Major batches of AK-12 assault rifles will be supplied in 2021 to reconnaissance and motorized rifle units of the combined arms army of the Eastern Military District deployed in Amur, Jewish and Khabarovsk regions, the Defense Ministry said.
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Kalashnikov AK-12 (5.45mm caliber) assault rifle (Picture source: Army Recognition)

Kalashnikov Group upgraded its 5.45mm AK-12. The assault rifle received an ergonomic buttstock, a new fire control handle with the trigger, and sights. The rifle was upgraded according to the results of the test operation in the armed forces.

The AK-12 is chambered in 5.45×39mm designed and manufactured by the Kalashnikov Concern (formerly Izhmash) and is the latest in the family of Kalashnikov rifles. Kalashnikov also offers the rifle in 7.62×39 mm cartridge, designated as the AK-15. Short barrel variants of the AK-12 and AK-15 have been announced, respectively the AK-12K and AK-15K.

The AK-12 project began in 2011 by the Izhmash factory which became part of the Kalashnikov Concern as a private venture, in an attempt to participate in the "Ratnik" trials which were held by the Russian Army. It was further developed by Kalashnikov Concern, and throughout its development and evaluation stage, it has received multiple modifications to meet the Russian military's standard and to address the Russian Army's concerns regarding the cost and issues in the fully automatic fire of the earlier prototype models. It went through several revisions in order to improve upon the "range of defects" that were discovered on the earlier prototype models that were derived from the AK-200. These were later abandoned in favor of the proven and improved AK-400, which became the finalized model of the AK-12.

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