Mk24 Katana

The Mk24 Katana was the standard service rifle of Metahuman Alliance forces from 2051-2098. It is an automatic, gas-operated, mid-length barrel bullpup rifle with fire selection modes for single shot, three-round burst, and automatic fire. It fires 6.8x43mm caseless jacketed ammunition and carries 40 rounds in a standard magazine.

Development
Development of a new dedicated service rifle began in 2048, almost immediately upon founding of the Alliance. Development was led by Velduni Arms and initially called for a medium caliber rifle firing standard cased ammunition. Upon the discovery of Sensgadr the following year, plans were scrapped while specialists reverse engineered Sensgadrun caseless ammunition. Upon the Fall of Tellios in 2050, development was taken over by Duglinden-Dunkrel Defense Industries (3DI) and Ulmdras Armaments. Field tests were conducted over the course of 2051 and the Mk24 received overwhelmingly positive reviews.

Initial Deployment
In late 2051, the Mk24 was designated the standard infantry rifle of the Metahuman Alliance and production was ramped up to rapidly fill this need. Allied militaries soon followed suit and by the Battle of Earth it had already been adopted and widely deployed by the DRG, DDC, EEF, EDF, AVB, Loframi Army, and Army of Tula.

Variants
While the Mk24 is a good general purpose infantry weapon, it is readily adapted to more specialized roles to fill niches in squads and platoons.

The most widely recognized variant of the Mk24 Katana is the Mk27 Longbow designated marksman rifle. It features an extended barrel and improved sighting and stabilization at the expense of size and rate of fire (the Mk27 has no automatic fire selection mode).