Kalashnikov assault rifle AK-12, prototype shown in 2013

The AK-12 Kalashnikov assault rifle, a prototype that underwent initial testing under the Ratnik program in 2013-14.

Kalashnikov assault rifle AK-12, a variant successfully tested by the "Warrior" in 2016 and recommended for adoption
photo: Concern "Kalashnikov"

Kalashnikov assault rifle AK-12, a variant successfully tested by the "Warrior" in 2016 and recommended for adoption
photo: Concern "Kalashnikov"

The AK-15 Kalashnikov assault rifle, which is a 2016 version of the AK-12 assault rifle chambered in 7.62x39, complete with a tactical silencer

5.45mm Kalashnikov assault rifle AK-12 (GRAU index 6P70) is a promising example of individual small arms, developed by the Kalashnikov Concern and intended to equip the fighters of the Armed Forces and other law enforcement agencies. The AK-12 was designed to replace the .

The development of the machine was started in 2011 by the IZHMASH plant (now part of the Kalashnikov concern) on its own initiative. The first projects of the AK-12 were developed under the guidance of Vladimir Zlobin from Tula, who was invited to IZHMASH in 2011. In 2013, the 5.45mm AK-12 assault rifle was put up for the Russian Defense Ministry competition "Warrior" along with the 7.62mm AK-103-3 assault rifle.

The AK-12 submachine gun passed the State tests in 2014, while the conclusion of the state commission was “The AK-12 submachine gun did not pass the test. Improvement at the expense of the developer is recommended. The reason for this conclusion was the low reliability and operational strength of the first versions of the AK-12. An additional problem was the fact that the new machine was developed, in fact, without taking into account the specifics of those already available at IZHMASH technological processes, and even in the case of a successful solution of problems on the reliability and strength of prototypes, its formulation in mass production would require a very significant investment, both financial and time. As a result, the new management of the Kalashnikov concern decided to change the management of the project and, in fact, make the machine again to meet the requirements of the Ratnik. In 2015, under the leadership of the new chief designer Sergei Urzhumtsev, an assault rifle was developed in shock order, which initially received the factory index "Ak-400". This assault rifle, which incorporated the main and most successful proven design and technological solutions of the Izhevsk weapons school, in two versions (chambered for 5.45 and 7.62 mm calibers) successfully passed repeated tests at the end of 2015, having fully fulfilled all the requirements for the competition. In March 2016, the State Commission officially approved the results of repeated tests, which indicated that both Izhevsk assault rifles corresponded to the issued TTT. In the spring of 2016, an experimental batch of 5.45mm AK-12 and 7.62mm AK-15 assault rifles was produced, and they were sent for military testing in units Russian army, which were successfully completed in 2017, while most of the surveyed test participants, answering the question “what kind of machine gun would you go into battle with”, gave preference to Izhevsk samples, and not their competitors developed by ZiD (with balanced automation). In January 2018, information appeared that the AK-12 and AK-15 assault rifles were officially approved by the Russian Ministry of Defense and recommended for arming units of the Russian army, mass production of these assault rifles should begin in Izhevsk at the end of 2018. Based on the AK-12 and AK-15, the shortened AK-12K and AK-15K assault rifles, shown for the first time in 2017, were developed, as well as the promising light machine gun.

7.62mm Kalashnikov assault rifle AK-15 (GRAU index 6P71) is a variant of the AK-12 assault rifle of the 2016 model, chambered for 7.62x39 of the 1943 model. The AK-15 assault rifle was created as a small arms weapon special units and is intended to replace in service with previous generations of 7.62mm Kalashnikov assault rifles of the , and . Like its predecessors, the assault rifle can be used with special cartridges with a subsonic bullet speed of 7.62x39 US, which, in combination with a muffler, provide really quiet firing from a weapon. which is important in special operations.

The description below corresponds to the final versions of the AK-12 and AK-15 assault rifles, which have passed all tests and are recommended for adoption by the Russian army.

The 5.45mm AK-12 assault rifle and its 7.62mm AK-15 variant retain the traditional Kalashnikov automatic gas-operated mechanism with locking by turning the shutter and can use magazines from previous generations of 5.45mm AK-74 and 7.62mm AKM assault rifles, respectively. The gas outlet unit, gas tube, receiver and barrel have been substantially redesigned in order to increase the accuracy of fire in all modes. The gas tube is rigidly fixed in the receiver, cannot be removed during disassembly, and has a removable plug in the front for cleaning. The handguard and handguard of the new design are rigidly fixed on the gas tube and the receiver and do not touch the barrel (the so-called "posted handguard"), which increases the stability and accuracy of fire when various ways holding the machine, with or without emphasis.

