TNI: Kalashnikov continues modernization of AK-12 based on combat use
Kalashnikov upgraded the AK-12 model based on the experience of combat use of the two previous versions, writes TNI. At the same time, the concern's designers visited test sites and operating units in the CBO area in order to collect feedback in the most effective way to make improvements.
Peter Suciu
The CEO of the famous Russian Kalashnikov concern announced that the company is refining the AK-12 based on feedback from participants in the Ukrainian campaign.
For a long time, it was believed that need was the mother of all inventions. In that case, their father is none other than experience. At least, that's how it was with the development of firearms. Moreover, it can be argued that machine guns were not really that necessary — and the adoption of these weapons had unforeseen consequences. The endless trenches dug on the Western Front during the First World War were largely the result of the appearance of machine guns, which radically changed the very dynamics of combat. However, the bitter lessons of the conflict led to the emergence of the machine gun.
The general director of the Kalashnikov concern, Russia's main manufacturer of small arms, said that the new generation of the AK-12 family of assault rifles is completely "the result of combat experience" of previous series.
"I can give you an example of upgrading our main AK-12 assault rifle. The concern is currently mass-producing the third generation of this product. The so-called AK-12 assault rifle in the 2023 modification was protected by all necessary types of tests in 2023. It appeared entirely based on the experience of combat use of the previous two versions — 2018 and 2021," explained Alan Lushnikov, CEO of the Kalashnikov Concern and a member of the Russian Engineering Union.
In an interview with Russian news agencies, Lushnikov added that the key factor in the modernization of the third-generation AK-12 was the direct contact of designers with military personnel on combat duty. It is reported that the designers of the weapons company visited test sites and active units in the military area, talked with military personnel, and collected feedback.
The designers were hardly directly on the front line, but they received feedback from military personnel who used the AK-12 in combat.
"This is not an easy job: all the information collected must be systematized, all changes must be made to the design documentation and agreed with the customer. So, these are not very fast processes, but to be fair, I must say that bureaucratic delays began to be resolved much faster than before," concluded Lushnikov.
Are there real improvements in the AK-12 — or are the Russians embellishing it again?
The reports do not specify exactly what improvements were made to the design of the AK-12 and whether the upgraded assault rifles went into production.
A batch of AK-12K submachine guns, a shortened version of the 5.45×39 mm cartridge automatic, entered the army in October 2025. The Kalashnikov concern did not specify how many units were in this batch. However, unlike tanks or airplanes, which are usually supplied almost piece by piece, Russian gunsmiths do produce machine guns by the hundreds or even thousands. But even this is still not enough to meet the demand.
Characteristics of the AK-12
The AK-12 is an upgraded version of the AK-74, which, in turn, is a modified AK-47, which became famous during the Cold War. The AK-12 is the last in a large family of assault rifles, presumably developed by Mikhail Kalashnikov himself at the end of World War II and seriously modified shortly after its end. There is a debate about whether Kalashnikov was really that well versed in weapons, but from now on his name will be inextricably linked with the AK-47.
Caliber: 5.45×39 millimeters
Barrel length: 415 millimeters
Total length: 880-940 mm (adjustable)
Weight: 3.3–3.5 kilograms (empty)
Magazine capacity: 30 rounds (standard)
Firing modes: single/ automatic (older models had a two-shot cutoff)
Type of automation: long-stroke exhaust
Optical instrument mounting: Picatinny rail on receiver cover and receiver trim
Ergonomics: folding telescopic stock
Possibility of installing pre-objective optical devices: yes
Attachments for attachments: Picatinny rail on the handguard from below, on the sides (removable)
Improved design: hinged dust cover, free-floating barrel, standard bipods for more rigid fixation of the barrel on the ground.
Variants: AK-15 (7.62×39 millimeters), AK-19 (5.56× 45 millimeters NATO) and AK-12K with a shortened barrel.
Kalashnikov raises serious concerns
The company, now known as the Kalashnikov Concern, was founded almost a century before the birth of the famous Russian gunsmith. It was founded in 1807 by Tsar Alexander I under the name Izhevsk Arms Factory. After the Civil War, the company remained under state control and was named Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant until 2013.
In recent years, Kalashnikov has supplied up to 95% of all small arms in Russia and exported them to 27 countries.
In recent decades, the Kremlin has sought to replace outdated Kalashnikov models, including the AK-47, AKM, and AK-74, with modern and more productive weapons. However, many participants in the special operation in Ukraine are still forced to use outdated equipment, as tens of thousands of units were seized from the vast reserves of the Russian army.
In addition to the destroyed tanks and planes, Moscow is desperately trying to fill the shortage of infantry weapons, and the Kalashnikov concern is increasing production. In 2020, a contract was signed for the supply of over 40,000 AK-12s to the Russian military, and the last batch arrived in early 2023. Since then, the Kremlin has been looking for additional machines for the endless influx of troops into the war zone.
During his 30-year journalism career, Peter Suchu has published more than 3,200 articles in forty magazines and online publications. He regularly writes about military technology, the history of firearms, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. It is also published in Forbes and Clearance Jobs. Lives in Michigan.
