AK-12

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AK-12
5.45mm AK-12 6P70 assault rifle at Military-technical forum ARMY-2016 03 noBG.jpg
general information
Military designation: 6P70 ( GRAY index )
Country of operation: Russia
Developer / Manufacturer: Kalashnikov concern
Manufacturer country: RussiaRussia Russia
Production time: since 2017
Model variants: AK-12, AK-12k, RPK-16
Weapon Category: Assault rifle
Furnishing
Overall length: 945 (with shaft) mm
Weight: (unloaded) 3.3 kg
Barrel length : 415 mm
Technical specifications
Caliber : 5.45 × 39 mm M74
Possible magazine fillings : 30, 60 or 95 cartridges
Ammunition supply : Cam or drum magazine
Cadence : 700 rounds / min
Fire types: Single fire , continuous fire
Closure : Swivel head closure with two lugs
Charging principle: Long-stroke gas pressure charger
Lists on the subject

The AK-12 ( Russian Автомат Калашникова образца 2012 года in German about Automat Kalashnikov model of the 2012th year) is a light, modern Russian assault rifle with high modularity that fires 5.45 × 39 mm M74 cartridges. The rifle prototypes were based on a modernized locking system and a newly developed housing that was similar to that of the AEK-971 . The current version of the AK-12 is based on the housing of the AK-74 for reasons of cost . The AK-12 is produced by the Kalashnikov concern and is intended to replace the AK-74M as an infantry rifle in the Russian armed forces. The rifle was developed by the Kalaschnikow design office , which worked closely with the Ischmasch armaments company before it was merged into the Kalashnikov Group.

development

The manufacturer of AK rifles ran into economic difficulties in the years 2009 to 2013, as a large number of weapons from the Cold War era were already in circulation, as were the countries of the former Eastern Bloc such as Bulgaria, Romania, Poland and Hungary emerged as an independent exporting country. In addition, the attempt to open up new markets with new products such as the AK-100 series failed . Any export of civilian weapons to the USA was also blocked by local politics. So they concentrated again on the actual core business and tried to create a weapon for the armed forces of their own country.

From the end of the 2000s, the demands there, especially from special units for a modular weapon, became louder and louder, because due to its design, the AK-74M can only be equipped with accessories to a limited extent. Since the barrel is attached to the lower part of the housing, optics must also be attached to this assembly if they are to maintain their zero point. For this reason, optics must be attached to the lower part of the housing via the side mounting. This is not a problem as long as a single optic is to be mounted. However, since combined aiming systems such as red dot sight plus sight magnifier or spring sights had become standard in the West, a long rail on the back of the case was required. However, since the AK-74M's upper weapon housing is only a cover, no optics can be attached to it. The AK-200 (2010) was presented to the public from 2010 in various stages of development. Mostly it was a direct further development of the AK-74M with a new adjustable shoulder rest, a handguard with four 1913-MIL-STD accessory rails, an assault handle that could also function as a bipod and a special locking mechanism for the housing cover, which is now a 1930 -STD rail for optics. A four-row "Quadmag" with a capacity of 60 rounds was also presented together with the weapon.

In November 2012, the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Dmitri Rogozin proposed that Ischmasch be merged with the neighboring arms manufacturer Ischmech . The restructuring is to be carried out under the control of the state holding Rostechnologii . The new organizational start was accompanied by the development of a new family of weapons.

From 2012 onwards, various models with the names AK-12 were repeatedly presented to the public. In terms of concept, these emerged almost seamlessly from the AK-200 and were intended to bring the Kalashnikov system up to date, especially in terms of modularity and recoil control. These different models are repeatedly referred to differently in the specialist literature.

AK-12 prototype from 2012
with a square smooth housing

AK-12 (2012) The first model presented had a completely new, angular, smooth weapon housing and, in addition to an almost continuous rail on the housing, offered an adjustable shoulder rest, a locking lever that can be operated from both sides and a fire selector lever that can be reached with the thumb on the right side. The model has a muzzle brake with two chambers and a front sight at the barrel end. The rear sight sits on the rail at the rear of the housing, which significantly increases the length of the sight. The model from 2012 had a 3-shot burst that fired at 1000 rounds per minute, in regular fully automatic operation the rate of fire was 600 rounds per minute. Curiously, the model not only had rails on the handguard and housing, but also on the gas block.

Ak-12 (2014) Two years later, a model with slight changes in design was presented. The strange rail on the gas block disappeared and the smooth housing now had reinforcing ribs. The 3-shot burst was eliminated, but the 1913-STD accessory rail on the back of the case became completely continuous.

AK-12 (2015) A year later, the AK-12 was again heavily revised. The housing is now very similar to that of the AEK-971 and a combined grain carrier gas block is used. The muzzle brake now has a chamber. The model can be easily recognized by the red markings for the fire mode.

