Russian Assault Rifles/Carbines/Machine Guns Thread: #1

Russia to test new model of Kalashnikov assault rifle in 2011

RIA Novosti

16:5725/05/2010 MOSCOW, May 25 (RIA Novosti) - State tests of the new model of Kalashnikov automatic rifles will be held in Russia next year, Izhmash Director General Vladimir Grodetsky said on Tuesday.

The new model of the legendary assault rifle, the AK-200, is based on the AK-74M and differs in weight (3.8 kilograms/8.4 lbs vs. 3.3 kilograms/7.3 lbs) and the magazine capacity (30, 50, 60 rounds vs. 30).
The AK-74, a developed version of the Kalashnikov rifle's first model, the AK-47, was introduced in 1974 and used by the Soviet forces during the Afghanistan conflict.

The AK-47 was originally created by Mikhail Kalashnikov, who as a WWII soldier was inspired to design the weapon after being wounded in 1941. While his first attempts were unsuccessful, he was given a position in weapons development, and by 1947 he had perfected his masterpiece.

Since then, the AK-47 has become the most widespread and famous assault rifle. Used by some 50 armies around the world, as well as countless urban guerrilla movements, it is also featured on the flag of Mozambique.

Kalashnikov received Russia's highest honorary title on his 90th birthday last November. Accepting the award, Kalashnikov voiced regret that his creation, the world's most widely used rifle, has been often misused.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev described the AK-47 at the ceremony as "an excellent model of Russian weaponry" and "a national brand that makes each citizen proud."

http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/russia/2010/russia-100525-rianovosti02.htm

This is the one from AK-200 series looks like a preproduction model

Austin wrote:This is the one from AK-200 series looks like a preproduction model

Thank you for photos!

Legendary Kalashnikov assault rifle: History and prospects

RIA Novosti

21:2926/05/2010 MOSCOW. (Ilya Kramnik, RIA Novosti military commentator) - The Russian armed forces will continue using firearms based on the assault rifle Mikhail Kalashnikov designed in 1947. Vladimir Gorodetsky, director of the Urals-based Izhevsk Mechanical Plant (Izhmash), which produces the legendary assault rifles, told this to the media on May 25.

Next year, the Defense Ministry will start testing a new model of Kalashnikov, the AK-200. The new model is lighter than its predecessor and has a more ergonomic design. However, the total weight of the device will be 3.8 kg (up from 3.3 kg), due to additional equipment, including a scope sight and a target-marking laser.

Do these improvements meet the current needs of the Russian army, or modern fighting practices more broadly? To answer this question, one needs to study complaints made about the most widely used and distributed military firearm in history.

1. Lower precision in single shot fire compared to similar Western models and noticeable climb in fully automatic fire, especially with the 7.62 mm version.

2. Difficulty in installing modern scope sights.

3. Non-ergonomic handle.

4. Obsolete open-barrel sight.

Most of the precision problems in basic AK models have been resolved by improving the quality of mass-produced rifles and ammunition, analysts say. Sometimes there can be a great difference between different Kalashnikovs of the same model but made by different producers in different countries because of production quality, components and ammunition.

As for the climb and recoil problems, they stem from details in the design itself; correcting those would require structural improvements, at least as significant as in the AK 107/108 versions, where the recoil is weaker due to its more balanced automatic mechanism. Such changes would eventually require designers to generate a whole new design concept for the firearm, which is impossible in the current economic situation.

Another option would be to use new recoil control devices (compensators).

The difficulty of installing scopes is due to the receiver cover's design: optical sights cannot be attached to it. The sights, fitted with a Picatinny attachment, would need to be adjusted whenever the cover is lifted or replaced.

Until recently, the sights were fitted to Kalashnikovs using a bracket on the left side of the receiver, significantly limiting the range of sights that could be used. The Picatinny gas tube attachment was introduced for the AK-200 series to solve this problem and the receiver cover was also improved. It is hinged to the receiver at the front and flips up, increasing its overall rigidity. Picatinny rails compatible with a range of optical and collimator sights can be installed on the rigid receiver.

