| RK 62 | |
|---|---|
 RK 62 | |
| Type | Assault rifle |
| Place of origin | Finland |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1965–present |
| Used by | SeeUsers |
| Wars | War in Afghanistan |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Lauri Oksanen Valmet |
| Designed | 1962 |
| Manufacturer | Valmet,SAKO |
| Produced | 1965–1994 |
| No. built | 350,000+ |
| Variants | RK 95 TP |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 3.5 kg (7.7 lb) empty (RK 62) 3.27 kg (7.2 lb) empty (RK 62 76) |
| Length | 940 mm (37 in) with fixed or extended stock / 710 mm (28 in) with stock folded |
| Barrel length | 418 mm (16.5 in) |
| Cartridge | 7.62×39mm (main) .222 Remington .223 Remington/5.56×45mm NATO .243 Winchester .308 Winchester/7.62×51mm NATO .30-06 Springfield 7.62×53mmR (prototype only) |
| Action | Gas-operated,rotating bolt |
| Rate of fire | 700 rounds/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 715 m/s (2,350 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 300 m (980 ft) |
| Feed system | 30-round detachableAKmagazine |
| Sights | Aperture rear sight on a sliding tangent with fliptritium night sight, forward hooded post, 470 mm (19 in) sight radius[citation needed] |
TheRK 62 (Finnish:Rynnäkkökivääri 62,lit. 'Assault rifle 62'), officially7.62 RK 62 and commerciallyM62, is anassault rifle manufactured byValmet andSako. It is thestandard issue infantry weapon of theFinnish Defence Forces.
The development of a Finnish assault rifle in7.62×39mm Soviet intermediary cartridge began in the 1950s. Various foreign models were looked at, the Soviet AK-47 being the most important.[1]
The RK 62 was designed in 1957–1962 by a Valmet engineer Lauri Oksanen[2] and is based on the Polish licensed version of theSovietAK-47 design.
In October 2025, the Finnish Defence Forces announced that they intend to replace the RK 62 with a5.56x45mmrifle by the end of the decade. The replacement is part of a plan to switch to NATO-standard calibres for all small arms in Finnish service.[3]
The RK 62 uses the same7.62×39mm cartridge as the AK-47. Between 1965 and 1994 350,000 M62 rifles were produced jointly by Valmet and Sako.
The RK 62 has a three-prongedflash suppressor, and a groove for a specially designedknife bayonet, which can be used alone as acombat knife.
One of the most distinctive features of the Valmet rifles, including the M62 and all subsequent variations, is the open-ended, three prong flash suppressor with a bayonet lug on its lower side. In addition to the flash suppression, the end can quickly cut barbed wire by pushing the muzzle onto a strand of wire and firing a round.[4]
The biggest single improvement, apart from the metallurgical quality of the receiver and the overall quality of the barrel, are the sights: most AK variants have the rear sight mounted on top of the gas piston housing on top of the receiver. In the RK 62 the rear sight is mounted on the rear of the receiver cover withtritium illuminated night-sights. The sight radius is doubled enhancing the accuracy along with the hammer-forged match CM barrel.
This is apparent especially in its accuracy, as it can frequently achieve less than oneminute of arc.[citation needed] The rifle uses a "peep" diopter sight, which is flipped over to reveal the opentritium enhanced rear night sight. The forward sight also has a mode for night operation. The gas tube is dove tailed into the front trunnion, and is a single-diameter tube, unlike the AK/AKM tube, which has a star-shaped cross-section to guide the piston while allowing gasses to vent behind it. The gas piston has a cog shaped ring on the stem, behind the piston head. The ring's diameter matches the tube diameter, and it acts as the guide within the gas tube, the notches on the ring allowing excess gasses to be vented behind the piston head/guide. This system reduces the number of parts, and simplifies manufacturing as well as assembly/disassembly. This design made its way into the IMI Galil. A port in the shoulder pad allows storing items (e.g. the cleaning kit) in the tubular buttstock.
All RK variants are designed to withstand the extreme environmental conditions ofNorthern Europe.
The very first prototype with which Valmet beat the Sako prototype in the competition for designing a locally produced Kalashnikov-pattern rifle.
The prototype had a wooden stock, pistol grip and handguard instead of the iconic tubular stock and plastic pistol grip and handguard.[2]
The first factory production prototype.[2]
The RK 62 was produced in 1960 at the Valmet factory in Tourula and was internally almost a copy of the AK-47.
