The Russian weapons manufacturer Kalashnikov Concern unveiled a new variant of its AK-12 assault rifle for use with NATO’s 5,56Ñ…45 mm rounds on social media earlier this week. The AK-19 is projected to swarm the Middle-Eastern market currently occupied by American and European arms producers. AK-19 is a new variant of the AK-12, which has been with the Russian Armed Forces since 2019. The 5,56Ñ…45 mm round is the most popular in the world, it gives us access to hundreds of markets already using NATO rifles. Now, Russia can submit a tender for Russian weapon, which is more reliable than the rival guns offered by others, while also matching them in ergonomics.
While the rifle is still in development and details are scarce, but the AK-19’s upgrades over the AK-12 reportedly include a redesigned polymer stock, a multi-slotted flash suppressor rather than the muzzle break, and new proprietary polymer magazines. The tactical and technical characteristics of the AK-12 and AK-19 aren’t too far apart. Both work at distances of up to 250-300 meters, with the biggest difference being the different rounds they use. The devil is in the details here. The gun made for the foreign market has a much lighter foldable butt, with the user having the ability to adjust the length whether they’re wearing a flak jacket or not.
