AEK-971
Encyclopedia
AEK-971 is a Soviet / Russian selective fire assault rifle
that was developed at the Kovrov
Mechanical Plant (KMZ) by chief designer S.I. Koksharov
in the 1980s. The primary model, AEK-971, uses the 5.45x39mm round fed from standard 30-round or larger magazines used by the AK-74
and similar weapons.
, the Russian Army has begun field trials of this weapon. It is approximately 0.5 kg lighter than AN-94, simpler in design and cheaper to manufacture.
. The AEK-972 uses the magazines of the 5.56mm "100" series AK assault rifles and the AEK-973 all of the standard 7.62mm AK magazines.
The AEK-971 and the AEK-973 have one variant each: AEK-971S and AEK-973S. These are improved variants with a new trigger mechanism with the location of the thumb safety-selector lever on the right side, receiving additionally a three-shot burst fire mode, and an extended lightweight stock. When the stock is retracted, the shoulder rest connects with the pistol grip forming a streamlined structure which allows the weapon to be used without hampering the fire.
Assault rifle
An assault rifle is a selective fire rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge and a detachable magazine. Assault rifles are the standard infantry weapons in most modern armies...
that was developed at the Kovrov
Kovrov
Kovrov is a city and the administrative center of Kovrovsky District of Vladimir Oblast, Russia, situated on the right bank of the Klyazma River . Kovrov's population as of the preliminary results of the 2010 Census was 145,492; down from 155,499 recorded in the 2002 Census, and further down from...
Mechanical Plant (KMZ) by chief designer S.I. Koksharov
Sergey Koksharov
Sergey Ivanovich Koksharov is a Russian firearms designer working for the Kovrov Machinebuilding Plant . He is most well known for his rifle design, the AEK-971, having variants for either 5.45 mm or 7.62 mm Soviet rounds.-External links:*...
in the 1980s. The primary model, AEK-971, uses the 5.45x39mm round fed from standard 30-round or larger magazines used by the AK-74
AK-74
The AK-74 is an assault rifle developed in the early 1970s in the Soviet Union as the replacement for the earlier AKM...
and similar weapons.
Design details
The AEK-971 is based on previous AK rifles in internal design and layout, but is also equipped with a recoil-balancing mechanism by way of a counter-weight that negates the impulse of the gas piston and bolt carrier, resulting in more controllable automatic fire. Though losing an initial contract for production against the AN-94AN-94
The AN-94 is an advanced Russian assault rifle. The initials stand for Avtomat Nikonova Model of 1994....
, the Russian Army has begun field trials of this weapon. It is approximately 0.5 kg lighter than AN-94, simpler in design and cheaper to manufacture.
Models and Variants
There are three different models: AEK-971, AEK-972 and AEK-973. The different models are most easily recognized by the different magazine curvature. The AEK-972 is chambered in 5.56x45mm and the AEK-973 in 7.62x39mm7.62×39mm
The 7.62×39mm round is a rifle cartridge of Soviet origin that was designed during World War II. It was first used in the RPD machine gun. Due to the worldwide proliferation of the SKS and AK-47 pattern rifles, the cartridge is utilized by both militaries and civilians alike.The 7.62×39mm...
. The AEK-972 uses the magazines of the 5.56mm "100" series AK assault rifles and the AEK-973 all of the standard 7.62mm AK magazines.
The AEK-971 and the AEK-973 have one variant each: AEK-971S and AEK-973S. These are improved variants with a new trigger mechanism with the location of the thumb safety-selector lever on the right side, receiving additionally a three-shot burst fire mode, and an extended lightweight stock. When the stock is retracted, the shoulder rest connects with the pistol grip forming a streamlined structure which allows the weapon to be used without hampering the fire.
See also
- AK-107AK-107The AK-107 is a Russian 5.45 mm 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...
/AK-108 - AL-7AL-7The AL-7 is a Russian assault rifle designed by Izhmash engineer Yury Aleksandrov in the early 1970s. The AL-7 uses a type of operation developed by Peter Andreevich Tkachev of TsNIITochMash in the mid 1960s known as Balanced Automatics first used on the AO-38 assault rifle...
- AN-94AN-94The AN-94 is an advanced Russian assault rifle. The initials stand for Avtomat Nikonova Model of 1994....
- AO-38AO-38 assault rifleThe AO-38 is a 5.45x39mm assault rifle and AK derivative designed by Peter Andreevich Tkachev and first to use the Balanced Automatic Recoil System to improve stability giving better accuracy over AK-74's. Its derivatives are the AK-107 and AEK-971....
- AO-63AO-63 assault rifleThe AO-63 is a Soviet two-barrel assault rifle, capable of fully automatic fire, chambered for the 5.45 x 39 mm round. It was designed by S. G. Simonov and P. A. Tkachev, and manufactured by TsNIITochMash....
- AO-222AO-222The AO-222 is an assault rifle of Russian origin designed by Gennadiy Nikonov. It is chambered in the 5.45x39mm calibre and fed from AK-74-compatible magazines loaded on the right hand side in an attempt to make the magazine release easier.-Overview:...
