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Kalashnikov AK-12 assault rifle (Russia)

The New Kalashnikov – AK-12

The Kalashnikov AK-200 prototype assault rifle became a new incarnation of the ubiquitous AK-47 series thta debuted in the 1940s.

The Kalashnikov AK-12 is a 5.45x39mm assault riffle capable of a maximum range of fire of 700 rounds per minute and an effective range of 800 meters.

The 5.45mm Kalashnikov AK-12 assault rifle (GRAU index 6P70 / 6П70) is a new weapon which is  intended eventually to replace previous generations of 5.45mm Kalashnikov assault rifles (AK74, AK74M) in service with Russian and other governmental forces. The AK-12 project was commenced in 2011 by the IZHMASH arms factory (now part of the “Kalashnikov” concern) as a private venture. In 2013 it was entered into the “Ratnik” trials which were held by the Russian army. The goal of the “Ratnik” trials was to select a new combat kit for Russian Special forces, which, besides other items, includes 7.62mm and 5.45mm assault rifles of modern design and increased effectiveness.

The AK-12 is a Russian assault rifle chambered in 5.45×39mm designed and manufactured by the Kalashnikov Concern (formerly Izhmash), making it the fifth generation of Kalashnikov rifles.

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The Kalashnikov Concern also offers a variant of the AK-12 chambered in 7.62×39mm, known as the AK-15 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 feature 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.^[7] 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.

The 5.45 mm AK-12 is the standard service assault rifle of the Russian infantry and other units.

The AK-12 is a part of the Ratnik equipment kit.

This model is the pinnacle of AK system development, different from the previous generations by its elaborate ergonomics, all-day usability and increased accuracy and precision.

It went through several revisions in order to improve upon the “range of defects” that were discovered on the earlier prototype models that were derived from the AK-200. These were later abandoned in favour of the proven and improved AK-400, which became the finalised model of the AK-12.

The “1st generation” Kalashnikov AK-12 by Zlobin

Kalashnikov AK-12 assault rifle, early prototype as shown in 2013

Kalashnikov AK-12 assault rifle, prototype that originally participated in “Ratnik” trials.
It features ambidextrous short-throw safety/selector levers and charging handle that could be swapped to either side of the gun during disassembly (and also proved to be one of the weak points of this design)

The Picatinny rails were integrated in the construction of the AK-12. The rails are used to mount additional devices such as optical, collimating and night sights, mexometer, grenade launchers, lights, target indicators and other equipment. The riffle has folding stock, and the height-adjustable heelpiece. The operating rod handle can be mounted either on the left or on the right, making the weapon suitable for both left-handed and right-handed people.

The AK-12 can fire in single shots, three shots and automatic fire modes. It also incorporates a new mechanic sight with enhanced sightline, new firing mechanism and state-of-the-art technologies in the field of coatings and materials.

During these years, the AK-12 rifle went through several modifications. Early guns, developed between 2011 and 2014, were designed by Vladimir Zlobin, former senior small arms designer at Tula Sporting and Hunting arms design bureau (TsKIB SOO), who was invited to work in Izhevsk in 2010. His rifle, while looking slightly more modern and ‘trendy’ than existing AK variants, ultimately failed Ratnik trials.

The “first generation” AK-12, designed by Zlobin, featured ambidextrous controls, reciprocating charging handle that could be switched to either side, lightened bolt carrier to ensure smoother recoil, and several other improvements. However, this rifle proved to be fragile, somewhat unreliable and too expensive to make in significant numbers. In 2015 an official report stated: “..the manufacturer can try to solve the many problems with reliability, durability and high production costs, but only at its own expense”.

The “2nd generation” Kalashnikov AK-12 and AK-15 rifle, 6P70

5.45mm Kalashnikov AK-12 assault rifle, as adopted in 2018

5.45mm Kalashnikov AK-12 assault rifle, as adopted in 2018

7.62mm Kalashnikov AK-15 assault rifle with tactical sound suppressor (silencer)

By this 2014, the newly established “Kalashnikov”  group, incorporating IZHMASH as its essential part, had the new leadership. A decision ultimately was made to retire the failed “first generation” design and its chief designer, and to get back to work developing a weapon that would be better suited to existing manufacturing processes, while also capable of fulfilling the requirements of the ‘Ratnik’ program. The new development team led by the current chief designer of the Kalashnikov group, Sergey Urzhumtsev, was appointed in 2014.

Starting with the proven solutions of the ‘hundred’ series of Kalashniikov rifles (AK74M etc) his team ultimately produced a prototype, internally designated as AK-400. This weapon performed rather well during a second round of official trials and tests. In early 2016 it was approved for initial batch production and field trials in two versions, 5.45mm AK-12 (GRAU index 6P70 / 6П70) and 7.62mm AK-15 (GRAU index 6P71 / 6П71). Both versions were first displayed to the general public during the Russian Army-2016 expo in September, 2016. 

During field trials, which were held in 2016-2017 in different climate zones and with various troops (mechanized infantry, airborne, naval infantry and spetsnaz) AK-12 and AK-15 performed sufficiently well to warrant official recommendation for adoption by Russian army officials. This recommendation was formally published in January 2018, and by late 2018 the Kalashnikov group starteddeliveries of the mass-produced AK-12 and AK-15 rifles for the Russian armed forces.