The cocking handle is part of the bolt carrier and is located on the right side of the weapon. The fuse-translator of fire modes is located on the right, has 4 positions (fuse - automatic fire - burst of 2 shots - single), and has an additional “shelf” for the index finger, which provides more convenient switching of fire modes without changing the grip of the shooting hand.

The Kalashnikov assault rifle AK-12 (AK-15) is equipped with Picatinny rails on the cover receiver and handguard, which provides convenient and repeatable installation of day and night sights various types. The design of the receiver cover is removable, it is attached to the receiver with the help of a transverse pin in the front part and has spring-loaded elements in the rear part to eliminate the influence of backlash. The fastening of the cover ensures that the sighting of the installed sights is maintained after disassembly and assembly of the weapon, as well as during active operation. There are also additional Picatinny rails on the bottom and sides of the handguard for installing additional accessories. The machine is equipped with a folding, length-adjustable stock. The buttstock is made of impact-resistant plastic with steel reinforcement and withstands falling weapons on concrete, firing from an underbarrel grenade launcher and using weapons in hand-to-hand combat. A removable muzzle brake-compensator is installed on the barrel, in addition, it is possible to install a bayonet-knife or a quick-detachable tactical silencer. A 40mm grenade launcher or . The pencil case with cleaning accessories is located in the pistol grip of the weapon, a collapsible three-section ramrod is in the butt tube.

Until the end of the year, the Russian military can choose a machine gun that will become part of the new Ratnik equipment set. Now military tests are being carried out on models from two manufacturers - (AK-12, AK-15) and Kovrovsky (A545, A762). It is possible that in the end both machines will go into service.

The Ratnik outfit, also known as the "soldier kit of the future", is positioned as one of the most ambitious projects for the modernization of the Russian army. The complex (first presented in 2011), which should increase the efficiency and survival of a soldier on the battlefield, includes several dozen elements: means of destruction - weapons, sighting systems; protective equipment - body armor, helmet, goggles, etc.; means of observation and communication, as well as life support, down to such trifles as a universal tool (the so-called multitool) and tactical watches.

It was reported that in 2012 the "Warrior" passed military tests, after which the elements of the complex were put into service. Here it is necessary to make a reservation that there is no single set of "Warriors", equipment for various types of troops and types of armed forces has its own specialization. Even individual military specialties - for example, special forces - have their own. The nomenclature of the "Warrior" is so large that it is unlikely to be adopted in full. In the meantime, one or another element is accepted for supply by orders of the Minister of Defense.

New old machines

Perhaps the most dramatic part of the project is the selection of a new assault rifle to replace the current AK-74M. The military wants to accept the “Weapons of the XXI century” in two calibers: 5.45 and 7.62 millimeters. This is logical, because after the transition Soviet army in 1974 for low-impulse ammunition 5.45x39 millimeters, some units - reconnaissance units, special forces, etc. - continued to use weapons chambered for 7.62x39.

Frame: Vickers Tactical / YouTube

Two manufacturers are fighting for the right to arm the “soldier of the future”: the Kalashnikov concern and the V.A. Degtyarev (ZiD). At the same time, both companies essentially offer repackaging of old systems. So, the Kovrovites submitted to the competition a development that was rejected by the military in the last century: AEK-971 with balanced automation. That is, a special balancer has been introduced into the design of the bolt group, equal to it in mass and connected to it by a gear wheel. During the shot, the balancer moves in different directions with the bolt group and compensates for the momentum from its impact on the rear wall of the receiver, significantly reducing the weapon toss. As a result, in terms of accuracy of firing bursts, the AEK is 15-20 percent superior to the AK-74.

It was created at the Kovrov Mechanical Plant (KMZ) for the Abakan competition, announced in 1978. Then the decisions applied on this sample seemed unreasonable to the military, and the Kovrov automatic machine did not even reach the final of the competition. Nevertheless, it did not sink into oblivion, but was modernized in the 1990s and produced in small batches for the needs of other law enforcement agencies. This continued until 2006, when the production of weapons at KMZ was curtailed and transferred to ZiD. Here, in 2010, small-scale production of the AEK-971 was resumed, the machine itself was modernized again, and in 2014 the latest versions at that time were submitted to the Ratnik competition (they participate in the competition under the designations A545 (caliber 5.45 mm) and A762 (caliber 7.62 mm)).

Kalashnikov forever

Concern "Kalashnikov" has predictably introduced a new version of its famous AK-12 assault rifle. His path is not as long as that of AEK, but no less tortuous. The machine began to be developed in 2011 specifically for participation in the "Warrior". The then general designer of the concern was listed as the author of the idea and project manager. According to Mikhail Degtyarev, an expert on weapons, the editor-in-chief of the Kalashnikov magazine, Mikhail Degtyarev, it was a new assault rifle created “inspired by the AK”, which had practically no interchangeable parts with its prototype.

