AEK-971
| AEK-971 | |
|---|---|
 AEK-971 5.45×39mm balanced-recoil assault rifle | |
| Type | Assault rifle |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1980–present 2018–present (KORD rifle) |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars | Second Chechen war 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine[1] |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Stanislav Koksharov |
| Designed | 1978 |
| Manufacturer | Kovrovskiy Mekhanicheskiy Zavod (original) Degtyarev plant (current) |
| Produced | 1990–present |
| Variants | See Variants |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 3.3 kg (7.3 lb) unloaded (AEK-971) 3.3 kg (7.3 lb) unloaded (AEK-972) 3.25 kg (7.2 lb) unloaded (AEK-973) |
| Length | 960 mm (37.8 in) with stock unfolded 720 mm (28.3 in) with stock folded |
| Barrel length | 420 mm (16.5 in) |
| Cartridge | 5.45×39mm (AEK-971, AEK-971S, KORD 6P67) 5.56×45mm NATO (AEK-972) 7.62×39mm (AEK-973, AEK-973S, KORD 6P68) |
| Action | Gas-operated, rotating bolt, balanced recoil system (BARS) |
| Rate of fire | 900 rounds/min[2] |
| Muzzle velocity | 880 m/s (2,887 ft/s) (AEK-971, AEK-971S) 850 m/s (2,789 ft/s) (AEK-972) 700 m/s (2,297 ft/s) (AEK-973, AEK-973S) |
| Effective firing range | 500 m (547 yd) |
| Maximum firing range | 100–1,000 m (109–1,094 yd) sight adjustments |
| Feed system | AEK-971, AEK-971S, KORD 6P67: 5.45×39mm AK-74 and RPK-74 magazines AEK-972: 5.56×45mm NATO AK-101, AK-102 carbine and AK-108 magazines AEK-973, AEK-973S, KORD 6P68: 7.62×39mm AK-47, AKM and RPK magazines Note: In standard configuration all of the rifles uses a 30-round detachable box magazine and are capable of using the 60-round detachable casket magazine. |
| Sights | AEK-971: Adjustable iron sights, hooded front post and rear notch on a scaled tangent KORD 6P67: Iron sights that consist of a rotary rear drum aperture and an integrated Picatinny rail for various optics |
The AEK-971 (Russian: Автомат единый Кокшарова 971, "Automatic (rifle), Universal, (of) Koksharov, 971) is a selective fire 5.45×39mm assault rifle that features a balanced automatics recoil system. It was developed at the Kovrov Mechanical Plant (KMZ) by chief designer Stanislav Ivanovich Koksharov (Cyrilic: Станислав Иванович Кокшаров), also known as Sergey Koksharov, in the late 1970s and 1980s (currently manufactured by Degtyarev Plant).
The AEK-971 is also available in 5.56×45mm NATO, designated as the AEK-972 and in 7.62×39mm, designated as the AEK-973.
The KORD 6P67 and KORD 6P68 are successor variants of the AEK-971 and AEK-973 respectively, that were announced on 23 December 2014, which features numerous internal and external improvements over their predecessors and were adopted by the Russian Armed Forces' Spetsnaz type special operations units.
History
[edit]
The AEK-971 was developed to participate in a competition announced by the Ministry of Defense of the USSR, during which preference was given to the AN-94. The initial AEK version differs from modern samples, as many innovations were perceived as unnecessary by the Ministry of Defence, which led to a simplification of the early model. The AEK-971 is approximately 0.5 kg (1.1 lb) lighter than the AN-94, simpler in design and cheaper to manufacture.