It must be noted that the primary rivals for Kalashnikov rifles during Ratnik trials were balanced action rifles, produced by the Degtyarov ZID plant and known as A-545 and A-762. Those rifles, which are noticeaby more expensive and more complex, were officially recommended for adoption by Russian Special Forces only. According to published statements, 5.45mm A-545 balanced action rifles are about 10% more effective than AK-12 at ranges of up to 300 meters and when firing 2-round bursts. At longer ranges, AK-12 holds the edge over its competitior by about the same margin (10%), thanks to its better single shot accuracy.

The latest incarnation of the fabled line is the “AK-200”, prototypes first unveiled in 2010, which represent a more modular approach to traditional Russian assault rifle concept. The AK-200 designation was utilized for the weapon during the prototype period and the finalized production rifle form will take on the formal designation of “AK-12” (detailed elsewhere on this site). Production of the AK-12 is to be handled by the long-running Izhvesk Machinebuilding Plant, popularly known as “IZHMASH”. Production is ongoing as of this writing (2013) and began in 2011. Trials of the weapon have been ongoing since November 2012.

Modern warfare has proven that the soldier needs to adapt to the ever-changing situation on the battlefield, often times within milliseconds. Observers the world over have watched closely the developments in Afghanistan and Iraq as well as other ongoing conflicts of the world, using these experiences to deliver new tools of the trade to give allied infantrymen the upper hand.

As such, the new AK-200 sports widely-accepted features currently found on counterparts elsewhere, features that promote the AK-200 as a most modern “assault” system. Additions to the design include optional foregrips for a firm two-hand hold and various optics for accurized shooting in close-quarters fighting or at range.

The system also can be fitted with a bipod for the fire suppression role. As with other Kalashnikov automatic weapons before it, the AK-200 is also designed to accept an underslung, single-shot grenade launcher for rooting out enemy elements under cover. The shoulder stock is made to be adjustable to suit the firer’s requirements, a “finesse” quality found in many sniper rifles of the world today.

Beyond traditional sighting scopes, the AK-200 will utilized a modular Picatinny-style rail system (three areas – top of the receiver, above the gas cylinder and under the forend) that will allow the operator to fit a myriad of aiming and illuminating devices as needed.

The AK-200 does, however retain some of the proven and popular features of AK versions before it. The weapon will be chambered for the 7.62x39mm cartridge but reports also suggest that the weapon will be convertible to suit 5.45x39mm and 5.56x45mm NATO cartridges – the latter most likely opening the AK-200 to be seen in an export guise for the foreign market.

It is not out of the realm of possibility that the AK-200 will also exist in a shortened carbine form as in previous AK developments. The firing action will be the traditionally-Kalashnikov gas-operation with a rotating bolt. The weapon will be issued with the standard AK-style 30-round detachable box magazine but will also accept the “casket-type” 60-round box utilized in the AK-74 series.

Design-wise, the AK-200 maintains the basic form of the original AK-47, minus the utilitarian wood furniture. The AK-200 will, instead, make us of composites and plastics to keep operating weights at a minimum but recoil forces in check. The shoulder stock of the base production model will be “skeletal” for minimal weight and adjustable while the gas cylinder will still be featured over the barrel assembly – the truly defining identifier of the AK family line.

The receiver will remain largely unchanged from the original AK-47 – to include the famous large cocking handle set along the right side of the body – and the curved magazine will feed conventionally ahead of the trigger unit.

All told, the weapon will weigh a manageable 7.30lbs, sport a length of 37 inches and feature a 16 inch barrel. As the cartridge caliber may vary based on operator need, the barrel will be further designed as interchangeable to adapt. Rate-of-fire is listed at a healthy 800 rounds per minute which permits its use as a squad-level light machine gun (as in the American M249 SAW). Muzzle velocity is nearly 3,000 feet per second with an “effective” range out to 1,600 feet. Iron sights will be provided.

in-the-field, the AK-200 should compare favorably to the latest American M16 incarnation – the similarly modular M16A4. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin – in true politician style – has already praised the new AK-200 during a scheduled visit to the IZHMASH production facility.

Since the conclusion of World War 2 in 1945, there has been some version of the ubiquitous Kalashnikov AK-47 circulating about the globe. In fact, the ensuing Cold War was littered with both heroes and villains, patriots and terrorists brandishing the weapon throughout countless localized, regional and global conflicts that followed. The AK-47 was a product of Soviet engineering that was highly influenced on the German wartime Sturmgewehr 44 (“StG44”) series – known widely as the “Father of Assault Rifles”.

With a solid pedigree in place, the original AK-47 went on to see production figures numbering in the hundred millions making it one of the most commercially successful firearms of the 20th Century. Since its inception, the AK-47 has been naturally evolved to coincide with the changing times. Versions eventually featured fixed wooden stocks, folding lightweight metal stocks, composite construction, integrated grenade launchers, box and drum magazine fittings, bayonet lugs – all firing some form of Soviet cartridge – primarily the 7.62x39mm.

Specialized variants ultimately became squad-level, bipod-fitted machine guns with extra ammunition capacities, shortened carbine-type paratrooper weapons and hunting/sport automatic rifles. To that end, the AK-47 was itself continually updated throughout the decades. More recent developments have become the AK-101/AK-102, AK-103/AK-104, AK-107/AK-108 marks of the 1990s, each representing modernized versions (as well as carbine forms) of the famous assault rifle.