For several years, the concern has been actively promoting its development: the AK-12 has repeatedly become the hero of television reports, publications in the media, and exhibitions. Finally, in 2015, it was announced that the assault rifle had been submitted for state testing. And in the fall of 2016, at the Army-2016 exhibition, under the name AK-12, a weapon was exhibited that had practically nothing to do with the machine gun that Kalashnikov had been promoting for about five years.

Outwardly, the new AK-12 (as well as its version chambered for 7.62x39, AK-15) resembled the AK-74M assault rifle in the “Kit” upgrade kit - a telescopic stock similar to the American M16 / M4, an ergonomic pistol grip, Picatinny rails on the receiver , handguard and gas tube, etc. “I consider the current AK-12 a variant of the AK-74M,” commented on these metamorphoses. - These are not just models that have changed within the framework of some works, these are different machines. And completely different machines should not be called the same.

It has been suggested that it was the military that demanded from the developers of the AK-12 to unify it as much as possible with the AK-74M in service. Some experts spoke about the unsuccessful and even adventurous design of the early version of the AK-12, which could not pass state tests.

In the Kalashnikov concern, the difference between the initial and final versions of the assault rifles was explained rather restrainedly: “The samples presented at the exhibition were finalized according to the results of state tests and differ from previous versions in appearance and design of a number of important components.” In particular, the design of the receiver and gas unit has been changed, the barrel has been hung out - as far as possible in the AK system - (this should improve the accuracy of fire), plus the already mentioned telescopic stock, a more convenient fuse / fire translator, the ability to fire in fixed bursts. Perhaps the main secret of the AK-12 is a new receiver cover with a Picatinny rail for mounting sights. Representatives of "Kalashnikov" assure that the design of the cover ensures the fastening and preservation of the STP of the sights installed on it. It was these versions of the AK-12 and AK-15 assault rifles that were handed over to the military for military testing.

In any case, in the media environment, the story of the AK-12 metamorphoses left a rather negative aftertaste. “Information about our vigorous activity has gone abroad with a minus sign,” says Mikhail Degtyarev. “This is confirmed by my contacts with foreign journalists, who perceived what was happening as an adventure and were surprised that this was possible in a Russian shooting school.”

Some critics from the very beginning spoke in the sense that the idea of ​​adopting a new machine gun is a kind of state program to support enterprises in the shooting industry. And this applies to both Izhevsk and Kovrov.

No time for new

The main intermediate result of the competition is as follows: it is not worth expecting the appearance of weapons of the future or a new generation of machine guns within the framework of the Ratnik project. “There is progress, but against the background of excessive expectations from the hype raised in the media, they look very modest,” sums up Degtyarev. - Local successes include ergonomic improvements to existing samples. You can’t talk not only about a breakthrough, but even about a serious modernization of weapon models.”

And it's not the inability of our designers to create a new weapon. Many experts and the military simply do not see the need to replace the AK-74M, which generally meets the needs of the army, especially given the limited role of small arms in modern wars. “As the experience of all wars shows, the main requirement is absolute reliability,” says a military expert, Chief Editor. - AK-74 itself is a very successful design, but it needs to be modernized: significantly improve convenience combat use, including ergonomics and the possibility of using additional devices. He recalls that in the event of a large-scale war, it will be necessary to equip an army of about two million people, in which case "the transition to a fully new pattern inappropriate."

In addition, up to 17 million Kalashnikov assault rifles have been accumulated in the warehouses of law enforcement agencies, which, if desired, can be upgraded using the very Kit "Kit". According to Murakhovsky, the Ministry of Defense decided to buy it in small batches to modernize weapons in their arsenals.

Kalashnikov assault rifle AK-12 is promising development JSC Concern "IZHMASH" ( renamed into a concern Kalashnikov» since 2013), designed to replace in the production and armament of the Russian army and other law enforcement agencies the previous versions of Kalashnikov assault rifles - AK-74 and AK-74M, AK-103 and earlier AKM and AKMS.

The machine was first shown in January 2012 (index AK-12 and means "Kalashnikov assault rifle 2012"). The main task in creating AK-12, apparently, there was an improvement in the ergonomic characteristics of the weapon, an increase in its versatility, while maintaining or slightly improving combat characteristics (reliability, resource, accuracy of fire in different modes). The manufacturer initially promised the AK-12 in two versions - "light" for traditional intermediate cartridges such as 5.45×39, 5.56×45, 6.5 Grendel or 7.62x39, and "heavy", chambered 7.62×51NATO, however, apparently in the foreseeable future, the "heavy" version will not be released.

History of the AK-12 assault rifle

The development of a new machine has been carried out on an initiative basis since June 2011 under the leadership of the chief designer of Izhmash, Vladimir Viktorovich Zlobin, based on developments over the previous 10 years. In 2011, assembly was completed and testing began on the first prototype of the fifth generation Kalashnikov assault rifle with the working title AK-12. The machine was first shown in January 2012. The state did not support the development of a new machine due to the excess number of old machines, which were in stock, in total, more than 17 million.

