Engineering:AK-103

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AK-103
File:AK-103 Assault Rifle.JPG
The AK-103 assault rifle
TypeAssault rifle
Place of originRussia
Service history
In service2001–present[1]
Used bySee Users
WarsSecond Chechen War[citation needed]
Iraq War
War in Afghanistan
Libyan Civil War
Syrian Civil War
Iraqi Civil War
Insurgency in the Maghreb (2002–present)
Yemeni Civil War (2015–present)
Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen
Conflict in Najran, Jizan and Asir
Production history
DesignerMikhail Kalashnikov
Designed1994
ManufacturerKalashnikov Concern
Produced1994–present
No. built250,000+
VariantsAK-104
Specifications
Mass3.4 kg (7.5 lb) empty
3.6 kg (7.9 lb) with empty magazine
Length943 mm (37.1 in) stock extended / 705 mm (27.8 in) stock folded
Barrel length415 mm (16.3 in)
Cartridge7.62×39mm
Calibre7.62mm
ActionGas operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire600 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity715 m/s (2,346 ft/s)
Effective firing range500 m (550 yd)
Feed system30-round detachable box magazine
SightsIron sights, with a dove tail side rail for mounting optical and night sights

The AK-103 assault rifle is a derivative of the AK-74M chambered for the 7.62×39mm M43 round, similar to the older AKM. The AK-103 can be fitted with a variety of sights, including night vision and telescopic sights, plus a knife-bayonet or a grenade launcher. It uses plastic components where possible instead of wood or metal, with such components being the pistol grip, handguards and stock.

Design details

AK-103 with the stock folded.

Protective coatings ensure excellent corrosion resistance of metal parts. Forearm, magazine, butt stock and pistol grip are made of high strength plastic.[2]

The AK-104 is a compact version of the AK-103. It has a muzzle brake derived from the older AKS-74U combined with a shorter barrel. It is also chambered for 7.62×39mm ammunition.

Magazines

The current issue steel-reinforced matte true black nonreflective surface finished 7.62×39mm 30-round magazines, fabricated from ABS plastic weigh 0.25 kg (0.55 lb) empty.[3] Early steel AK-47 magazines are 9.75 in (248 mm) long, and the later ribbed steel AKM and newer plastic 7.62×39mm magazines are about 1 in (25 mm) shorter.[4][5]

The transition from steel to mainly plastic magazines yielded a significant weight reduction and allow a soldier to carry more rounds for the same weight.

Rifle Cartridge Cartridge weight Weight of empty magazine Weight of loaded magazine Max. 10.12 kg (22.3 lb) ammunition load*
AK-47 (1949) 7.62×39mm 16.3 g (252 gr) Slab-sided steel
430 g (0.95 lb) 		30-rounds
916 g (2.019 lb)[6] 		11 magazines for 330 rounds
10.08 kg (22.2 lb)
AKM (1959) 7.62×39mm 16.3 g (252 gr) Ribbed stamped-steel
330 g (0.73 lb) 		30-rounds
819 g (1.806 lb)[7][8] 		12 magazines for 360 rounds
9.83 kg (21.7 lb)
AK-103 (1994) 7.62×39mm 16.3 g (252 gr) Steel-reinforced plastic
250 g (0.55 lb) 		30-rounds
739 g (1.629 lb)[7][8] 		13 magazines for 390 rounds
9.61 kg (21.2 lb)

Note: All, 7.62×39mm AK magazines are backwards compatible with older AK variants.
Note *: 10.12 kg (22.3 lb) is the maximum amount of ammo that the average soldier can comfortably carry. It also allows for best comparison of the three most common 7.62×39mm AK platform magazines.

Variants

AK-103

Select fire version for the military market

AK-103-1

This is a semiautomatic version for the police and civilian market

AK-103-2

This version has a three-round burst feature (3) added in between full automatic (АВ) and the fully engaged semi-automatic settings (ОД) and is version for police and civilian market

