AK-12 assault rif
The first batch of the new AK-12 assault rifle was delivered to the Russian Armed Forces at the end of 2018.
The AK-12 is a deep modernization of the AK-74M.
“AK guns are built according to the classical scheme that has already become for them, and in CORD machines, a scheme with balanced automatics is applied, which allows for greater accuracy of shooting, especially when shooting from unstable positions,” Deputy Chief Engineer, Chief Designer Andrei Makhnin said.
In addition to he AK-12, the AK-15 was also delivered to the Russian Armed Forces.
“When comparing with AK-12 and AK-15 assault rifles, only one thing unites them – the use of a complete set of store types”, Andrei Makhnin concluded.
Both models of the machine guns successfully passed state tests, received positive feedback from the army units that conducted their pilot-military operation, which resulted in samples of the machine guns recommended for use by the RF Ministry of Defense.
The full delivery of both the AK-12 and AK-15 is to happen in 2019.
The first foreign buyer of the AK-12 will be Armenia, as announced by the general director of the Kalashnikov concern, Vladimir Dmitriev.
“Armenia will be the first country except Russia, which will buy AK-12,” Dmitriev said. According to him, the contract has already been concluded, the first batch of automatic machines has about 50 units.
The technical characteristics of the AK-12 are the following:
- Caliber-5.45 x 39 mm
- Weight – 3.5 kilograms
- Direct shot range – 440 m
- Three modes of firing: automatic, two-shot burst and single
- Picatinny rail bars installed for the first time
- Rate of fire – 650 shots per minute
- The possibility to install a bayonet
Dmitriev also said that the Russian Army will soon adopt the combat robotic complexes “Uran-9”.
In addition to the new AK, the Russian military is to receive the hypersonic Avangard and the 9A52-4 Tornado universal multiple rocket launcher, among other arms.
The newest Avangard missile system will go into service with the Russian army in 2019. Testing of the new weapon is following schedule according to reports.
At the end of December 2018, a successful test launch of the Avangard missile with a hypersonic glide vehicle was carried out.
Also in 2019, the Russian Armed Forces will receive the newest S-350 Vityaz.
In 2019, the newest anti-aircraft missile system S-350 Vityaz will arrive for the first time in the Air and Space Forces. In addition, it is planned to supply about 10 sets of ZRPK “Pantsyr-S” and ZRS S-400,” according to the commander of the air defense and anti-missile defense – deputy commander of the aerospace forces, Lieutenant-General Yuri Grekhov.
The S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems and the Pantsyr-S anti-aircraft missile and gun systems were deployed in air defense units deployed in Crimea, Khabarovsk, Leningrad and Kaliningrad regions, as well as in the Arctic region.
S-350. Click to see full-size image
The troops will also receive more than 40 units of the universal multiple rocket launcher “Tornado-G” and “Tornado-S”, as well as self-propelled howitzers 2S19M2 “Msta-SM”.
The Tornado-G has been in use in the Russian army since 2014, the newer Tornado-S system is a modernized MLRS 9K58 “Smerch”. It is completed with new 300 mm caliber missiles with a maximum range of up to 120 kilometers.
Tornado-S. Click to see full-size image
The Msta-S self-propelled howitzer is a Soviet and Russian 152-mm divisional self-propelled howitzer. Its modification “Msta-SM” has an increased rate of fire and range, it can shoot with high-precision shells “Krasnopol”.
MSTA-SM. Click to see full-size image
The Ground Forces will also receive over 450 units of armored vehicles in 2019. They will receive modernized T-72B3M and T-90M tanks, infantry fighting vehicles BMP-3, armored personnel carriers BTR-82A and BTR-82AM.
T-72B3M main battle tank. Click to see full-size image
The modernization of the hardware of the ground forces is to reach 70% by the end of 2020.
The Aerospace Forces will receive more than 100 units of various aircraft: Su-35S and Su-30SM multi-purpose fighters, Su-34 bombers, Ka-52 helicopters, various modification MI-8 transport helicopters and combat training aircraft Yak -130.
Su-35S fighter jet. Click to see full-size image
The Aerospace forces are also expected to receive their first units of the flying command center, IL-22M11.
IL-22M11. Click to see full-size image
For the Navy, the Borey A-class nuclear submarine, the Knyaz Vladimir is expected to be commissioned.
Knyaz Vladimir nuclear submarine. Click to see full-size image
New UAV’s and Medical support vehicles are to also be delivered in 2019, as part of the extensive modernization plans of the Russian Armed Forces.
Theres nothing like holding factory new weapons, i miss that feeling.