Rosoboronexport CEO (part of Rostec), Alexander Mikheev, told reporters about the corporation’s intention to promote Kalashnikov assault rifles of the 200th series on the world market. In the near future, new models of these small arms will be presented at the international exhibition IDEX-2019 in Abu Dhabi (UAE), which will be held from February 17 to 21.

“On the Kalashnikovs of the newest, 200th series, the permitting export documents were drawn up. From this point on, Rosoboronexport can offer its partners AK-200, AK-203, AK-204 and AK-205 modifications, which will be shown for the first time abroad at IDEX-2019 ... We expect high demand for them in the Middle East and all over the world, ”said Mikheyev.

Director of the cluster "Armament" corporation "Rostec" Sergei Abramov noted that the machines of the 200th series will be one of the key innovations that visitors can see IDEX-2019. According to him, the newest products of the Kalashnikov concern have “a wide export potential”.

“At present, the automata of the 200th series are supplied to state customers in Russia, and are also ready to be exported abroad to partners who place higher demands on small arms ... In the framework of IDEX-2019, we have already planned a number of negotiations, including where we will discuss new AK series, ”said Vladimir Dmitriev, general director of the Kalashnikov concern.

  • Automatic AK-203
  • © Concern "Kalashnikov"

In addition to IDEX-2019, the “dvuhsotka” will be demonstrated at the military-technical forum “Army-2019”, which will be held from 25 to 30 June in the “Patriot” park (Kubinka, Moscow region). You can get acquainted with AK-200, AK-203, AK-204 and AK-205 in the firing center of the Kalashnikov concern.

Previously, these samples were presented at the exhibition "Day of Advanced Technologies of Law Enforcement Agencies - 2018", which took place on May 24-26 last year in the territory of the training center of the Separate Operational Division of the Russian Guard (Balashikha, Moscow Region).

Growing demand

Vladimir Dmitriev called the automatics of the 200th series “a strategic product of our work in the export direction”. The first buyer of the "dvuhsotki" became the Federal Service of the National Guard. In September 2018, the Rosgvardiya placed on the state procurement website an application for the purchase of 476 AK-200 and 60 AK-205 assault rifles for the needs of its unit stationed in Izhevsk. The cost of the transaction amounted to more than 30 million rubles.

“Kalashnikov assault rifles of the 200th series really have good export potential. They are able to replace 100-series automatic machines in foreign countries. I can also say unequivocally that the prospects for sales of samples of the 200th series are much higher than those of AK-12, ”the editor-in-chief of Kalashnikov magazine told RT in an interview. Weapons, ammunition, equipment "Mikhail Degtyarev.

Since Soviet times, Kalashnikovs have been very popular abroad due to their unrivaled reliability and ease of operation. Since the mid-2000s, Russia has been exporting automatic machines of the 100th series (AK-101, AK-103). Due to the growing demand in foreign countries, since the spring of 2017, Kalashnikov enterprises operate in three shifts.

In 2017, Rosoboronexport concluded seven contracts for the supply abroad of more than 100 thousand Kalashnikov assault rifles of various modifications. In total, since 2001, Rosoboronexport has sold over a million units of various AK modifications to foreign customers. At the same time several hundred thousand automatic machines were released at foreign enterprises under a license. The main partners of Kalashnikov are the countries of the Asia-Pacific Region (APR), the Middle East, Africa and Latin America.

Currently, Rosoboronexport is negotiating the possible placement of licensed production of the 200th series in India. In December 2018, the Russian delegation, including the leadership of “Kalashnikov,” visited New Delhi on a business trip. According to Dmitriev, the Indian Defense Ministry is satisfied with the characteristics of the AK-203.

Reliability and ergonomics

The development of automata of the 200th series as an initiative began in the walls of Izhmash in 2008–2009, but the project was soon suspended. In 2015, the work was resumed taking into account the experience of creating the AK-12 (adopted by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation). In 2017, the entire lineup of the "dvuhsotki" has already been presented at the forum "Army".

Samples of the 200th series differ in barrel length and caliber. For example, the length of the trunk AK-200, AK-201, AK-203 - 41.5 cm, AK-202, AK-204, AK-205 - 31.4 cm. AK-200 and AK-205 have a caliber of 5.45 x 39, AK-201 and AK-202 - 5.56 x 45, AK-203 and AK-204 - 7.62 x 39. Two-hundred-hour shooting rate - 600 shots / min, magazine capacity - 30 rounds, target range shooting - up to 500-800 m.

  • Automatic AK-200 is demonstrated on the shooting range
  • RIA News
  • © Evgeny Biyatov

“The 200th series is actually an evolution of the 100th series, which was developed on the basis of the AK-74M, the main submachine gun of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Its appearance is caused by the need to change the generation of small arms. Let me remind you that the 100th series was developed in the 1990s and is beginning to become morally obsolete. The main advantage of "dvuhsotki" - in ergonomics. Due to this quality, the machine has become more efficient, ”explained Degtyarev.

The materials of “Kalashnikov” state that the 200th series of automatic machines retained all the advantages of the traditional AK scheme - reliability, durability and ease of maintenance. On the layout, automation and device of the main units of the "two hundred" does not differ from the basic model - AK-74M.

However, new models are equipped with a more convenient fuse (switching is easily done with the index finger), a pistol grip and a folding telescopic butt, which is adjustable in length. It is also equipped with a detachable cheek, can be used in hand-to-hand combat and when firing from a grenade launcher.

“The length-adjustable butt of the machine and a number of ergonomic solutions for optimizing controls allow users to fully realize their shooting skills, regardless of anthropometric data and the availability of a variety of equipment, equipment and clothing. The AK-200 series has successfully passed the test program, it meets all the requirements for modern small arms, ”the Kalashnikov website notes.

Another advantage of the "dvuhsotki" lies in the ability to install modern sighting systems, laser designators (LCC) and flashlights. Cover the receiver with Picatinny rail allows you to securely install any type of collimator and optical sights.

In addition, the 200 series is equipped with a muzzle brake compensator. This device reduces recoil, reduces the time for the next shot and prevents the soldier’s unmasking when shooting at night or in a dark room due to the function of a flame arrester.

“If we talk about general military units, then the technical capabilities of the 200th series may seem redundant. For example, for a fighter in the army does not matter the ability to install sighting systems. In field conditions, the simplicity of the weapon design comes to the fore, and the scope creates a lot of inconvenience. In my opinion, the “dvuhsotka” is more suitable for arming special forces, where you just need to install all kinds of equipment on your weapon, ”said Sergey Sumarokov, president of the Russian High-Precision Shooting Federation, in an interview with RT.

A similar point of view is the columnist for the magazine Arsenal of the Fatherland, Alexander Butyrin. According to him, the AK new line is unlikely to be adopted by the Russian army. However, the expert is confident that the 200th series has a serious export potential.

“The 200th series retained the main advantages of Kalashnikov assault rifles - reliability and simplicity. From the data published by Rosgvardia, it follows that the cost of one machine is about a thousand dollars. This is an absolutely adequate price. Of course, the export version will be a little more expensive. But in terms of price and quality, the “two hundred” has very good chances abroad. I don’t think that the US sanctions will somehow influence the dynamics of demand, ”Butyrin said in an interview with RT.