June 2, 2012 in Solnechnogorsk chief designer NPO "Izhmash" Vladimir Viktorovich Zlobin held a presentation AK-12 for the Interdepartmental Working Group (Laboratory) under the Military-Industrial Commission, which included representatives of the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the FSB of Russia. Based on the results of demonstration firing, the members of the commission noted that the machine gun behaves more stably when firing than samples of previous generations: recoil and withdrawal when firing in bursts have decreased.

From June 27 to July 1, 2012 in the city of Zhukovsky, on the territory of the transport and exhibition complex "Russia", the second international forum "Technologies in mechanical engineering" was held, where the show was scheduled AK-12.

During 2013-2014, the machine met with some opposition from the military under the pretext of numerous shortcomings, in connection with which the promising machine was denied state funding for testing.

On February 21, 2015, the Ministry of Defense chose the AK-12 Kalashnikov assault rifle as the main assault rifle for equipping military personnel due to its lower price and lighter weight compared to its competitor.

Tactical and technical characteristics of the AK-12 assault rifle

*650 rounds/min means rate of fire in automatic mode, and 1000 rounds/min means firing bursts with a cutoff of 3 rounds.

The AK-12 Kalashnikov assault rifle uses "classic" automation with a long stroke of the gas piston and a butterfly valve. To improve ergonomics and performance, the receiver has been significantly redesigned, especially its top part(lid). Machine AK-12 received an elongated receiver cover with increased rigidity. The receiver cover is removable, it is mounted on two dovetail seats on the receiver and is fixed with a transverse pin in the back of the cover. For disassembly, the pin is squeezed out to the stop (while remaining on the cover), after which the cover is moved back and completely removed from the weapon.

The cocking handle has been moved forward and is attached to the gas piston rod, and after disassembling the weapon, it can, if desired, be thrown to the left or right side of the weapon (the Z-shaped handle can rotate around the gas piston rod during disassembly). This made it possible to eliminate the gap between the lid and the receiver, which is characteristic of weapons of the AK family, in the stowed position closed by the fuse-translator lever and open to “all winds” in the combat position.

The fuse-translator of fire modes has been redesigned - now its lever is placed on both sides of the weapon, under the thumb of the shooting hand, and has 4 positions:

• Fuse
• Shooting single
• Shooting bursts of 3 rounds
• Automatic shooting

The design of the machine also has a slide delay, which allows you to speed up reloading and is controlled by a key in front of the trigger guard. Shutter lag only works with modified magazines, when using magazines from AK-74 it does not turn on automatically. From other innovations of the machine AK-12- modified rifling and bullet entry of the barrel, designed to increase the accuracy of fire, a new muzzle brake-compensator.

In addition to the Picatinny rails located on the receiver cover and on the upper forearm pad, AK-12 Kalashnikov assault rifle also has short guides on the sides of the forearm. The lower part of the forearm is offered in two versions - with Picatinny rails for attaching flashlights, handles and other devices, or without guides, for attaching standard GP-25, GP-30 or GP-34 underbarrel grenade launchers. The assault rifle can be used both with standard magazines of the corresponding caliber with a capacity of 30 rounds (from AK-74 or AKM, depending on the caliber), and with magazines from RPK / RPK-74, as well as with promising 4-row box-shaped magazines with a capacity of 60 rounds and a specially designed drum magazine for 95 rounds.

Features of the AK-12 assault rifle

So, in short, how the AK-12 differs from its predecessors in a good way:

• Improved accuracy of fire by shifting the mass of the bolt group and reducing the recoil arm;
• Ergonomics have been improved, a two-way fuse-switch of the type of fire has been introduced, a two-way shutter delay button and a shift back of the magazine latch allows you to operate them with one hand holding the weapon (without removing it from the handle, as before);
• Built-in Picatinny rails on a rigidly fixed receiver cover for mounting attachments (sights, rangefinders, grenade launchers, flashlights);
• New double-folding telescopic buttstock, more ergonomic pistol grip, adjustable pad and butt plate, butt locking mechanism in the unfolded state is now located in the butt itself, and not in the receiver;
• The telescopic buttstock can now be easily replaced with a non-folding plastic buttstock, for this, both options have a Picatinny rail at the end, with which they are attached to the receiver (this also allows the hinge with the rod to be turned over on a folding sample, thus changing the side where the butt folds);
• The ability to install the reload handle on both sides of the receiver (for the convenience of left-handers and right-handers);
• The ability to fire in three modes (single shots, with a cutoff of three shots and continuous bursts), previously optional for the "hundredth" series;
• The muzzle device of the machine, providing the possibility of using foreign-made rifle grenades;
• Mechanical sight with an enlarged aiming line;
• Changed trigger mechanism;
• Shutter stop (shutter lag);
• New design of the bolt group;
• Barrel with improved characteristics in terms of manufacturing accuracy, replaceable.

