AK-12

Russia's new-generation standard assault rifle — a fifth-generation Kalashnikov in 5.45×39 mm, with modular rails, a two-round burst mode, and a 2023 revision that directly incorporates lessons from the war in Ukraine.

Overview

The AK-12 is a conventional-layout, select-fire assault rifle developed by Kalashnikov Concern as the successor to the Soviet-era AK-74 / AK-74M family. Adopted in 2018 as the Russian Federation’s primary individual weapon, it retains the long-stroke gas-piston action of the Kalashnikov lineage while introducing a hinged top-cover with an integral Picatinny rail for optics, a retractable stock, and a burst-fire capability — modernisation steps that aim to close the ergonomic and sighting gap with Western and Chinese modular rifles. A mid-production overhaul, fielded as the model 2023, was explicitly shaped by combat experience in Ukraine.

🔒 The full AK-12 file is for BattlePolicy Pro members. Below the line: development history, design and capabilities, variants, the combat record, advantages and limitations, comparable systems, outlook, the full specifications table, our sourcing, and the analyst assessment — procurement, suppliers and the BattlePolicy verdict. Unlock the full file with BattlePolicy Pro →