The AEK-971 has been combat proven in Chechnya tested by naval infantry and interior forces, and prepared for mass production. Only a few small batches of this assault rifle have been produced so far and adopted for service with units of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation.[3][4]
Though losing an initial contract for production against the AN-94 as a result of the Project Abakan assault rifle selection trials held from 1980 to 1994 in Russia, the Russian Army began field trials of this weapon. The AN-94 assault rifle, which was officially adopted by Russian army, has a slight accuracy edge over the AEK-971 in 2-round-burst mode. In full automatic mode or during longer bursts (3–10 rounds per burst) the AEK-971 is more accurate. In late 2014, an updated variant of the rifle passed state trials and will be tested operationally with Russian forces in early 2015.[5]
On 23 December 2014, the Russian Army announced that a successor variant of the AEK-971, designated as the KORD 6P67 (official GRAU designation 6P67), along with their main rival the AK-12, had passed state Ratnik trials and would be accepted into service with operational units for evaluation. Both systems were recommended for initial batch production and issue for trials in the field. It is possible that in the end both rifles will be adopted by Russian military and other agencies, with the AEK series being oriented towards Special Operations Forces (Spetsnaz) and AK-12 towards infantry and other units.[6] It was expected that both rifles would be tested operationally with the Russian military by March 2015.[5]
In March 2017, it was revealed that the KORD 6P67 would be accepted into Russian service after testing was completed along with the AK-12, although serving border patrol regiments, special forces, and the national guard due to its more complicated and expensive design while the AK-12 would arm regular infantry forces.[7]
In January 2018 it was announced that the rifle has been adopted in 5.45×39mm and 7.62×39mm chamberings by the Russian military.[8]
Design details
[edit]
The AEK-971 is based on previous AK rifles in internal design and layout, but features a Balanced Automatics Recoil System (BARS) that enhances the traditional Kalashnikov long stroke gas piston operating system by reducing the negative effects of recoil. Balanced recoil systems were previously applied in the AO-38 and AL-7 experimental assault rifles and in the AK-107 and AK-108. BARS works by shifting mass toward the muzzle of the rifle as the bolt and bolt carrier recoil rearward by way of a counter-weight that negates the impulse of the gas piston and bolt carrier, resulting in more controllable automatic fire. For the AEK-971 automatic firing accuracy is improved by 15-20% in comparison with the AK-74M.[2][9]
The AEK-971's iron sights features an adjustable notched rear tangent rear sight calibrated in 100 m (109 yd) increments from 100 to 1,000 m (109 to 1,094 yd) and a hooded front post. Each AEK assault rifle is fitted with a Warsaw Pact side-rail bracket for mounting optics.[3]
The travel distance of the reciprocating parts of the AEK-971 is less than compared to the non-balanced recoil AK-pattern designs, thus increasing its cyclic rate of fire significantly. The original cyclic rate of fire of the early prototype model was 1,500 rounds per minute and was later decreased to 900 rounds per minute for the production model.
The AEK-971 is fed through AK-74, RPK-74 pattern 5.45×39mm 30-round or larger box magazines.
Variants
[edit]There are two different calibre variants of the AEK-971, the AEK-972 and AEK-973. The different variants are most easily recognized by their respective magazine curvatures. The AEK-971S and AEK-973S are improved variants of the AEK-971 and AEK-973 respectively, which features a three-round burst fire mode and numerous improvements.
AEK-971
[edit]The AEK-971 is chambered in 5.45×39mm, and serves as the baseline for other variants. It uses all of the AK-74 and RPK-74 compatible magazines.
AEK-971S
[edit]The AEK-971S is an improved variant which features a three-round burst fire mode, a new trigger mechanism that is located at thumb safety-selector lever on the right-side, and an extended padded retractable lightweight stock that is designed for the operator to still be able to fire the rifle even if it is retracted. The burst fire accuracy of the AEK-971S is two times higher than that of the AK-74M.[3]
AEK-972
[edit]The AEK-972 is a variant chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO. It uses the magazines of the 5.56×45mm NATO chambered variants of the AK-100 rifle family; the AK-101, AK-102, and AK-108.
AEK-973
[edit]The AEK-973 is a variant chambered in 7.62×39mm. It uses all of the AK-47, AKM and RPK compatible magazines.