In addition, it will be useful for those who can no longer read long texts, but the full badyuk of the brain has not yet come.

So, the concern, which finally lost all right to be mentioned with the name of the great designer, presented weapons under the AK-12 brand at the Army 2016 exhibition. As it turned out, in the final version, this sample did not contain anything constructively new from what had previously been promised.

Two versions of the machine were promised, depending on its main ideologists. The first one, designed by the Tula engineer Zlobin, was distinguished by the presence of a two-speed design and a set of design changes and errors that ultimately led to the failure of reliability tests. The second, an athlete-consultant Kirisenko, was distinguished by a penchant for sports chips: modularity, ambidexterity and "the ability to reload with one hand." As a result, an automaton was revealed to the world, which did not contain any of this. Insignificant changes in the design of the machine gun do not in any way pull at seriously considering the issue of re-equipping the army with a “new machine gun”.

The main reasons for the Ak-12 fiasco lie in two areas - political and systemic.

Political- this is a complete deprofessionalization and dilettantism both in the leadership of ministries and in the enterprise. The fall of the Protons, the refusal of the Bulava to fly and hit targets, and, finally, the universal shame with the opening of the “black box” from the bomber shot down by the Turks by presidential decree, when boards were inserted into the equipment, which must withstand the load when falling at supersonic speed, able to withstand only a fall from the table ...

This is all a consequence of the idea that money can buy everything and make a person do anything. That it is possible to interview athletes and special forces about what kind of machine gun (pistol) they need, and force the designer to create it. And if he doesn’t create it, “we’ll buy from the French.” What money can provide product quality, simply by paying effective managers to implement the "kaizen" system. What for the same money can be forced to create something that people who had not worked for half a century before for money could not create!

According to the reviews of the article from those who are directly connected or were once connected with production, this moment in the article is the most important, although it takes up several lines. Actually, the hype around the "AK-12" and similar products is of the least interest to them, but the collapse of the design school and production upsets the most. No need to be touched by the multi-colored workshops of the concern or neatly laid out tools. The term "lean manufacturing", under the flag of which is now effective managers master the budget, sounds no more tautological than the famous "the economy must be economical." This does not affect the improvement of product quality or development.

I was lucky enough to go through the school of Soviet military and civilian production, work in military acceptance, experience the hell of creating my own small enterprise for the production of products “from the idea”. Now I am working on developments that others use. And what a hard work it is - to create something at all, so that users at least do not spit in your address, I know perfectly well! Therefore, I can fully afford to assess what is happening in the creation and production of small arms.

To be objective, we must admit that the concern is not so bad. Two worthwhile novelties of the concern are about to appear in stores: a carbine with interchangeable barrels MP-142K and a shotgun with inertial automatics MP-156. In any case, against the background of the freak MP-155K, they look not only better, but quite normal. But the development of the MP-142K was carried out under the leadership of M.E. Dragunov, who next year will celebrate its 70th anniversary, and both works were carried out at a mechanical plant, where the engineering school suffered less than at Izhmash.

Izhmash, on the other hand, is more engaged in increasing the number in the designation of the AK-15, AK-400, AK-600 modifications, once again trying to surprise with external alterations to the design of Kalashnikov and Dragunov. There is not only design, but also marketing unprofessionalism. It is impossible to create a normal sporting or hunting rifle by reworking a military model. A weapon from beginning to end should be the one for whom it was created. A brilliant example is the now-discontinued Medved hunting carbine and the secret of its production... along with polymers.

So, the second reason for the fiasco "AK-12" is systemic. Let's start with the initial phrase that scares designers: "Your machine gun is MORALLY outdated." In general, the concept of "morality" lies in the field of the humanities, human and public relations However, “obsolescence” and “obsolescence” are well-established terms in technology. Here are just a clear definition and criteria they do not have. Therefore, it is easy to declare an automatic rifle, a pistol and a rifle that have served for half a century as “morally obsolete” in order to force the industry to stir with the development of new models.

The term "morally obsolete" in relation to the sample can be applied only in relation to the model in which ALREADY APPEARED A COMPETITOR who has the best performance and efficiency. Superiority over the obsolete sample is expressed by a coefficient, the value of which must be at least 1.5. This value is obtained empirically. You can look at all the materials on the adoption of new types of weapons to make sure that this figure is never below this value. The science of qualimetry is engaged in the derivation of this coefficient. There are several coefficients themselves and methods for obtaining them, and they are used not only to assess the quality of technical characteristics, but also reliability and ergonomics. The most convenient form of calculation is the product of the coefficients of particular characteristics in the degree of weight coefficients:

In the denominator there are coefficients degrading characteristics.

