As the Kalashnikov magazine reported, on May 26, 2023, an official presentation of the 5.45mm AK-12 assault rifle of the 2023 model was held at the Kalashnikov Concern shooting center in the Patriot park near Moscow. The new AK-12 has been modified in accordance with the requirements of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, formulated on the basis of the experience of using the machine gun during a special military operation in Ukraine.
The chief designer of JSC "Concern "Kalashnikov" Sergey Urzhumtsev with an AK-12 machine gun model 2023 (c) JSC "Concern "Kalashnikov"Together with the AK-12, journalists were shown a serial 7.62 mm Chukavin sniper rifle (microwave) and a 9 mm Kalashnikov submachine gun (PPK-20).
Alan Lushnikov, President of Kalashnikov Concern JSC, and Sergey Urzhumtsev, Chief Designer of Kalashnikov Concern JSC, answered questions from representatives of the Russian media on new models of weapons and the concern's prospects.
In addition, the journalists of TASS, RT, Zvezda TV, RIA Novosti, Izvestia, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, Solovyov Live, etc. had a unique opportunity to test almost all modern models of small arms produced by the Kalashnikov concern with shooting.
The presentation of the AK-12 in Patriot was the first event held under the auspices of the "School of a Gunsmith Journalist" project. The objective of the project is to comprehensively assist the Russian journalistic community in forming an adequate public opinion on the subject of weapons.
Media representatives who have joined the school will receive invaluable practical experience in handling weapons and the opportunity to communicate with gunsmiths who will help to understand the basics of modern weapons and learn how to use the terms and definitions adopted in the professional environment correctly.
The AK-12 submachine gun of the 2023 model presented in Patriot is currently undergoing the next stage of testing, according to the results of which a decision will be made on the start of its serial production and delivery to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. It is at the request of the military that a number of design solutions have been introduced into the design of the AK-12/23, increasing its operational qualities.
The most noticeable change was the two-way translator-fuse, which provides the ability to switch shooting modes and turn off / on the fuse without removing the hand from the control handle.
In addition, the diopter has been improved. It has a rolling rear sight with holes of different diameters for greater convenience of aiming in different lighting conditions.
The forearm has also undergone changes with additional fastening of the gas tube lining with a transverse pin in the front part and rigid positioning in the rear part. The cutout on the cover plate for the flag fixing the receiver cover has disappeared - now the corresponding pin for separating the cover is simply squeezed out. The protective properties of the forearm have also been improved when shooting in intensive modes.
The muzzle brake compensator with bayonet mount on the new AK-12 has given way to a non-removable slit flame suppressor compensator with a conical inner part. Now, to attach a low-noise firing device, there is no need to separate the DTC and take care of its safety - the PMS is installed on top of the compensator and fixed with an eccentric.
Along with the new machine gun, at the Kalashnikov Concern shooting center, journalists were shown a 7.62 mm Chukavin sniper rifle (microwave), the serial production of which is unfolding in Izhevsk right now, and a 9 mm Kalashnikov PPK-20 pistol, whose deliveries to the troops began last fall.
5.45mm AK-12 assault rifle of the 2023 model with an attached low-noise firing device (PMS) (c) JSC Concern KalashnikovThe muzzle device of the AK-12 submachine gun of the sample of 2023 lost the characteristic "crown" on the front end (c) of JSC Concern Kalashnikov
Now the AK-12 fuse is controlled by the thumb.
A duplicate flag is also available on the left side of the receiver (c) of JSC Concern KalashnikovThe diopter of the AK-12 assault rifle mod. 2023
it is equipped with a full swing with holes of different diameters (c) of JSC Concern KalashnikovThe forearm of the AK-12 model 2023 has a more robust design and better protects the shooter's hand from high temperature during intensive shooting (c) of JSC Concern Kalashnikov
7.62mm Chukavin sniper rifle (microwave) with folded butt, bipod and mechanical sighting devices (c) Mikhail Degtyarev / www.kalashnikov.ru
9 mm Kalashnikov submachine gun (PPK-20) (c) Mikhail Degtyarev / www.kalashnikov.ru
