Russian aerospace forces pilots, helicopter crews receive new pistols

The compact PLK pistol, developed by Izhevsk Mechanical Plant JSC, is already being issued to helicopter and attack-aircraft pilots, the weapon’s lead design engineer Dmitry Lebedev said.

Lebedev explained that the PLK was designed as a body-carried, last-resort defence for aircrew in the event of ejection. He said the pistol is intended to allow a wounded pilot to defend themself even if only one hand remains usable, Caliber.Az reports per Izvestiya. 

The PLK is notably small and light: its total length is 185 millimetres and the pistol with an empty magazine weighs 740 grams. It uses a 14-round magazine and — according to the manufacturer — is the first Russian compact, short-barrelled handgun chambered for 9×19 mm ammunition. Lebedev added that it can also be loaded with 7N21 high-impulse, armour-piercing rounds.

The weapon features a solid milled frame made of high-strength aluminium and an integrated Picatinny rail, enabling attachment of accessories such as a laser designator or flashlight, the company said.

By Sabina Mammadli