It featured a metallic buttstock, a plastic handguard andpistol grip but lacked the trigger guard (it was hoped that it would make firing this weapon easier in cold Finnish winter when soldiers wore warm mittens).
The very first prototypes, closely modeled after Polish licence made AKs, had tintedbirchwood stocks. After testing by the military, the RK 60 was slightly modified (trigger guard was reinstated) and adopted as the 7.62 RK 62.
The first variant included a hinged trigger guard and no muzzle device, second variant had an open trigger guard and an experimental muzzle brake, which was later on changed to the well-known three-pronged flash suppressor.
AKS-74U-inspired folding stock carbine prototype variant by the HQ Infantry Weapons Technical Department.[2]
FDF HQ Infantry Weapons Technical DepartmentRPK-style prototyperatsuväen konekivääri ('Cavalry LMG'). Had a different sight layout with aKvKK 62 sight on top of the gas tube and front sight at the front end of the barrel, a conical flash suppressor, bipod and modified buttstock and handguard. Developed separately from the Valmet M78.[2]
Valmet sniper rifle prototype for FDF, based on the RK 71, chambered in7.62×53mmR and fed from 20-roundLahti-Saloranta M/26 magazines.[2]
Sako prototype for the FDF incorporating many features from the Galil.
Sako prototype for the FDF, returning from the RK 90 to a conventional Kalashnikov-type decisions in many aspects.
The initial production type rifles, with the PT suffix added after the main RK 62 production run started.[2]
These lacked the tritium illuminated night sights and had a buttstock and rear and front sight similar to the RK 60.[2]
Most have since been converted to RK 62 standard, the remaining have been phased out of service.[citation needed]
The main production runs since the mid 1960s. These have the new style sights with tritium illuminated night sights, strengthened buttstock, and a new style gas port.
Earlier runs featured the older type plastic furniture, while the production since the early 1970s has the new style plastic furniture, which has been retrofitted to the earlier rifles as well if the parts were in need of maintenance.[2]
Later production runs have the rear of the receiver simplified and the buttstock tube attachment system was changed to the same roll pin system as in the Israeli Galil.[citation needed]
The versions with the later style plastic hardware weight a total of 3.5 kg. When rifles in circulation return to the FDF armories they have holes drilled to them for attaching a rail for optical sights, addingVV to the end of the name.[citation needed]
Folding stock version from the later batches of the RK 62, with a Galil-type buttstock attaching system and hinge. The hinge of the folding stock makes the rifle slightly longer than the standard RK 62 when the buttstock is extended.
Folding stock version of the rifles used by theFinnish Border Guard, which features the folding stock and selector switch from theRK 95 TP, as well as a rail for optics.[5][6]
Fully functional chrome plated version of the late RK 62 production variant for FDF conscript band displays.
In August 2015, the Finnish Defence Forces announced that they will gradually modernize existing RK 62 rifles.
The old tubular butt and leather sling will be replaced with a telescopic stock and tactical sling. An option for mounting a top rail for telescopic sights and night vision devices will be added to all rifles; likewise, the barrel will get an attachment point for tactical lights and lasers.[7]
FDF baseline modernisation of existing RK 62 rifles[8] with a telescoping stock and mounting rails for optical sights and tactical lights as well as a new, improved selector switch.
More extensive modernisation over the RK 62 M1, with a new front handguard withM-LOK rail interface, and a new Ase Utra BoreLock flash hider which can mount a suppressor or arebar cutter.[8][9]
RK 62 M2 with OD Green Cerakote surface treatment.[8][9]
Stamped steel receiver version, which resembles the RK 62 with newer style plastic furniture, but features a lighter weight receiver.
The total weight of the RK 62 76 is 3.27 kg. Unlike between AK-47 and AKM, the internal parts are fully interchangeable between RK 62 and RK 62 76, the only difference being the receiver.[2]
Stamped steel receiver version with an early type folding stock.[2]
Bullpup prototype assault rifle using the RK 62 76 receiver.[2]
Stamped steel receiver rifle, which has a different sight layout from the RK 62: rear sight is an open notch with distance adjustment welded on the gas tube and front sight is at the front end of the barrel, behind the flash suppressor. The internal parts of the receiver aren't fully compatible with the RK 62 or RK 62 76.[2]
Folding stock version of the RK 71 with an AKS-47 type folding stock.[2]
Newer Sako production derivative of the RK 62 with several features inspired by the Galil and other assault rifles.
The Rk 62 is the basis of theIMI Galil, an Israeli-made assault rifle with many similarities and were made with the assistance of and on machinery bought from Valmet.[11][12][13]
