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.

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 design from the AK-400 prototype, which took over the "AK-12" designation and became the basis for the finalised model of the AK-12.

The AK-15 (GRAU index 6P71) chambered in 7.62×39mm, was developed in conjunction with the AK-12 at the request of the Russian military during Ratnik trials. Compact variants of the AK-12 and AK-15 were also developed, respectively the AK-12C and AK-15C, which features a shorter barrel.

To meet the interest of international clients, Kalashnikov Concern later developed a variant chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO, designated as the AK-19. To further peak interest, a battle rifle variant chambered in 7.62×51mm NATO was later unveiled, designated as the AK-308.

In response to the "Tokar-2" programme, Kalashnikov Concern also developed a light machine gun derived from the AK-12, designated as the RPK-16. It is essentially an evolution of the RPK-74, that shares similar design features with the AK-12. In November 2020, the AKV-521 was unveiled. A semi-automatic only rifle derived from the AK-12, its main feature is that it utilises a two-receiver layout.