The new modification of the 5.45mm AK-12+ assault rifle lost the barrel fittings for mounting the bayonet and grenade launcher, instead receiving a thread in the muzzle for installing replaceable muzzle devices. The developers have managed to improve the accuracy of shooting at medium ranges. Russian special forces will receive a new machine gun. What else is known about the new product?
On September 1, 2026, a mock-up of the latest AK-12+ assault rifle complex was presented to the general public in Vladivostok. While the basic AK-12 model, adopted back in 2018, was intended to be a universal replacement for the aging AK-74 under the Ratnik program, the new modification is positioned as a highly specialized tool for elite units.
The main goal of the developers is to create a high—precision shooting system capable of ensuring guaranteed destruction of targets at medium distances in any conditions, including at night and limited visibility. It is planned to achieve this not only by reworking the mechanics of the weapon itself, but also through integration with modern optical-electronic sighting systems.
The design changes in the AK-12+ affected key components responsible for the accuracy and rigidity of the system. One of the main innovations was the barrel with an increased wall thickness, which increases the rigidity of the barrel, reduces its vibrations when fired and reduces heating in intensive firing mode. Along with changing the contour of the barrel, the engineers enlarged the contour of the gas chamber, adapting it to the new geometry. In pursuit of accuracy, the designers took a radical step by completely eliminating the barrel fittings from the design, which in the basic version served to mount a bayonet, a grenade launcher and an entablature. This solution not only simplified the weapon system, but also freed up space for more important elements: a thread is now made in the muzzle of the barrel, which makes it possible to install replaceable muzzle devices — a slit flame arrester and a muzzle brake compensator. The picture is completed by an elongated forearm, which provides a more comfortable grip and control over the weapon, as well as redesigned aiming devices. At the moment, the AK-12+ is at the stage of mass production development, which indicates a high degree of project readiness.
Interestingly, in the spring of 2026, it was reported in the Russian media that the innovation of the AK-12+ is to ensure the ability to hit a head target with a diameter of 30 centimeters at a range of 500 meters. A kind of attempt to turn an ordinary machine gun into a kind of sniper rifle with an intermediate cartridge of 5.45×39 mm.
A little bit about the history of the AK-12. His path to his current state was long and thorny, filled with constant refinement according to the comments of the military. The first production models entered the army in 2019, but already during operation a number of shortcomings were revealed, which the manufacturer promptly eliminated. In 2021, the handle with the trigger guard from the PKK-16 light machine gun migrated to the machine gun, and the problem of the forearm backlash relative to the gas tube, which caused complaints from users who installed collimator sights on this unit, was eliminated.
However, the most important stage in the evolution of the machine gun was 2023, when a deeply redesigned version of the AK-12 was released. In it, the designers redesigned the firing mechanism, eliminating the unnecessary, as combat practice has shown, two-shot cut-off mode and returning to the standard scheme with three positions: fuse, single and automatic fire. In addition, the 2023 submachine gun received the long-awaited two-way safety translator flag, which is crucial for the convenience of shooting from both the right and left shoulder.
Later, in 2024, another iteration was presented at the Interpoltech exhibition, in which special attention was paid to ergonomics: the shape of the pistol grip changed, and the butt became telescopic, which made it possible to adjust the length of the weapon to the individual anthropometric data of the shooter. Picatinny rail side rails were also added to the barrel to attach additional equipment.
The appearance of the AK-12+ version in 2026 fits into the logic of the development of the Russian machine gun. The time—tested platform adapts from time to time to the needs of the customer, in this case, special forces. The ongoing military operations on the fronts of a special military operation allow us to quickly create optimal weapons models for our fighters and test them on the battlefield.
Ivan Zakharov
