AK-12

The AK-12 (Russian: Avtomat Kalashnikova, 2012 – GRAU index 6P70) is a Russian gas-operated assault rifle chambered in 5.45×39mm, designed and manufactured by Kalashnikov Concern (formerly Izhmash), making it the fifth generation of Kalashnikov rifles.

Kalashnikov Concern also offers a variant of the AK-12 chambered in 7.62×39mm, designated as the AK-15 (GRAU index 6P71) due to the request of the Russian military. A variant chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO was later unveiled, designated as the AK-19 upon the request of international clients. Compact variants of the AK-12 and AK-15 are also under development, respectively the AK-12C and AK-15C, which features a shorter barrel. A battle rifle variant chambered in 7.62×51mm NATO was later developed, designated as the AK-308.

In response to the "Tokar-2" program, Kalashnikov Concern developed a light machine gun based on the AK-12, designated as the RPK-16. It is essentially an evolution of the RPK-74, sharing similar design features with the AK-12. In November 2020, the AKV-521 was unveiled. Based on the AK-12, its main feature is that it utilises a two-receiver layout.

The AK-12 project began in 2011 by the IZHMASH factory, which became part of the Kalashnikov Concern as a private venture, in an attempt to participate in the "Ratnik" trials which were held by the Russian army. It was further developed by the Kalashnikov Concern. Throughout its development and evaluation stage it has received multiple modifications to meet the Russian military's standard and to address the Russian army's concerns regarding the cost and issues in fully automatic fire of the earlier prototype models.

The early development of the AK-12 went through three different prototype stages to improve upon the range of defects discovered in the prototype models from 2012 to 2015. These prototype designs were later abandoned in favour of the well-proven and improved AK-400 prototype, which took over the "AK-12" designation and became the basis for the finalised model of the AK-12.