For example. The accuracy of the new model is 1.3 times better when shooting while standing without a stop. But a group of experts and statistics suggest that such shooting in a combat situation is carried out only in 20% of cases. Therefore, the real coefficient of this particular characteristic to be taken into account in the comprehensive assessment will be 1.3 0.2 = 1.054. That is, the real superiority of the new model is a little more than five percent in this indicator.

The Picatinny rail (PP) requires a different technique. Where it is impossible to apply numerical methods, experts work. The system analyst forms a question and asks it to non-couch experts. In this case, the question may sound like this:

“Is PP needed in weapons?”

“Do you consider it necessary to have a universal interface on the weapon for attaching additional sights?”.

The answer will be different depending on the question and on the group of experts - from infantry to special forces. Athletes are excluded. Suppose we received ten positive answers out of a hundred respondents. Then the coefficient will be 1.1. Now let's ask a question:

“Have you ever come across a situation where the sighting device you have could not be installed on a standard machine gun?”

One out of a hundred responded. With this adjustment, the real coefficient will be 1.0095.

Now about ergonomics. We ask a question:

“Do you think that PP, when using a weapon, rubs the palm and ammunition, makes it difficult to clean and maintain the weapon?”

99 answered positively. Let's say only the time for servicing weapons because of this innovation has increased by ten percent. We have: 1/(1.99 0.1) = 0.93. The final innovation coefficient: 0.93 * 1.0095 = 0.939 without taking into account the increase in the dimensions and weight of weapons, as well as the rise in production costs.

An experienced analyst can determine, without calculations, where the efficiency factor is, above or below the limit of 1.5. It's like a doctor who appearance the patient can determine the presence of jaundice or a pre-infarction condition by the pulse.

That's the only way, and not otherwise, you can determine whether this or that sample is better or worse. All other statements, be it the cry of a sofa expert or an official representative of the concern, are an empty phrase.

There is no weapon in the world that has been adopted for service, such that it surpasses the AK-74M by more than 1.5 times according to the method described. So, to declare it "morally obsolete" is stupid. Moreover, among the accepted and advertised foreign samples there is not one that would fit the characteristics of the AK-74 with a complex coefficient of at least 0.9.

More than two hundred years ago, a simple Russian generalissimo in his work "The Science of Victory" expressed a simple and capacious idea: "shoot rarely, but accurately." Much later, a brilliant American general rediscovered this idea by counting the number of rounds fired and the number of defeated enemies. The ratio he got was something about a car of cartridges for one defeated. Americans are very fond of rediscovering truths, wrapping them in multi-colored candy wrappers and supplying them with a red cap. That is what happened this time as well. The cartridge of wagons to nowhere will not leave indifferent any enterprising American. The concept of single aimed fire emerged. Automatic shooting is declared obsolete and harmful. Of course, methods and teachers of methods with a firm price have appeared. The brightest minds generally suggested abandoning manual automatic weapons and returning to the SCS or M1 Garand.

The Kalashnikov assault rifle is the pinnacle in the evolution of the development of automatic small arms chambered for an intermediate cartridge. This is another systemic reason why AK still has no competitors. I wanted to end the history of the farce in the same way as in the case of calculating the complex coefficient by which the obsolescence of technology is determined. Show graphs, calculations. However, it is impossible to state the foundations of the general theory of systems in a couple of paragraphs, as it turned out with the complex coefficient. I’ll leave it for later, but for now I’ll limit myself to thoughts on the analysis of comments on the article.

Surprisingly, no one objected to the thesis that not a single foreign sample fits the AK level with a coefficient higher than 0.9. Even the pimply writer of fairy tales about hedgehogs is silent as a fish on ice. Another battle AK vs M16 did not happen. So the question of which weapon is currently the best and unsurpassed can be closed.

But what about balanced automation, "Abakan"? What can we expect in the future and, finally, what kind of machine do we need? And what was there at all with this competition "Warrior"? I warn you, do not expect detailed technical requirements from me in the style of Cardin. Although, of course, there are those who don’t have their own thoughts. And who does not have them, I think, in general, the sky smokes in vain.

Let's go back to the beginning. At the end of World War II, the Americans ignored the achievements of German military thought in the field of small arms. The Sturmgever and the cartridge for it did not inspire them, and after a little interrogation, Hugo Schmeisser was sent to the Soviet control zone. It took the Korean War for the Americans to attend to the problems of small arms in their own army. In general, this is typical of them - after each major military campaign, conduct major research and each time find major flaws in their own weapons. So, in Vietnam, it turned out that the barrels and chambers need to be chrome-plated. In Iraq, dust reduces the time between failures of weapons to indecent values, and in Afghanistan, the power of a regular cartridge is simply not enough. In Korea, the theater of operations differed sharply from the continental European one. The distance of the small-arms battle was reduced and the American troops suffered great damage from the NON-SPECIFIC automatic fire of the Russian Shpagin and Sudayev assault rifles.

