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Russian Special Forces Federal Security Services to get new Kalashnikov AK-400 assault rifles TASS 2605162

Military Defense Industry Technology - AK-400 FSB

Russian Special Forces Federal Security Services to get new Kalashnikov AK-400 assault rifles.

Kalashnikov Concern has offered new AK-400 series of assault rifles to the Special Forces of the Federal Security Service (Russian acronym: FSB) and Presidential Security Service (SBP), according to the Izvestia newspaper. AK-400 assault rifles can be equipped by all types of Picatinny-standard red-dot/optical sights, weapon flashlights and laser designators. The firearms incorporate new adjustable telescopic stock and ergonomic pistol grip. According to Izvestia, the AK-400 assault rifles have significant advantage over previously developed AK-74M and AK-12 weapons in the terms of accuracy.

AK-400 series assault during firing test (PrintScreen Vickers Tactical video

"AK-400 assault rifles were unveiled in late 2015, at the meeting organized by SBP service. The potential customers are considering the possibility of AK-400 acquisition. Kalashnikov Concern offers several variants of new rifles, namely, chambered for Soviet M43 7.62x39 mm and for Soviet/Russian M74 5.45x39 mm cartridges," a source in Russian defense industry told Izvestia.

He mentioned that the newest AK-12 assault rifle developed by Kalashnikov Concern does not fully meet all Special Forces` requirements to organic assault rifle. "AK-12 is intended for dismounted motor riflemen, airborne troops and reconnaissance units. Special Forces require more compact assault rifle that does not fall short of AK-12`s accuracy specifications. It should be relatively compact and suitable for assault operations, air landings and special operations in the woodland," the source pointed out.

AK-400 is primarily intended for SBP`s Special Forces and for FSB`s Special Operations Center (SOC) that includes legendary Alfa and Vympel teams. Kalashnikov Concern does not disclose the specifications of the new firearms to full extent. AK-400 will have a length of 940 mm and a weight of approximately 3 kg. The rifle`s firing mechanism will incorporate 3-round burst firing mode. The firearm is supposed to be equipped with Picatinny rails for scopes and various accessories. According to the source, AK-400 may partially replace AK-74M assault rifles in service with Russian Armed Forces.

At present, Russian Special Forces do not come short of modern compact assault rifles. Mikhail Kalashnikov developed the first firearm of such type in the 1970s. The new firerarm was shortened modification of AKS-74 (S stands for folding stock, Skladnoy) assault rifle chambered for new M74 cartridge. It was designated as AKS-74U (Soviet Ministry of defense`s designation: 6P26). The massive deliveries of the firearm to the Armed Forces started in 1980. Compared to AKS-74, AKS-74U features shortened gas piston, reduced twist rate (160 mm instead of 200 mm), new receiver lid and V-type muzzle brake. In the early 1990s, the firearm was upgraded and received new plastic furniture and the attaching lug for Warsaw Pact-standard ('swallow`s tail') red-dot/optical scopes.

The latest modification of AKS-74U has a combat weight of 3 kg (without scope), a length of 730 mm (with unfolded stock), a firing rate of 650-700 rounds per minute, a muzzle velocity of 735 m/s, an effective firing range of 300 m. It is fed from standard 30-round AK-74 magazine.

Hence, AKS-74U compact assault rifle has sub-machinegun (SMG) dimensions while M74 intermediate cartridge provides effective firepower. At the same time, the firearms does meet modern requirements to the accuracy of compact assault rifles and SMGs. AKS-74U is prone to overheating during continuous firing. The rifle also has insufficient stopping effect.

AKS-74U assault rifle

To replace ageing AKS-74U, Kalashnikov Concern has launched the serial production of AK-105 compact assault rifle. It features longer barrel over AKS-74U (314 mm and 206.5 mm respectively); it resulted in the increase of AK-105`s accuracy. AK-105 has a combat weight of 3.5 kg, an overall length of 824 mm, a firing rate of 600 rounds per minute, a muzzle velocity of 840 m/s and an effective firing range of 500 m. According to open sources, Russian Special forces and army units are receiving small batches of AK-105 assault rifles.

Val (6P30) silenced assault rifles are also being issued to the military services and law enforcement agencies. Val is chambered for SP-5/SP-6/PAB-9 9x39 mm cartridges. The rifle is primarily intended for special operations. Val has a combat weight of 3.54 kg (with PSO-1 optical scope), an overall length of 875 mm (including a barrel of 200 mm (without silencer), a firing rate of 800-900 rounds per minute, a muzzle velocity of 280-295 m/s and an effective firing distance of 400 m. Despite the usage of powerful cartridge armed with extremely effective heavy bullet (16.1 g for SP-5, 16.2 g for SP-6), the assault rifle has several disadvantages. It is fed from low-capacity 20-round magazine and has limited effective firing range.

Russian TsNIITochMash scientific-research institute has developed SR-3M Vikhr sub-compact assault rifle. SR-3M has a combat weight 2.46 kg, a length of 675 mm (including a barrel of 156 mm), a firing rate of 900 rounds per minute, a muzzle velocity of 295 m/s, and an effective firing range of 150-200 m. Due to relatively low accuracy and operability, Vikhr is not popular within Special Forces units.

In the early 1990s, Tula-based Instrument Design Bureau (KBP, a subsidiary of the High-Precision Weapons holding) developed 9A91 compact rifle chambered for 9x39 mm cartridge. It was issued to Special Forces of Russian law enforcement agencies. At present, AKS-74U, AK-105, Val assault rifles and SR-2 Veresk, PP-19 Bizon-2 and PP-19-01 Vityaz SMG have almost completely replaced ageing 9A-91.

Russian defense industry has developed several types of compact SMGs for the Special Forces. PP-19-01 Vityaz developed by Kalashnikov Concern is the most popular Russian sub-machinegun. It is chambered for 9x19 mm Para cartridge. Vityaz is based on PP-19 Bizon SMG. It has a combat weight of 3.85 kg (with red-dot scope installed), an overall length of 705 mm (including a barrel of 237 mm), a firing rate of 700 rounds per minute and an effective firing range of 200 m. Vityaz is intended to replace sub-compact assault rifles in service with Russian military and law enforcement Special Forces units, such as AKS-74U and 9A-91.

Several bodies of Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) retain PP-19 Bizon-2-01 SMGs chambered for 9x19 mm cartridge. Bizon-2-01 features high-capacity helical feed magazine (53 cartridges) and high firing rate (750 rounds per minute). At the same time, the SMG has a relatively huge combat weight (3.8 kg without scope). The firearm also lacks Picatinny rail system, having attaching lug only for Warsaw Pact-standard red-dot and optical sights.