a rate of fire of 3,600 rounds per minute. The weapon weighs 50 kg (without mount), has an overall length of 1,300 mm, and barrel length of 900 mm. It features an effective range of up to 2,200 m, with an ammunition capacity of 400 rounds.
The WLKM can be used as armament for the W-3PL Głuszec helicopter turret and an airborne gun pod, as well as for land vehicles (including those mentioned above), naval vessels, and fixed or portable firing positions. The weapon is intended for engaging personnel as well as ground and aerial targets with varying levels of protection.