AK-12 (Ak-400) The current version of the AK-12 is again heavily based on the AK-74M for cost reasons and uses its housing and lock again. The lock and fire selector lever can no longer be operated from both sides. However, the lockable lid with the 1930-STD accessory rail, the combined front sight gas block and the muzzle brake, which reduces recoil, were adopted. New additions are a foldable and adjustable shoulder rest according to the western M4 standard and an adjustable gas system for the easier use of silencers. The model has a rate of fire of 700 rounds per minute. This current stage is often referred to as the AK-400 series and thus delimited from the previous prototypes which are referred to as the AK-200 series. In January 2018, the current form of the AK-12 (AK-400) was officially introduced to the Russian armed forces with the GRAU index number 6P70, with special units being the first to be taken into account during the conversion.

AK-15 Largely identical to the current AK-12, but set up in caliber 7.62 × 39 mm. This means that the weapon meets the requirement for a weapon that is compatible with the new AK-12 and uses the old caliber. Special forces in particular appreciate the higher man-stopping effect and the better soundproofing of 7.62 × 39 mm.

AK-12k Short version of the AK-12 with a barrel length comparable to that of the AK-105. The weapon uses 5.45 × 39 mm M74 cartridges and has its own muzzle brake.

AK-15k Short version of the AK-15 with a barrel length comparable to that of the AK-105. The weapon uses 7,62 × 39 mm M43 cartridges and has its own muzzle brake.

RPK-16 is a light machine gun in the shape of the AK-12. It is largely identical to the AK-12 (AK-400), but has a heavy barrel, a more massive buttstock and is offered with a 96-round drum magazine. The rate of fire is 800 rounds per minute.

construction

The AK-12 is a further development of the AK-74 . The loading mechanism and lock have been practically retained. The mechanism has been optimized so that the weapon lies more quietly and enables a higher hit density. The rear sight moved from the barrel base to the rear of the housing cover. The lid has been massively reinforced for this and is no longer made of thin embossed steel. The longer line of sight makes targeting a little more precise. The shaft can be folded down or extended telescopically.

flexibility

In order to meet as many requirements of military and police operations as possible, the AK-12 is modularly expandable. In principle, the magazines of the older predecessor model can be used, as well as the larger magazines of the RPK-74 light machine gun . GP-30 grenade launchers can still be used. For the assembly of optics and additional devices, Picatinny rails according to STANAG 2324 were integrated on the housing cover and on the fore-end.

Web links

Commons : AK-12  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ BREAKING: Russian Army Adopts AK-12, AK-15, AEK-971, and AEK-973 Rifles for Military Service. In: The Firearms Blog. Retrieved March 6, 2019 .
  2. ↑ Kalashnikov AK-12 and AK-15 assault rifle (Russia). In: modernfirearms.net. Retrieved March 6, 2019 .
  3. ↑ Burst Selectors: Going the Way of the Dodo? Retrieved on March 6, 2019 (English, note the picture).
  4. ↑ BREAKING: Kalashnikov Concern Discontinues AK-12, Replaces It with… The New AK-12! In: The Firearms Blog. Retrieved March 6, 2019 .
  5. ↑ Small Arms Survey Geneva: Small Arms Survey 2013 - everyday danger . Cambridge University Press, New York 2013, ISBN 978-1-107-67244-4 (English).
  6. ↑ Mark Galeotti: Elite Volume 206 Spetsnaz: Russia's Special Forces . Osprey Publishing, Oxford 2015, ISBN 978-1-4728-0722-9 (English).
  7. ↑ Edward Clinton Ezell: Kalaschnikow, The Genius and His Life's Work . 1st edition. dwj Verlags GmbH, Blaufelden 2011, ISBN 978-3-936632-70-5 .
  8. ↑ AK-200 rifle: The 21st Century AK. In: The Firearms Blog. Retrieved March 6, 2019 .
  9. ↑ Rogozin Sets Sights on Kalashnikov Merger. In: RIA Novosti. RIA Novosti , March 11, 2012, accessed April 27, 2013 .
  10. ↑ Kalashnikov AK-12 Unveiled. In: The Firearms Blog. Retrieved March 6, 2019 .
  11. ↑ More Information On The AK-12. In: The Firearms Blog. Retrieved March 6, 2019 .
  12. ↑ Burst Selectors: Going the Way of the Dodo? In: The Firearms Blog. Retrieved on March 6, 2019 (English, note the picture).
  13. ↑ BREAKING: Kalashnikov Concern Discontinues AK-12, Replaces It with… The New AK-12! In: The Firearms Blog. Retrieved March 6, 2019 .
  14. ↑ BREAKING: Russian Army Adopts AK-12, AK-15, AEK-971, and AEK-973 Rifles for Military Service. In: The Firearms Blog. Retrieved March 6, 2019 .
  15. ↑ Russian Army Begins Testing RPK-16 Light Machine Gun. In: The Firearms Blog. Retrieved March 6, 2019 .