AEK-973S
[edit]The AEK-973S is of similar design to the AEK-971S but is chambered in 7.62×39mm. The burst fire accuracy of the AEK-973S is two times higher than that of the AKM.[3]
KORD successor variants
[edit]A heavily improved variant of the AEK-971 and AEK-973 were later released, designated as the KORD 6P67 and KORD 6P68 respectively, and are intended for Russian Special Operations Forces (Spetsnaz) use.[6]
KORD 6P67
[edit]
The KORD 6P67 (official GRAU designation 6P67) is a successor variant of the AEK-971, and is chambered in 5.45×39mm.
The KORD 6P67 has numerous internal and external improvements over earlier AEK-971 models. The changes includes iron sights that consist of a rotary rear drum aperture and a hooded front post creating a significantly longer sight line, an ambidextrous fire mode selectors/safety levers, a 2-round burst feature, retractable and adjustable shoulder stock. Also the Warsaw Pact side-rail bracket is omitted and replaced by a Picatinny Rail on a redesigned receiver top for mounting auxiliary equipment, such as optical red dot sights.[4]
The first order for the KORD 6P67 was announced in mid-2020, after being adopted in 2018. It is believed that this order is around 500 units that were destined for Spetsnaz units and Airborne personnel.[10]
A variant equipped with a suppressor is also available, designated as the KORD 6P67-1.[11]
KORD 6P68
[edit]The KORD 6P68 (official GRAU designation 6P68) is a successor variant of the AEK-973, evidently of similar design to the KORD 6P67 but chambered in 7.62×39mm.[12][13]
There is also a variant equipped with a suppressor available, designated as the KORD 6P68-1.
Users
[edit]
Russia: AEK-971's were produced in small batches and delivered to units of the MVD Internal Troops (paramilitary gendarmerie-like forces) and other law enforcement agencies of Russia.[2][4] In January 2018 it was announced that the KORD 6P67 and KORD 6P68 rifles had been adopted in the 5.45×39mm and 7.62×39mm chamberings by the Russian military.[14] Serial production began in April 2020.[15]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Russia's Rare A-545 in Ukraine" (video). The Armourer's Bench. April 16, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Энциклопедия Оружия". Archived from the original on 2010-06-28. Retrieved 2010-04-10.
- ^ a b c d "AEK-971, AEK-972 and AEK-973 assault rifles". Archived from the original on 2015-02-10. Retrieved 2015-01-26.
- ^ a b c "Balanced action at a glance by Maxim Popenker". Archived from the original on 2015-02-06. Retrieved 2015-01-27.
- ^ a b BREAKING: Russian Army Accepts Both AK-12 And AEK-971 Archived 2017-11-12 at archive.today – Thefirearmblog.com, 23 December 2014
- ^ a b "Modern Firearms – AEK-971". modernfirearms.net. 27 October 2010. Archived from the original on 2017-04-09. Retrieved 2017-04-08.
- ^ "BREAKING: Russia will Adopt Both AK-12 and AEK-971 Assault Rifles - Thefirearmblog.com, 14 March 2017". 13 March 2017. Archived from the original on 12 November 2017. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
- ^ "BREAKING: Russian Army Adopts AK-12, AK-15, AEK-971, and AEK-973 Rifles for Military Service (For Real This Time) - Thefirearmblog.com, 31 January 2018". 30 January 2018. Archived from the original on 4 June 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
- ^ "Modern Firearms AEK-971 A-545 6P67 6P68 assault rifle (Russia)". Archived from the original on 2010-09-13. Retrieved 2005-09-09.
- ^ A545 “6P67 KORD-5,45” assault rifle and A762 “6P68 KORD-7,62” assault rifle (Russia)
- ^ "6P67/6P67-1 KORD Assault Rifle". Archived from the original on May 17, 2023.
- ^ "Оружие для "Ратника": что придёт на смену "Калашникову"?". 23 January 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-04-27. Retrieved 2015-05-21.
- ^ Rosoboronexport unveils Kord 6P68 assault rifle (Archive)
- ^ "Russian military adopts Kalashnikov and Degtyarev assault rifles - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly, 06 February 2018". Archived from the original on 10 February 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
- ^ "В России началось производство нового автомата". Archived from the original on April 4, 2023.
External links
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