The modernized 7.62-mm Degtyaryov DPM light machine gun has begun to be used by Rosgvardiya mobile fire groups to combat unmanned aerial vehicles. The published footage shows the machine gun mounted on a trailer of a mobile firing position, designed for rapid movement and response to air threats.
The use of the DPM has become an example of a time-tested small arms returning to new tasks. Today, such systems are not used as primary infantry weapons, but as mobile means of fire engagement against small air targets at low altitudes.
The Degtyaryov machine gun was created in the late 1920s. The basic DP (Degtyaryov Infantry) model was adopted by the Red Army in 1927 and became one of the main means of fire support for rifle units. In 1944, a modernized version, the DPM, appeared, which improved the reliability of the design and ease of use.
The main advantage of the DPM was its simple design. The machine gun uses gas-operated automation and is chambered for the 7.62×54 mm R rifle cartridge. It is fed from a 47-round disc magazine, and the rate of fire reaches approximately 600 rounds per minute. The weight of the weapon without the magazine is about 7.8 kg, and the effective range is up to 1500 meters.
Despite the age of the design, the DPM retains a number of qualities in demand in modern conditions: reliability, unpretentiousness, and the ability to create a dense stream of fire. These characteristics allow these machine guns to be used as part of mobile crews, where rapid deployment and engagement of low-flying targets are required.