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The AK-100 family is a series of Kalashnikov rifles, based upon the AK-74M, intended for export sales. [1] The family of rifles offers the AK-74M system, in multiple cartridges and lengths. [2]
The original AK-100 series rifles were introduced in 1994 and are categorized by all having black polymer handguards, folding polymer stocks, and use of AK-74M internal systems. Parts are highly interchangeable. [3]
Notably, while the pattern would imply that the AK-100 series rifle chambered for 5.45x39mm would be the AK-105, and that the 5.45 carbine would be the AK-106, the AK-105 designation skipped the 100 series 5.45 rifle (that already existed as the 74M,) and went straight to the 5.45 carbine. Despite the AK-100 series being built off the AK-74M, rather than the 74M being the start of the series as the AK-100 or the AK-101, they decided that they would keep its name, and instead skip "AK-100" and attribute AK-101 to a completely different rifle. Additionally, there is no AK-106. This is likely to separate the versions using the BARS system, to make it clear that while they are 100 series rifles overall, they are somewhat their own subseries, however it could be possible that the AK-74M could have the alternative designation of AK-106
| Chambering | Assault Rifle | Carbine |
|---|---|---|
| 5.56×45mm NATO | AK-101 | AK-102 |
| 7.62×39mm | AK-103 | AK-104 |
| 5.45×39mm | AK-74M | AK-105 |
| 9×39mm | AK-9 |
Even with those differences all of the rifles are made to similar specifications. [3]
Rifles in the 100 series have been exported to and/or adopted by a variety of countries, notably: Armenia, Cyprus, Serbia, Syria, Uruguay, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Venezuela. [5]
The AK-105 has also seen some domestic use, filling a niche role as a middle ground between the AK-74M and AKS-74U. [6] [7] [8]
Later Kalashnikov started offering the AK-107 / AK-108 / AK-109 (in order 5.45x39, 5.56x45, 7.62x39) models. Externally they are very similar to the AK-100 series (with some minor differences) and are offered in the same calibers. Internally they use a radically different gas system and incorporate the Balanced Automatics Recoil System (BARS).
The AK-100M/AK-200 rifle family was initially conceived around 2009 as an improved variant of the basic AK-100 series. The development of the AK-100M/AK-200 family was stopped around 2011 but resumed around 2016. In 2017, Kalashnikov unveiled the modernized versions of the AK-100 family of rifles. Main key takeaways compared to the AK-100 variants is the additional picatinny rails, accurized barrel, improved flash hider device, pinned barrel components instead of pressed in. Additionally, the handguard possesses 4 rails instead of two, with a rail on the top of the dustcover, which is hinged. Overall, it is considerably designed to use modern optics compared to its predecessor. [9]
As of 2018, the AK-200 series rifles are offered for export sales and for domestic law enforcement users in Russia. [10] [11] [12] [13] The AK-200 series are based on the AK-100 series and the AK-12. They can be chambered in 5.45×39mm, 5.56×45mm NATO and 7.62×39mm, and use a barrel and gas system assembly and iron sights line similar to that of the AK-74M/AK-100 rifle family. Improvements added from the AK-12 include Picatinny rails, a new pistol grip, a new adjustable buttstock and a new flash hider. [14] They feed from 30-round magazines, and are compatible with drum magazines from the RPK and RPK-74. [15]
The models of the AK-200 series are:
| Chambering | Assault Rifle | Carbine |
|---|---|---|
| 5.45×39mm | AK-200 | AK-205 |
| 5.56×45mm NATO | AK-201 | AK-202 |
| 7.62×39mm | AK-203 | AK-204 |
On 3 March 2019, Russia and India inaugurated Indo-Russia Rifles in Uttar Pradesh, India to produce AK-203 assault rifles. [16] [17] However, no contract had been signed then or rifles produced because of pricing disagreements. [18] [19] India signed a contract in August 2021 to directly import 70,000 AK-203 rifles from Russia. [20] [21] Russia and India on December 6, 2021, finally signed a contract on the delivery of over 600,000 7.62mm AK-203 assault rifles that will be produced on India's soil to the republic's Defense Ministry. [22]
The AK-47, officially known as the Avtomat Kalashnikova, is an assault rifle that is chambered for the 7.62×39mm cartridge. Developed in the Soviet Union by Russian small-arms designer Mikhail Kalashnikov, it is the originating firearm of the Kalashnikov family of rifles. After more than seven decades since its creation, the AK-47 model and its variants remain one of the most popular and widely used firearms in the world.
A squad automatic weapon (SAW), also known as a section automatic weapon or light support weapon (LSW), is a man-portable automatic firearm attached to infantry squads or sections as a source of rapid direct firepower. Weapons fulfilling this role can be light machine guns, or modified selective-fire rifles fitted with a heavier barrel, bipod and a belt/drum-fed design.