The Americans carried out several different research works on the effectiveness of small arms, the peak of which was the SALVO program, which led to the emergence of a new low-impulse cartridge and weapons for it. These works have given rise to many research work in the field of multi-bullet and arrow-bullet cartridges. The Germans began active work with a fire monitor in weapons using a caseless cartridge.

In one of the conclusions of these studies, salvo firing was proposed to compensate for errors in aiming. Such a salvo could be performed either in a short burst or with a multi-bullet cartridge from any position with an accuracy of 50% hits in a 23x23cm square at 100 meters.

For the Abakan competition, our specialists developed more pragmatic requirements, taking into account the type of shooting in deuces:

- 12 × 12 cm for prone shooting from the stop;
- 20 × 20 cm lying on the arm;
- 45 × 45 cm standing from the hand.

Obviously, both the Americans and ours came to approximately the same conclusion regarding the requirements, the fulfillment of which should lead to the adoption of a new model.

Not a single assault rifle, including the V. Kalashnikov assault rifle with balanced automation similar to the AEK, could meet these parameters, with the exception of the Nikonov assault rifle. Yes, and he corresponded to the TTT only in one indicator - standing upright. Are these requirements achievable or not at all? The question remains open. In the end, the transition to a low-pulse cartridge was due to the fact that there was another way to improve the accuracy of automatic fire within other technical specifications there were no weapons.

In conclusion, more about Picatinny. First, two quotes from German snipers from World War II:

Ollerberg Josef, German sniper on the eastern front 1942-1945":

My opponent remained in his position and waited for a new target. It was a fatal mistake for which he had to pay with his life. I carefully placed my rolled raincoat in front of the logs to rest against it, and cautiously stuck the barrel of my rifle through the gap. I couldn't use my telescopic sight because the slit was too narrow. But the Russian lay only ninety meters away from me, and it was possible to aim in the usual way, using the front sight and the aiming bar.

Günther Bauer, "Death through a telescopic sight":

With thoughts of home, it was not easy for me to return to duty. Nevertheless, the oath obliged me, and a few days later I was already at our military base in the Sudetes. There I got my carbine back. It took me quite a bit of time to attach a new scope to it. I mounted it high enough to be able to fire if necessary without the use of optics.

And one quote from Yu. Ponomarev. "The Birth of a Legend". Kalashnikov, 1/2016:

The Konstantinov rifle met the TTT requirements for accuracy, reliability, service life (with the exception of the drummer), safety and a number of other characteristics. The main disadvantage of this rifle was that it was impossible to use a mechanical sight with an optical sight installed.

Now let's look here:

Automatic carbine AK-12 with red dot sight

The Russian automatic carbine under the symbol AK-12, which means "Kalashnikov assault rifle of the 2012 model", is a promising development of the Kalashnikov concern. One of the main features of the AK-12 was the increased ergonomics of the weapon in comparison with the AK-74M caliber 5.45x39 and AKM caliber 7.62x39. The work carried out increased the accuracy of fire, the reliability of the functioning of the mechanisms of weapons and increased the service life.

The main caliber of the AK-12 will remain 5.45×39, however, according to the manufacturer's plans, the weapon can be produced under the intermediate cartridges 5.56×45, 6.5×39 Grendel, 7.62×39 and under the rifle cartridge 7.62×51. Based on the basic AK-12 platform, the manufacturer plans to develop about 20 different modifications of civil and military small arms in the future. In particular, various shortened versions, a submachine gun, a hunting self-loading carbine and a smoothbore gun.

The AK-12 uses automatics with a long stroke gas piston and a rotary bolt, the bolt group and trigger mechanism have been significantly improved compared to the AK-74. The weapon is equipped with a new telescopic plastic butt, folding in both directions and adjustable in length, as well as the height of the cheek.

The central axis of the AK-12 bore is in line with the stock, as is done in assault rifles M16 , which reduces the recoil shoulder and reduces the muzzle throw up, ultimately increasing the controllability of the weapon during automatic firing, making it easier for the shooter to quickly aim fire and increase its accuracy.

The AK-12 is equipped with an easy-to-handle double-sided four-position safety switch, which is placed under the thumb of the shooting hand, which makes it easy to operate it during combat. There are three modes of firing - these are single shots, a continuous burst, firing in series of three shots, as well as the “fuse” position.

One of the most anticipated innovations in the AK-12 was the bolt lag with buttons on both sides of the receiver, above the magazine. The introduction of a shutter delay significantly reduced the reload time. The weapon is equipped with a new ergonomic fire control handle.

