The Sumitomo NTK-62^[6] (62式7.62mm機関銃, Rokuni-shiki Nana-ten-rokuni-miri Kikanjū) is the standard issue general-purpose machine gun of the Japan Self-Defense Forces. It's also known as the Type 62 GPMG.^[7]

When first issued, it fulfilled both light and medium machine gun support throughout the JGSDF. Though the Sumitomo Heavy Industries' M249 firing the smaller 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge has largely replaced it in the light machine gun role at the squad level in the JGSDF,^[8][9] the Type 62 still plays the support role at platoon and company level for the infantry as a medium machine gun firing the more powerful 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge. It also continues to be used as a co-axial weapon in various armored vehicles, including tanks and APCs.

Like all modern Japanese-made firearms, it was never exported.^[3]

After years of using the Browning M1919A4 as its standard GPMG during the early days of founding the Japan Self-Defense Forces, NTK-62 GPMG was designed at Nittoku Metal Industry (NTK) in order to market it as the M1919's successor.^[10] The GPMG was made to meet the requirements of the Japanese Defense Agency.^[1]

The designation "62" was present due to the fact that first batches of the NTK-62 were made in 1962 after development started in 1954.^[2] It was specifically adopted on February 15, 1962, effectively replacing the M1919 Browning machine gun in JGSDF service.^[1]

In 2013, SHI was involved in a scandal where NTK-62 test data was falsified on purpose for 5,350 machine guns produced from 1974.^[11]

The Sumitomo NTK-62 is a gas operated machine gun chambered in the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge, belt fed with the use of M13 disintegrating links.^[3] Pressed metal was used in parts of the machine gun during manufacturing in order to reduce overall weight.^[10] While normal 7.62 NATO ammo is used, a version with reduced powder charge is also used.^[10]

It has an unusual feed tray as the pivoting lever is above the bolt in the receiver, rather than in the feed tray cover found on most machine guns.^{[citation needed]}

The design was done based on physique of the Japanese person who would be expected to handle the machine gun.^[12]