In a significant advancement in military ammunition, Russia has announced the development of a new 6.02×41 caliber cartridge. Designed by the Tula Ammunition Plant, this innovative ammunition aims to provide superior penetration power, meeting the increasing demands of modern weaponry.
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The new 6.02×41 caliber offers an improvement in range and penetration force. (Picture source: Kalashnikov Group)
In conjunction with this development, the Kalashnikov Group has engineered the AK-22 automatic rifle and a semi-automatic sniper rifle specifically tailored to this new caliber. Detailed in the December 14, 2023, edition of the Kalashnikov magazine, this initiative marks a step in the modernization of Russia's arsenal.
The need for this innovation was driven by the continuous evolution of soldiers' protective equipment and the limitations in upgrading existing calibers, notably the 5.45×39 and 5.56×45, used in Russia and the United States, respectively. The new 6.02×41 caliber directly responds to these challenges, offering an improvement in range and penetration force.
According to tests conducted by Russia, the 6.02×41 cartridge retains a kinetic energy of 500 Joules for a 6.7-gram bullet at a distance of 900 meters, a feat significantly surpassing the performance of the 5.45 and 7.62 mm calibers. This characteristic increases efficiency over longer distances, a major advantage on the modern battlefield.
The AK-22, based on the AK-12 model and adapted to the new caliber, has reportedly undergone rigorous testing, confirming its high performance. Furthermore, the Kalashnikov Group has developed a compact version of the semi-automatic sniper rifle "mini-SVCH," based on the Chukavin model and adapted to the 6.02×41. This smaller model offers increased maneuverability and versatility, ideal for precision shooting operations.
The intellectual property of this high-penetration ammunition was officially registered on December 12, 2023. Alan Lushnikov, head of the Kalashnikov Group, had previously mentioned these innovations during a meeting with journalists on November 2, 2023, emphasizing Russia's ongoing commitment to the technological advancement of its military equipment.
However, this announcement should be taken with a grain of caution as it comes from an official statement by Kalashnikov, a Russian company. To truly understand the potential of this new ammunition, it would be necessary to test it on a firing range. Unfortunately, we are likely still far from being able to do so at this time. This is a story to follow.
