Intelligence units of the Russian Ground Forces continue to rearm on AK-12 assault rifles with a caliber of 7.62 mm (AK-15), according to the website of the Russian Ministry of Defense. A feature of this modification is the ability to fire in three modes: single shots, automatic fire, a line with a cut-off of two shots.
“A number of design features were introduced into the machine, which made it possible to achieve greater combat effectiveness of the weapon, versatility of use, accuracy and accuracy of fire,” the military department noted.
AK-12 is an individual weapon of the personnel of the units of the Ground Forces, Marines and Airborne Forces, adopted for service at the end of 2018. The basic version of the machine is produced in 5.45 mm caliber, a modification for the caliber of 7.62 mm is called the AK-15.
AK-12 is supplied to combined arms formations, AK-15 - to special units of the army and other power structures. Both machines have the same weight (3.5 kg), barrel length (415 mm), magazine capacity (30 rounds) and rate of fire (600-650 rounds per minute), but differ in overall length.
As Maxim Popenker, marketing specialist of Kalashnikov Concern explained in an interview with RT, the AK-12 and AK-15 are almost identical in design and appearance, the only difference between them is the cartridges used.
“Russian special forces machine guns of 7.62 mm caliber are needed to use special cartridges with a reduced bullet speed - it is effective to use it with a silencer. In other situations, military personnel use conventional cartridges with supersonic bullet speed, ”Popenker explained.
The plans of the Kalashnikov concern include the creation of a modification of the AK-12 for the NATO caliber (5.56 x 45 mm). In total, by 2021, the Kalashnikov concern should supply the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation with about 112 thousand of these assault rifles.
The thorny path to success
The development of the AK-12 began in 2011 on the initiative of the general designer of Izhmash (since 2013, the Kalashnikov concern) Vladimir Zlobin. In the same year, the RF Ministry of Defense announced a competition for the creation of individual weapons for “Ratnik” equipment.
Initially, AK-12 was not planned to be put up for competition. For testing, the management of Izhmash sent AK-107 and AK-103-3 assault rifles in 5.45 mm and 7.62 mm calibres, respectively. However, in 2013, the AK-107 was still replaced by the AK-12. The competition "Kalashnikov" was the products of the plant. Degtyareva (Carpet) - automatic machines of the AEK-971 family.
- AK-12 assault rifle
- © Concern "Kalashnikov"
During the tests, the engineers of Izhmash constantly improved the design of the product - they changed the butt, sights, mount the cover of the receiver, the muzzle brake device.
However, in January 2015, according to the results of the first round of state tests, the Ministry of Defense gave preference to Kovrov machine guns. The military announced that the AK-12 and AK-103-3 did not meet the necessary requirements. However, Kalashnikov was left with the right to modify the products at his own expense.
One of the main problems of the AK-12 was the lack of unification with other samples, including the AK-103-3. This figure was only 10%. The product was not adapted to the existing processes at the plant, which significantly increased the cost of mass production. According to the concern, the cost of the AK-12 could be 5-6 times higher than the price of the AK-74M, which since the 1990s has been the main machine gun of the Russian army.
In addition, during the tests, the AK-12 demonstrated low reliability and insufficient strength of individual components. In terms of comprehensive indicators of combat effectiveness, the novelty did not exceed the AK-74M. However, the situation changed radically with the advent of Alexey Krivoruchko (since 2018 - Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation), who took the post of general director, and Sergey Urzhumtsev, who received the position of chief designer.
The new Kalashnikov leadership decided to create a fundamentally different weapon under the AK-12 brand (the product was called AK-400 at the plant) based on the technological basis of the concern. It was based on the idea of deep modernization of the AK-74M, which has earned a reputation as a reliable and unpretentious machine. Also, designers used the developments on AK-103-3.
Work on the project was completed by the second half of 2015. The Kalashnikov sent AK-12 and AK-15 unified with it to the second stage of state tests. In 2016, the military noted that the new machine guns fully comply with the required tactical and technical characteristics.
In December 2017, the board of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation issued a recommendation to adopt the products of both competing enterprises. At the same time, the AK-12 and AK-15 were found to be more preferable for the rearmament of the Ground Forces, Airborne Forces and the Navy, and the AEK-971 family - for special forces.
“Speaking of Kovrov submachine guns, they have more efficient shooting in short bursts and at moving targets, but they are structurally more difficult and more expensive to manufacture due to the principle of balanced automation (reduces recoil, but complicates the design and reduces reliability. - RT ). It is more difficult to look after and clean them. There are also some problems with creating shortened samples, ”Popenker explained.
Convenience and Efficiency
Technical advantages of the AK-12 are improved ergonomics (convenience when handling an automatic machine), increased accuracy and accuracy of fire, and the possibility of installing various sighting systems on weapons.
The brainchild of "Kalashnikov" is equipped with a butt, which the shooter can adjust to his anthropometric data, and other advanced elements - the barrel, gas outlet, gas pipe, receiver cover.
- Exhibition sample AK-12
- RIA News
- © Alexey Panshin
The level of unification of the AK-12 with its predecessor was about 54%. From AK-74M machine inherited the highest level of reliability, reliability and relatively low cost of production. In an interview with RT in November 2019, Sergey Urzhumtsev stated that the AK-12 family retained the “signature features of the Kalashnikov’s weapons” and acquired enhanced combat characteristics.
“In the machines (AK-12 and AK-15. - RT ), the principle of a suspended barrel is implemented, which made it possible 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, ”said Urzhumtsev.
Maxim Popenker, in turn, noted that the AK-12 is superior to the AK-74M in combat effectiveness, which today is determined primarily by the possibility of comfortable use of collimator, optical, infrared sighting systems, flashlights and other attachments.
“On the AK-74M, this requires a side bracket, which is not very convenient, it adds dimensions and weight. The AK-12 has no such problems. With this machine, you can safely work at any time of the day and shoot effectively at night and at long range at night, ”says Popenker.
Another important advantage of the AK-12 is the improved accuracy of fire from different positions. According to the expert, the machine gun shoots stably in different modes, is unpretentious and has a large operational resource. In factory tests in October 2019, the AK-12 withstood 680 non-stop shots. This is more than three times the standard of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation and almost 100 shots more than the similar strength indicator AK-74M.
In an interview with RT, the columnist of the magazine “Firing Line” Alexander Butyrin said that the AK-12 embodied the best qualities of the legendary Kalashnikov assault rifles, adapted for firing even in the most severe climatic conditions. According to the expert, the new weapons of the concern can effectively shoot even after the ingress of dirt, water and after receiving mechanical damage.
“The designers managed to increase the accuracy of the fire, make the AK-12 more ergonomic and adapt it to the installation of various equipment, without which military operations are now complete. In my opinion, the AK-12 is an order of magnitude superior to foreign assault rifles and assault rifles, ”Butyrin summed up.