Heckler & Koch MP7 Country Germany Type Submachine gun Manufacturer Heckler & Koch Introduction 2001 Specifications Weight 1.9 kg (4.19 lb) Length 590 mm (23.2 in) stock extended / 380 mm (15.0 in) stock collapsed Barrel length 180 mm (7.1 in) Width 42 mm (1.7 in) Height 172 mm (6.8 in) Cartridge 4.6x30mm Action Gas-operated, rotating bolt Rate of fire 950 + 200 rounds/min Muzzle velocity Approx. 710 m/s (2,329 ft/s) Effective range 200 m Feed system 20 or 40-round box magazine

The MP7 is a German submachine gun manufactured by Heckler & Koch (H&K) and chambered for the 4.6x30mm cartridge. It was designed in conjunction with the new cartridge to meet NATO requirements published in 1989 calling for a personal defense weapon (PDW) class firearm with a greater ability to defeat body armor than current weapons, which are limited due to the use of conventional pistol cartridges. The MP7 went into production in 2001. It is a direct rival to the FN P90 also developed in response to the NATO requirement. The weapon has been revised since its introduction and the current production version is the MP7A1.

The proliferation of high-quality body armor has begun to make guns that fire pistol ammunition (such as HK\'s earlier MP5 or USP) ineffective. In response to this trend, HK designed the MP7 (along with the brand new UCP, which uses the same ammunition) to penetrate body armor, but small enough to be used in place of either a pistol or a submachine gun.