| AEK-971 | |
|---|---|
 AEK-971 5.45×39mm balanced-recoil assault rifle | |
| Type | Assault rifle |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1980–present 2018–present (KORD rifle) |
| Used by | SeeUsers |
| Wars | Second Chechen war 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine[1] |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Stanislav Koksharov |
| Designed | 1978 |
| Manufacturer | Kovrovskiy Mekhanicheskiy Zavod (original) Degtyarev plant (current) |
| Produced | 1990–present |
| Variants | SeeVariants |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 3.3 kg (7.3 lb) unloaded (AEK-971) 3.3 kg (7.3 lb) unloaded (AEK-972) 3.25 kg (7.2 lb) unloaded (AEK-973) |
| Length | 960 mm (37.8 in) with stock unfolded 720 mm (28.3 in) with stock folded |
| Barrel length | 420 mm (16.5 in) |
| Cartridge | 5.45×39mm (AEK-971, AEK-971S, 6P67 KORD) 5.56×45mm NATO (AEK-972) 7.62×39mm (AEK-973, AEK-973S, 6P68 KORD) |
| Action | Gas-operated,rotating bolt, balanced recoil system (BARS) |
| Rate of fire | 900 rounds/min[2] |
| Muzzle velocity | 880 m/s (2,887 ft/s) (AEK-971, AEK-971S) 850 m/s (2,789 ft/s) (AEK-972) 700 m/s (2,297 ft/s) (AEK-973, AEK-973S) |
| Effective firing range | 500 m (547 yd) |
| Maximum firing range | 100–1,000 m (109–1,094 yd) sight adjustments |
| Feed system | AEK-971, AEK-971S, 6P67 KORD: 5.45×39mm AK-74 and RPK-74 30-, 45-round detachablebox magazines, 60-roundcasket magazines AEK-972: 5.56×45mm NATOAK-101,AK-102 andAK-108 magazines AEK-973, AEK-973S, 6P68 KORD: 7.62×39mm AK-47, AKM and RPK magazines |
| Sights | AEK-971: Adjustableiron sights, hooded front post and rear notch on a scaled tangent 6P67 KORD: Iron sights that consist of a rotary rear drum aperture and an integratedPicatinny rail for various optics |
TheAEK-971 (Russian: Автомат единый Кокшарова 971, "Automatic (rifle), Universal, (of) Koksharov, 971) is aselective fire5.45×39mmassault rifle that features a balanced automatics recoil system. It was developed at theKovrov Mechanical Plant (KMZ) by chief designer Stanislav Ivanovich Koksharov (Cyrilic: Станислав Иванович Кокшаров), also known as Sergey Koksharov, in the late 1970s and 1980s (currently manufactured byDegtyarev Plant).
The AEK-971 is also available in5.56×45mm NATO, designated as theAEK-972 and in7.62×39mm, designated as theAEK-973.
On 23 December 2014, the6P67 KORD and6P68 KORD were both developed for theRatnik trials. Both were based on the AEK-971 and AEK-973 respectively, both features numerous internal and external improvements over their predecessors. The 6P67 KORD and 6P68 were adopted by thespecial forces units (Spetsnaz) of theRussian Armed Forces.
The AEK-971 was developed to participate in a competition announced by the Ministry of Defense of the USSR, during which preference was given to theAN-94. The initial AEK version differs from modern samples, as many innovations were perceived as unnecessary by the Ministry of Defence, which led to a simplification of the early model. The AEK-971 is approximately 0.5 kg (1.1 lb) lighter than the AN-94, simpler in design and cheaper to manufacture.
