The new AK-12 is an automatic carbine created in 2012. This is a promising product, developed by the Kalashnikov concern. The main feature of the AK-12 is the increased ergonomics of the product in comparison with its predecessors AKM, AK-74, AK-74M. The modernization allowed to increase the service life of the weapon, the reliability of its design and the accuracy of fire. AK-12 demonstrates superior performance: less recoil, better cooling, the machine has become lighter and shorter, and it can be recharged with one hand. That is why the AK-12 has been adopted and it will be used from 2018 as the main machine for the Ratnik servicemen’s kit.
History of the AK-12
The development of the machine began in June 2011 under the guidance of the famous designer-gunsmith Vladimir Viktorovich Zlobin, the chief designer of "Izhmash", in a proactive manner. The basis was accumulated over the 10-year period. In 2011, the assembly of the prototype was completed and the testing of the first sample of the fifth generation machine began. The AK-12 submachine gun is intended to replace in service and in production the previous versions of the AK-103, AK-74M, AK-74 and AKM, AKMS automata.
The AK-12 was shown for the first time in January 2012, from where its index “12” went. The main task in the development was:
- increasing versatility
- improved ergonomic performance
- the preservation and some improvement of the performance characteristics of tth (accuracy of fire, resource, reliability in different modes).
The state did not provide support in the design of the new automaton, since in total over 17 million AKs of old samples are stored in army warehouses. In 2013 and 2014, the AK-12 project encountered resistance from the Russian military under the pretext of its individual shortcomings, so the prospective machine gun was denied public funding for testing. Nevertheless, by 2018, the Ministry of Defense was able to assess the progressiveness of the new machine gun, and as a result, the AK-12 was put into service as part of the Ratnik complex. Among other things, this was due to lighter weight and lower price in comparison with the prospective competitor A-545.
In 2018, the fifth generation machine gun, already adopted, after preliminary tests, is undergoing a series of modifications. The comments received are not critical for an already selected construction and will be completely eliminated within a year. After the modifications, the machine was again subjected to tests. In the armed forces of Russia AK-12 will begin to arrive in 2019.
Tactical and technical characteristics of AK-12
AK-12 has the following tactical and technical characteristics:
- Automatic caliber 5.45 × 39
- The length of the weapon is 730/940 mm (with folded / unfolded butt)
- Mass without cartridges is 3.2 kg
- The length of the barrel is 415 mm
- The initial speed of the bullet is 900 m / s
- The rate of fire is 650 shots / min.
- Sighting range is 1000 m
- The effective firing range is 600 m
- Magazine capacity is 95 rounds (in the case of a drum store), 30 or 60 rounds (in the case of box magazines)
- Shooting mode: automatic, 3 shots cut-off and single
Differences of AK-12 from early versions of AK
- slide lag;
- improved accuracy of fire due to a decrease in the recoil arm and the displacement of the mass of the bolt group;
- introduction of a two-way shutter delay button, a two-way fuse-switch of the fire, improvement of ergonomics, shift of the magazine latch back, which allows you to operate the machine with one hand;
- Built-in Picatinny rail, allowing you to install attachments (lights, rocket launchers, rangefinders, sighting devices);
- The new telescopic butt, folding in both directions, a more ergonomic handle, adjustable butt plate and butt pad. The butt-locking mechanism is now located in the butt in the unfolded state, and not in the receiver;
- the telescopic butt can easily be replaced by a non-folding plastic butt;
- the ability to install on both sides of the receiver box handle recharge box (for convenience of right-handers and left-handers);
- the possibility of firing directly in three modes (automatically, with a cut-off of three shots and single shots);
- muzzle device of the machine, which provides the possibility of using rifle grenades of foreign production;
- modified trigger mechanism;
- new removable sight with a larger aiming line;
- completely new bolt band design;
- barrel manufacturing accuracy has improved characteristics.
Design features AK-12
- For convenience, the weapons control bodies have been significantly reworked, duplicated on the left side and the flag of the fuse-translator of fire has been changed, the gate delay has been turned on. The hold knob is moved forward for better access to the magazine latch buttons and shutter lag, the trigger guard is shortened. The latch latch of the magazine is extended and slightly shifted back, so that it can be reached with a finger on the handle. When the latch is turned off, the cartridge will automatically be fed into the barrel chamber from the store neck.
- The machine can use the same stores as the AK74 / RPK74 (including experienced drum kits in 95 rounds and 4 rows for 60 rounds). However, in order to work with a slide delay, new stores are being designed.
- The machine uses an effective muzzle brake, it can significantly reduce the impact. AK-12 has an unsurpassed aiming range of 1000 meters.
- If AK74 had a caliber of 5.45 mm, AK 47 - 7.62 mm, then AK 12 has two parameters at once: it has two interchangeable stems that correspond to both calibers. Both the rate of fire and the sighting range were increased, and the magazine's capacity doubled in comparison with its predecessors.
- The design of the machine has undergone significant changes. The machine has received an updated bolt group, a new trigger mechanism, as well as a modular design, on the basis of which it is planned to create up to 20 military and civilian modifications. A slide delay was also introduced, which significantly reduced the auto-recharge time.
- The most noticeable feature of AK 12 is universality. In the design of the machine integrated Picatinny rail allows you to install additional equipment: collimator, night and optical sights, rifle grenade launchers, range finders, target indicators and tactical lights. The muzzle device is adapted for firing barrel grenades, including foreign ones. At the same time, the machine fully meets the requirements of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, and Izhmash has already expressed its readiness to make state orders in any volume.