The AK-74 is an assault rifle designed by small arms designer Mikhail Kalashnikov in 1974 as a successor to the AKM. While primarily associated with the Soviet Union, it has been used by many countries since the 1970s. It is chambered for the 5.45×39mm cartridge, which replaced the 7.62×39mm cartridge of Kalashnikov's earlier automatic weapons for the Soviet Armed Forces.
The RPK, sometimes inaccurately termed the RPK-47, is a Soviet 7.62×39mm light machine gun that was developed by Mikhail Kalashnikov in the early 1960s, in parallel with the AKM assault rifle. It was created to standardize the small arms inventory of the Soviet Army, where it replaced the 7.62×39mm RPD machine gun. The RPK continues to be used by the military of the post-Soviet states and certain African and Asian nations. The RPK is also manufactured in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Serbia.
The AK-103 is an assault rifle designed by Russian small arms designer Mikhail Kalashnikov.
The AK-105 is a short barrel, carbine version of the AK-74M rifle, originally developed to replace the shorter barrelled AKS-74U. The AK-105 is chambered in 5.45×39mm ammunition and is used domestically by the Russian Army in contrast to other AK-100 series rifles.
The AEK-971 is a selective fire 5.45×39mm assault rifle that was developed at the Kovrov Mechanical Plant (KMZ) by chief designer Stanislav Ivanovich Koksharov, also known as Sergey Koksharov, in the late 1970s and 1980s.
The AK-107 is a Russian 5.45×39mm assault rifle developed from the AK-100-series. It features a "balanced" operating system, similar to that used in the AEK-971. In this case, the designation AK does not indicate Avtomat Kalashnikova but Alexandrov/Kalashnikov. The revised designation indicates the incorporation of a new gas system, designed by Youriy Alexandrov, for Kalashnikov-pattern rifles.
The A-91 is a bullpup assault rifle developed during the 1990s by KBP Instrument Design Bureau in Tula, Soviet Union as an offspring of the 9A-91 firearm family.
The Zastava M70 is a 7.62×39mm assault rifle developed in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia by Zastava Arms. The M70 was an unlicensed derivative of the Soviet AK-47. Due to political differences between the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia at the time, namely the latter's refusal to join the Warsaw Pact, Zastava was unable to directly obtain the technical specifications for the AK and opted to reverse engineer the weapon type. Although the M70 was functionally identical to the AK, it had unique in-built features that better enabled it to fire rifle grenades. These included a thicker receiver, a new latch for the dust cover to ensure it would not be jarred loose by a grenade discharge, and a folding grenade sight bracket over the rifle's gas block, which also shut off the gas system when raised.
The Saiga semi-automatic rifles are a family of Russian semi-automatic rifles manufactured by Kalashnikov Concern, which also manufactures the original AK-47 and its variants, Saiga-12 shotguns and Dragunov sniper rifle. Saiga rifles are a sport version of the Kalashnikov rifle, and are marketed for hunting and civilian use. They are sometimes referred to as Saiga Sporters.
The Pistol Mitralieră model 1963/1965 is a Romanian 7.62×39mm assault rifle. Developed in the late 1950s, the PM md. 63 was a derivative of the Soviet AKM produced under license. It was the standard-issue infantry weapon of the Army of the Socialist Republic of Romania until the late 1980s, after which it was gradually superseded by the Pușcă Automată model 1986, a derivative of the Soviet AK-74.
The AK-12, "Avtomat Kalashnikova, 2012" is a Russian gas-operated assault rifle chambered in 5.45×39mm designed and manufactured by the Kalashnikov Concern, making it the fifth generation of Kalashnikov rifles.
The AK-104 is a carbine variant of the AK-103. It's chambered to fire 7.62×39mm ammunition and thus feeds from any standard 7.62x39 AK pattern magazine.
Indo-Russia Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) is a rifle-manufacturing facility in Korwa, Amethi district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Founded in 2019, the factory manufactures the AK-200 variant of the Kalashnikov family of rifles.
The STV is a family of Vietnamese-made service assault rifles and submachine guns.
The AK-205 is a carbine chambered in 5.45×39mm. The AK-205 is a modernized version of the AK-105, which in turn is a shortened carbine version of the AK-74M. The AK-205 was originally known as AK-105M before being renamed ''AK-205'' in 2018. The AK 200 series AK-205, AK-202 and AK-204 are very similar in design, the only differences being the chambering, barrel length and magazine type.
The AK-203 is a Russian gas-operated assault rifle designed to chamber the 7.62×39mm cartridge. It is one of the latest iterations of the AK series of assault rifles originally designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov. The AK-203 was developed in the 2010s by Kalashnikov Concern in Russia.
The Malyuk, sometimes referred to as the Vulcan-M, is an assault rifle developed by the Ukrainian arms company Interproinvest (IPI).