The store latch lever is elongated and slightly shifted back. It can now be reached with the finger of the hand lying on the fire control handle.

Compared to the AK-74, the AK-12 has a much longer sighting line, since the rear sight is moved to the rear of the receiver, which ultimately increases the accuracy of shooting. The front sight is made adjustable horizontally and vertically, corrections can be easily made using a screwdriver from the spare parts kit. The sector sight is made combined, it has both a regular slot and an aperture rear sight. Regular grenade launchers GP-25, GP-30 and GP-34 can be attached to the weapon.

With the AK-12, standard magazines with a capacity of 30 rounds from AK-74 or from AKM, depending on the caliber, can be used, as well as promising four-row box magazines with a capacity of 60 rounds and experienced drum magazines, for 95 rounds. But to enable the shutter delay to work, new magazines for 30 rounds with a modified feeder have been developed.

As additional equipment On the AK-12, you can install effective western-made optics, tactical lights and laser designators, a front grip and bipod, or modules that combine several devices at once, as well as a tactical silencer specially designed for this sample.

The AK-12 is equipped with a new design muzzle brake-compensator, which allows it to fire foreign-made rifle grenades. The bore has better accuracy and workmanship than its predecessor, and also received slightly modified rifling and bullet entry, which increased the accuracy of shooting.

The cocking handle of the first AK-12 prototype was located in front of the weapon and was mounted on the gas piston rod, and it could be moved to the left side for ease of use by people with a leading left hand. The weapon received a hinged receiver cover with increased rigidity.

However, according to the results of preliminary tests, this design was significantly changed: while retaining the possibility of a two-sided installation, the cocking handle returned to the bolt, and the cover became removable again instead of a hinged one. This additionally increased the rigidity of the structure while significantly lightening it, and also made it possible to make the top Picatinny rail inextricable, which is especially important when installing long night sights. In addition, the weapon received a new handguard made using a 3D printer, which also has a Picatinny rail at the bottom.

On January 28, 2015, it became known that the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation chose the AK-12 for the Russian combat equipment of the Ratnik military man, as Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov said on the air of the Russian News Service. Quote: “This is already a settled issue. This is an Izhmash AK-12 assault rifle. Price and quality turned out to be attractive for us” Borisov noted. According to Oleg Bochkarev, deputy chairman of the board of the Military Industrial Commission, only military operation was to begin in 2015, and the first serial batch of AK-12s to the troops should arrive in 2016.

In September 2016, the Kalashnikov Concern, which is part of the Rostec State Corporation, demonstrated an updated AK-12 with a design modified based on the results of state tests as part of the Army-2016 International Military-Technical Forum. According to the manufacturer, the design was revised to eliminate a number of shortcomings identified during testing and to meet the customer's recommendations, as a result of improvements, the manufacturability was significantly increased. A new version The AK-12 is based on the prototype AK-400, but also has a number of developments from the old version.

Various modifications of the AK-12

Differences between the old version of the AK-12 and previous modifications of the AK

• improving the accuracy of fire due to the displacement of the mass of the bolt group and a decrease in the recoil arm;
• shutter delay;
• improved ergonomics, the introduction of a two-way fuse-switch of the type of fire, a two-way shutter delay button and a shift back of the magazine latch allows you to operate them with one hand holding the weapon (without removing it from the handle, as before);
• built-in Picatinny rails for mounting attachments (sights, rangefinders, grenade launchers, flashlights);
• a new telescopic buttstock folding in both directions, a more ergonomic pistol grip, adjustable pad and butt plate, butt locking mechanism in the unfolded state is now located in the butt itself, and not in the receiver;
• the telescopic buttstock can now be easily replaced with a non-folding plastic buttstock, for this, both versions have a Picatinny rail at the end, with which they are attached to the receiver (this also allows you to turn the hinge with the rod on a folding sample, thus changing the side where the butt folds) ;
• the ability to install the reload handle on both sides of the receiver (for the convenience of left-handers and right-handers);
• the ability to fire in three modes (single shots, with a cutoff of three shots and automatically), previously optional for the "hundredth" series;
• the muzzle device of the machine, providing the possibility of using foreign-made rifle grenades;
• new sight with full aperture and increased aiming line;
• modified trigger mechanism;
• new design of the bolt group;
• barrel with improved performance in terms of manufacturing accuracy.

Technical characteristics of the AK-12 assault rifle

• Caliber: 5.45x39
• Weapon length: 940 / 730 mm (with unfolded / folded stock)
• Barrel length: 415 mm
• Weight without cartridges: 3.2 kg.
• Rate of fire: 650 rds / min
• Muzzle velocity: 900 m/s
• Sighting range: 1000 m
• Magazine capacity: 30 or 60 rounds (box magazines)
• 95 rounds (drum magazine)

assault rifles