The AEK-971 has been combat proven in Chechnya tested bynaval infantry andinterior forces, and prepared for mass production. Only a few small batches of this assault rifle have been produced so far and adopted for service with units of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation.[3][4]
Though losing an initial contract for production against the AN-94 as a result of theProject Abakan assault rifle selection trials held from 1980 to 1994 in Russia, the Russian Army began field trials of this weapon. The AN-94 assault rifle, which was officially adopted byRussian army, has a slight accuracy edge over the AEK-971 in 2-round-burst mode. In full automatic mode or during longer bursts (3–10 rounds per burst) the AEK-971 is more accurate. In late 2014, an updated variant of the rifle passed state trials and will be tested operationally with Russian forces in early 2015.[5]
On 23 December 2014, the Russian Army announced a variant based on the AEK-971, designated as the 6P67 KORD (officialGRAU designation6P67), along with theAK-12 had both passed state Ratnik trials and would be accepted into service and set for evaluation with operational units. Both systems were recommended for initial batch production and issue for trials in the field. It is possible that in the end both rifles will be adopted by Russian military and other agencies, with the AEK series being oriented towards Special Operations Forces (Spetsnaz) and AK-12 towards infantry and other units.[6] It was expected that both rifles would be tested operationally with the Russian military by March 2015.[5]
In March 2017, it was revealed that the 6P67 KORD would be accepted into Russian service after testing was completed along with the AK-12, although serving border patrol regiments, special forces, and the national guard due to its more complicated and expensive design while the AK-12 would arm regular infantry forces.[7]
In January 2018 it was announced that the 6P67 KORD has been adopted in 5.45×39mm and 7.62×39mm chamberings by the Russian military.[8]
The AEK-971 is based on previous AK-type rifles in internal design and layout, but features a Balanced Automatics Recoil System (BARS) that enhances the traditionalKalashnikovlong stroke gas piston operating system by reducing the negative effects ofrecoil. Balanced recoil systems were previously applied in theAO-38 andAL-7 experimental assault rifles and in theAK-107 and AK-108. BARS works by shifting mass toward themuzzle of the rifle as the bolt and bolt carrier recoil rearward by way of a counter-weight that negates the impulse of the gas piston and bolt carrier, resulting in more controllable automatic fire. For the AEK-971 automatic firing accuracy is improved by 15-20% in comparison with the AK-74M.[2][9]
The AEK-971'siron sights features an adjustable notched rear tangent rear sight calibrated in 100 m (109 yd) increments from 100 to 1,000 m (109 to 1,094 yd) and a hooded front post. Each AEK assault rifle is fitted with a Warsaw Pact side-rail bracket for mounting optics.[3]
The travel distance of the reciprocating parts of the AEK-971 is less than compared to the non-balanced recoil AK-pattern designs, thus increasing its cyclic rate of fire significantly. The original cyclic rate of fire of the early prototype model was 1,500 rounds per minute and was later decreased to 900 rounds per minute for the production model.
The AEK-971 is fed throughAK-74,RPK-74 pattern 5.45×39mm 30-round or larger box magazines.
There are two different calibre variants of theAEK-971, theAEK-972 andAEK-973. The different variants are most easily recognised by their respective magazine curvatures. TheAEK-971S andAEK-973S are improved variants of the AEK-971 and AEK-973 respectively, which features a three-round burst fire mode and numerous improvements.
Heavily improved variants of the AEK-971 and AEK-973 were later released, designated as the6P67 KORD and6P68 KORD respectively, and both are intended forRussian special operations forces (Spetsnaz) use.[6]
The AEK-971 is chambered in5.45×39mm cartridge, and serves as the basis for its variants. It uses theAK-74 andRPK-74 magazines.
The AEK-971S is an improved variant which features a three-round burst fire mode, a new trigger mechanism that is located at thumb safety-selector lever on the right-side, and an extended padded retractable lightweight stock that is designed for the operator to still be able to fire the rifle even if it is retracted. The burst fire accuracy of the AEK-971S is said to be two times higher than that of the AK-74M.[3]
The AEK-972 is a variant chambered in5.56×45mm NATO cartridge. It uses the magazines of the 5.56×45mm NATO chambered variants of theAK-100 rifle family; such as theAK-101,AK-102, andAK-108.
The AEK-973 is a variant chambered in7.62×39mm cartridge. It uses theAK-47,AKM andRPK magazines.
The AEK-973S is of similar design to the AEK-971S, but is chambered in 7.62×39mm cartridge. The burst fire accuracy of the AEK-973S is said to be two times higher than that of theAKM.[3]
The 6P67 KORD (officialGRAU designation6P67) is based on the AEK-971, chambered in5.45×39mm cartridge. It has numerous internal and external improvements over earlier AEK-971 models. The changes includes iron sights that consist of a rotary rear drum aperture and a hooded front post creating a significantly longer sight line, an ambidextrous fire mode selectors/safety levers, a 2-round burst feature, retractable and adjustable shoulder stock. Also the Warsaw Pact side-rail bracket is omitted and replaced by aPicatinny rail on a redesigned receiver top for mounting auxiliary equipment, such as opticalred dot sights.[4]
The first order for the 6P67 KORD was announced in mid-2020, then adopted in 2018. It is believed that this order is around 500 units that were intended forSpetsnaz units andRussian Airborne Forces.[10]
A variant equipped with asuppressor is known as the6P67-1 KORD.[11]
The 6P68 KORD (official GRAU designation6P68) is based on the AEK-973, evidently of similar design to the 6P67 KORD, but chambered in7.62×39mm cartridge.[12][13]
A variant equipped with a suppressor is also available, known as the6P68-1 KORD.
Russia: AEK-971's were produced in small batches and delivered to units of theMVD Internal Troops (paramilitarygendarmerie-like forces) and other law enforcement agencies of Russia.[2][4] In January 2018 it was announced that the 6P67 KORD (5.45×39mm) and 6P68 KORD (7.62×39mm) had both been adopted by the Russian military.[14] Serial production began in April 2020.[15]