Many professionals recognize the Kalashnikov's original open barrel sight as obsolete. Other experts argue that it is quite effective in open combat and only requires minor improvements.

Overall, the AK-200 series is a significant upgrade of the basic rifle, and the improvements made have not required a dramatic upgrade in production lines.

Russia's Interior Ministry and Federal Security Service are already buying small batches of new series firearms. Commercial production has to wait until the Defense Ministry's tests are complete. If the AK-200 goes into production, it would mean Russia joining the international trend towards improving existing models rather than re-inventing "the firearms of tomorrow," which saw only limited progress. Basic models can be upgraded by ergonomic design and added cutting-edge equipment.

Russia is in a better position than other countries as it escaped all those "firearms of tomorrow" projects thanks to events of the past 20 years.

The opinions expressed in this article are the author's and do not necessarily represent those of RIA Novosti.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/russia/2010/russia-100526-rianovosti04.htm

I have been told one of the key reason why AK did not make in big numbers in Indian SF is because it lacked picatinny rail . so AK-200 having it is a welcome change.

Is it true that the newer AK-100 model did not make a big sucess like the older AK-47 and AK-74 series ? Was there any issue in adopting AK-100 series ?

It seems AK-47 and 74 remains a weapons of choice for terrorist world over and not the new AK-100 series.

Another video of AK-200 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXONA4YZX0A

Picatinny rail would mean the options to attach many western system exist , India has the habit of buying some base Russian system and adding western equipment to it to suite its needs. So this is really good news for export prospects for AK-200.

Indian SF has right now standardised mostly on Israel Tavor.

Yeah the CIA created most of the mess that we today and now they are hunting those who were fed by them in 70's,80's , call it change of fortune or officially "War On Terror"

looks like a upgradet AK-74, don't expect any super weapon with smart bullets, well "at last" it sems to have a balanced recoil mechanism

I understand the AN94 will not be going into serial production. Production costs were identified as a major barrier. Instead, work will be conducted on the AK100 series to modernise it. Someone may have more up-to-date information on this.

GarryB wrote:All this talk about the AK-200 seems to suggest that the An94 will be a specialist weapon.
With a moving barrel and pulley system with wires etc it sounds rather complicated to me, though by firing two rounds rather quickly the hit probability is probably increased by a statistically significant amount I would think it would only be issued to units with a high level of training to maintain and use it effectively.

The AN94 has a phenominal cyclic rate - sure beats the "double tap" we had to do with the SLR's. However, from what I have read, the benefits of the system do not out-weigh the very high production costs and there is also the higher maintenance requirements of the more complicated system. {Soldier training, Armourer, spares inventory et al.]. The percieved benefits just don't stack up - I test fired the Ak100 series in 2001, when I was in Russia and I'd be happy enough to use it.

Yeah, basically it is hit probablity - when we were undergoing Vietnam era training we did what was called - "double tap" with the 7.62 x 51 SLR's. This involved pulling the trigger as fast as you could for two shots - starting low with your point of aim.  The concept being that the recoil lifted the second shot and as it was jungle warfare, it was hoped that one of the two would at least get through. I felt very confident with the SLR, it would get through small trees but the M16 was a piece of Cr*p. The 55gn projectile just didn't have it.

You would be very surprised at how accurate you could be with the SLR and double tap - I used to fold down the rear leaf sight, put a white chalk line along the wooden fore-end and a white chalk line on each of the fore-sight guards. You would then use it rather like a shotgun - both eyes open and frame the target in the chalk lines - starting with a shot heading for the crotch - the second round usually hit in the chest. This was jungle-lane shooting and ranges were probably from 2 metres to 20 metres. First to fire was the winner!

The Russian 5.45 x 39 round is very good - the 60gn Projectile has great sectional density and very good penetration. However, interestingly enough, I detect a move back to the 30 cal [or similar] like the Yanks with their 6.8mm. The Brits had it right back in the early 1950's with the .280 round, but Yank pressure forced the 30 cal option - then the 5.56mm and now finally, a move back to what the  Brits originaly suggested.  

But you're right - hit probablity was the concept behind the very fast burst; and yes again - they don't go into the same hole!

Trying to be tacticool?