AK-12

AK-12
AK-12 5.45×39mm assault rifle (version before 2020 and 2021 ergonomic upgrades)
Type
Place of originRussia
Service history
In service2018–present
Used bySee Users
Wars
Production history
DesignerMikhail Kalashnikov, Vladimir Zlobin, Sergey Urzhumcev
Designed2011
ManufacturerIzhmash (now Kalashnikov Concern)
Produced2018–present[2]
No. built150,000+
VariantsSee Variants
Specifications
Mass3.5 kg (7.72 lb) empty (AK-12)[3]
3.5 kg (7.72 lb) empty (AK-15)[4]
3.5 kg (7.72 lb) empty (AK-19)[5]
3.8 kg (8.38 lb) empty (AK-308)[6]
Length
  • 922 mm (36.3 in) full length
  • 688 mm (27.1 in) stock folded[3]
Barrel length415 mm (16.3 in)
Cartridge
ActionGas-operated, long-stroke piston, closed rotating bolt
Rate of fire700 rounds/min[3]
Muzzle velocity
  • 880–900 m/s (2,887–2,953 ft/s) (AK-12)
  • 715 m/s (2,346 ft/s) (AK-15)
Effective firing range
  • 440 m (481 yd) point blank (AK-12)[3]
  • 350 m (383 yd) point blank (AK-15)[4]
Maximum firing range3,150 m (3,440 yd)
Feed system
SightsBack-up iron sights and integrated Picatinny rail for various optical sights

The AK-12, "Avtomat Kalashnikova, 2012" (GRAU index 6P70) is a Russian gas-operated assault rifle chambered in 5.45×39mm designed and manufactured by the Kalashnikov Concern (formerly Izhmash), making it the fifth generation of Kalashnikov rifles.[7]

Kalashnikov Concern also offers a variant of the AK-12 chambered in 7.62×39mm, known as the AK-15 (GRAU index 6P71) due to the request of the Russian military. A variant chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO was later unveiled, known as the AK-19 upon the request of international clients. Compact variants of the AK-12 and AK-15 are also under development, respectively the AK-12K and AK-15K, which features a shorter barrel.

The AK-12 project began in 2011 by the IZHMASH factory, which became part of the Kalashnikov Concern as a private venture, in an attempt to participate in the "Ratnik" trials which were held by the Russian army.[8] It was further developed by the Kalashnikov Concern. Throughout its development and evaluation stage it has received multiple modifications to meet the Russian military's standard and to address the Russian army's concerns regarding the cost and issues in fully automatic fire of the earlier prototype models.

It went through three different prototypes in order to improve upon the "range of defects" that were discovered on the prototype models from 2012 to 2015. These were later abandoned in favour of the proven and improved AK-400 prototype, which took over the "AK-12" name designation and became the basis for the finalised model of the AK-12.[9]

  1. ^ "ロシアはシリア紛争でこれまで320以上の兵器の実戦テストを行いました" [Russia has so far Tested More Than 320 Weapons in the Syrian Conflict] (in Japanese). 22 July 2021. Archived from the original on 28 January 2023.
  2. ^ "Kalashnikov launching serial production of AK-12 assault rifle | February 2018 Global Defense Security army news industry | Defense Security global news industry army 2018 | Archive News year". 2 February 2018. Archived from the original on 8 February 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d "Ak-12". Kalashnikov Concern. Archived from the original on 27 November 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  4. ^ a b "AK-15". Kalashnikov Concern. Archived from the original on 2 March 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  5. ^ "AK-19". Kalashnikov Concern. Archived from the original on 2 March 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  6. ^ "AK-308". Kalashnikov Concern. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  7. ^ "AK-12 & AK-15 5th Generation Kalashnikov: Rifles for the 21st Century Russian Military". Small Arms Defense Journal. 10 (V10N4). Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  8. ^ "Modern Firearms - Kalashnikov AK-12 and AK-15 assault rifle (Russia)". modernfirearms.net. 25 January 2012. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  9. ^ "Russian AK-12 Assault Rifles in Service with Qatar". Oryx Blog. Archived from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2021.