- The most famous invention of Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov is the AK-47 assault rifle. Around this product, disputes do not stop. In particular, it is believed that Kalashnikov was either inspired or borrowed a lot from the German StG 44 Hugo Schmeisser rifle. Could you put an end to this discussion? Is the AK-47 a completely original development?

- Yes, indeed, there are many different versions and disputes regarding the authorship of the AK-47 assault rifle. However, for weapons specialists this question is closed. Morphological analysis shows that all structural elements of the AK-47 and StG 44 are made on different layout solutions. In particular, this is a locking unit, a rotary shutter for AK and a skewed shutter for StG44. The AK-47 has a different trigger, a different assembly-disassembly scheme, fastening of the main elements and guides of the mobile system.

One can often find the opinion that the AK-47 store is identical to the StG 44 store. They are really similar, for example, in the longitudinal shape of the position of the ribs, and the ribs on the AK-47 store appeared later. In AK-47 there is not a single element that would be a copy of Western models. With the seeming "sameness", the Kalashnikov assault rifle and the StG 44 are constructively and line-up - two completely different, unconnected systems.

- And yet many are surprised how a young inventor without a specialized education was able to create such a brilliant weapon, so accurately guess the concept of an assault rifle for an infantryman. Do you have an answer to this question?

- Of course, this is an amazing phenomenon. Mikhail Timofeevich jumped over venerable and experienced designers, entire scientific teams that were engaged in the design of such weapons. Mikhail Timofeevich created a model unprecedented in reliability and quality.

I think that Kalashnikov is an original genius, and geniuses, as you know, are born infrequently. What, in fact, did Mikhail Timofeevich? In AK-47, he compiled the most optimal technical solutions that existed at that time, but no one could implement them in a single system.

However, the AK-47 is a completely original product.

But, of course, that the Kalashnikov assault rifle was created not in a vacuum, but based on the experience of using domestic and foreign small arms. It simply could not be otherwise. The soldier needed a convenient, powerful and unpretentious weapon. And the genius of Kalashnikov gave it to the Soviet army.

- The advantages of Kalashnikov assault rifles are simplicity of design, reliability, reliability, quick training of a fighter. What evolution has AK gone through, how much has it changed in seven decades?

- I want to note that the AK-47, which we know now, and the AK-47, which was submitted for testing, are different products, although they are very similar to each other. I remind you that the AK-47 was put to the test in 1947, and was put into service in 1949.

The advantages of the Kalashnikov assault rifle that made it world-wide were not immediately apparent, and this was the result of the work not only of Mikhail Timofeevich. Automatic developed a large team of designers and technologists. It was required to bring it to the level of the highest reliability, quality, safety and reliability.

  • Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov in his youth
  • © kalashnikovgroup.ru

It is wrong to say that the AK-47 turned out without any flaws. For example, according to the results of trial operation, the stamped box showed low reliability and the inability to provide many parameters. As a result, it was decided to replace the box with a milled one. True, then returned stamped to reduce the mass of weapons.

I would say that the Kalashnikov assault rifle acquired its best qualities by the end of the 1950s in the form of AKM. It was in him that the principles of the highest reliability, for which the Kalashnikov assault rifle is famous, were fully implemented.

The next milestone in the evolution of the Kalashnikov assault rifle was undoubtedly the AK-74. In order to improve the accuracy and stability of the machine during automatic firing, there was a transition to a low-pulse cartridge of 5.45x39 mm caliber. AK-74 fully met the needs of its time. He had a number of performances and allowed military personnel of various units to carry out specialized tasks.

Now the Russian army is armed with an AK-74M assault rifle, in which the wooden parts (stock, forend, barrel pad and pistol grip) are replaced with plastic ones. The machine has a folding butt and side bar for mounting a variety of optoelectronic devices.

- After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the “hundredth” and “two hundredth” AK series were created, which are usually referred to the new generations of the Kalashnikov assault rifle. What's new in them?

- AK-74M became the progenitor of the "hundredth" series (AK-101, AK-102, AK-103, AK-104, AK-105). These are automatic machines for the three most popular cartridges in the world - 5.45x39 mm, 7.62x39 mm and 5.56x45 mm, as well as their shortened versions.

Later, on the basis of the "hundredth" series, the "two hundredth" was created. Here we come close to solving the problem of adapting weapons to the fighter’s anthropometric data and sets of wearable equipment that are delivered to the troops. In particular, the military received the opportunity to adjust the length of the butt, and also depending on the tasks to be solved, install on it a wide range of additional equipment — aiming devices, retention arms, lights, bipods and much more.

In terms of accuracy and other combat parameters, the models of the "hundredth" and "two-hundredth" series do not differ. The advantage of the “two-hundredth” series (AK-200, AK-201, AK-202, AK-203, AK-204, AK-205) lies, first of all, in improved ergonomics.

Abroad, our new machines were first demonstrated at the IDEX-2019 exhibition in Abu Dhabi. In March of this year, an AK-203 plant was launched in India.

  • Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov
  • RIA News

Another of our promising developments is AK-12 and AK-15 assault rifles of 5.45 mm and 7.62 mm caliber, respectively. The new assault rifles, retaining the proprietary features of Kalashnikov’s weapons, have acquired enhanced combat characteristics, improved ergonomics, and compatibility with modern sighting systems for working day and night.

In machines implemented the principle of "posted barrel", which allowed to improve accuracy. In the future, these samples can replace all previous generations of Kalashnikov assault rifles, from AKM and AKMS to AK-74M and assault rifles of the "hundredth" series in service with the domestic law enforcement agencies.

If we talk about the quality of the breakdown action of new machines, then this indicator depends on the characteristics of the used ammunition.

- Journal Popular Mechanics reported that the Pentagon intends to transfer armed forces from a 5.56 mm cartridge to 6.8 mm to increase penetration. Adopting the AK-74 under the 5.45 mm cartridge, the USSR virtually abandoned the 7.62 mm caliber. The AK-12, which has been supplied to the Russian army and the Russian Guard since 2018, also has a caliber of 5.45 mm. Do you think it makes sense to return to the good old 7.62 mm?

- The transition of the USSR in the 1970s to a 5.45 mm low-pulse caliber was caused by the need to improve the accuracy of automatic firing, since this type of fire is still the main one for automatic weapons.

Let me remind you that the world's first automatic machine was created by Russian designer Vladimir Grigoryevich Fedorov, moreover, under an intermediate cartridge of 6.5 mm caliber. This happened during the First World War. I say this to the fact that discussions around the selection of a suitable caliber for automatic shooting have been going on for a very long time and there is no solution that would level all problems.

The transition to 6.8 mm or 7.62 mm calibers will increase the effective firing range and armor penetration, but worsen the accuracy indicators when firing automatic fire. The decision to prioritize this matter is the responsibility of the army.

  • AK-74M shooting
  • © Vitaly V. Kuzmin

- Your new AK-308 assault rifle is just made for the 7.62 mm caliber, this is the NATO rifle cartridge. Tell us why you needed to create it?

- This product is an expression of our conceptual view on the use of small arms. We position the AK-308 as an automatic rifle, the main mode of fire of which is single. Of course, it can conduct automatic fire, but this option is provided for emergency cases.

The concern plans to promote the AK-308 for export. At the same time, we are counting on interest in these weapons from Russian customers. This is a new type of weapon that, in our opinion, is suitable for performing modern combat missions. I do not exclude that in the future there will be a certain revision of the concept of using automatic weapons.