AK-103N2

Has a mount for the 1PN58 night scope

AK-103N3

Has a mount for the 1PN51 night scope

AK-104

Carbine version of the AK-103

AK-103M

Modernised version of the AK-103

Users

  •  Russia: Used by various special police groups, special operations forces and civilians .[9]
  •  Ethiopia: The Gafat Armament Engineering Complex produces the AK-103 rifle in Ethiopia. Supplements the AKM and AK-47 in the Ethiopian Armed Forces. It's reported in 2014 that the deal didn't go through at all.[10]
  •  India: Used by Naval Special Forces, MARCOS.[11] The Russian arms company Izhmash is negotiating issuing a license to an Indian private arms manufacturer to produce the AK-103.[12]
  •  Iran: Certain units of the Iranian Armed Forces are going to be equipped with the new weapons. The sale of an undisclosed number of AK-103s for use by sections of the Iranian special forces is being negotiated.[13][14]
  •  Libya: Seen in the hands of anti-Gaddafi forces and loyalists in numerous photos. The rifles in use are the AK-103-2 version.[15]
  • MUJAO used an ex-Libyan AK-103-2 in Agadez and Arlit attacks in 2013.[16]
  •  Namibia: Used by Namibian Marine Corps[17]
  •  Pakistan: In 2016, the Pakistan Armed Forces announced their intent to purchase large number of the AK-103 rifles to supplement their forces.[18]
  •  Saudi Arabia: Used by Airborne Units and Special Security Forces in the Royal Saudi Land Forces.[19][20] A license to produce AK-103 rifles was granted to Saudi Arabia in 2017.[21][22][23]
  •  Syria: Used by police.[24][25][26] Also used by Al Qaeda-linked Guardians of Religion Organization.[27]
  •  Venezuela: Standard issue weapon of the Venezuelan Army.[28] Made under license by CAVIM with initial licensing fee payments made in 2006 and the transfer of Russian-made AK-103s to Venezuela in 2008.[29] CAVIM's AK-103 factories opened officially in 2012 without the necessary manufacturing equipment.[29][30] CAVIM-made AK-103s were delivered to the Venezuelan Army in 2013.[31] Due to trouble with the plant with the Russian contractor failing to meet deadlines with a case of fraud, which forced CAVIM to finish the rest of the construction,[32] full-scale production will start by 2019.[33]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Presentation of the unique Kalashnikov small arms collection in the Moscow Kremlin Museum". Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140221145947/http://www.izhmash.ru/eng/arc/021205.shtml. Retrieved 2015-04-11. "AK-103 – Kalashnikov assault rifle, caliber 7.62 mm. It is designed for the 7.62-mm cartridge of the 1943 model. This model was included in the inventory in 2001" 
  2. ↑ "7.62 mm Kalashnikov assault rifles AK103, АК104". Archived from the original on 14 April 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140414172202/http://www.izhmash.ru/eng/product/ak103.shtml. Retrieved 11 April 2015. 
  3. ↑ "Официальный сайт группы предприятий "ИЖМАШ"". Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140903080622/http://www.izhmash.ru/eng/product/akm.shtml. Retrieved 2 October 2014. 
  4. ↑ Rifle Evaluation Study, United States Army, Combat Development Command, ADA046961, 20 Dec 1962
  5. ↑ "Are kalashnikov magazines as robust as their reputation? He tormented a selection of AR magazines last year, now he takes on the AK. The results you may find surprising.". http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Are+kalashnikov+magazines+as+robust+as+their+reputation%3F+He+tormented...-a0262692779. Retrieved 2 October 2014. 
  6. ↑ Dockery, Kevin (2007). Future Weapons. p. 102. ISBN 0-425-21750-7. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Ak 47 Technical Description - Manual". Scribd.com. 2010-09-30. https://www.scribd.com/doc/38483061/Ak-47-Technical-Description-Manual. Retrieved 2012-08-23. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Dockery, Kevin (2007). Future Weapons. p. 102.
  9. ↑ "Modern Firearms". http://world.guns.ru/assault/as05-e.htm. Retrieved 14 November 2014. 
  10. ↑ https://www.nknews.org/2014/09/north-korean-military-support-for-ethiopia/
  11. ↑ http://www.armyrecognition.com/july_2016_global_defense_security_news_industry/indian_army_could_purchase_additional_batch_of_kalashnikov_ak-103_assault_rifles_11207161.html
  12. ↑ Pradeep Thakur (2008-02-18). "Latest Kalashnikovs to be made in India". The Times of India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/AK-100_to_be_made_in_India_soon/articleshow/2793608.cms. Retrieved 2010-04-01. 
  13. ↑ "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}". http://www.bbc.com/persian/iran/2016/08/160806_l12_iran_kalashnikov_rifle. 
  14. ↑ 1149841 (2016-08-06). "Exclusive: Iran Imports AK-103 Rifles from Russia". Tasnim News Agency. http://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2016/08/06/1149841/exclusive-iran-imports-ak-103-rifles-from-russia. Retrieved 2016-08-06. 
  15. ↑ "Update II: AK-103 Exports to Libya". Security Scholar. http://securityscholar.wordpress.com/2011/10/31/update-ii-ak-103-exports-to-libya/. Retrieved 14 November 2014. 
  16. ↑ Savannah de Tessières (January 2018) (in en). At the Crossroads of Sahelian Conflicts: Insecurity, Terrorism, and Arms Trafficking in Niger (Report). Small Arms Survey. p. 24. ISBN 978-2-940548-48-4. http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/U-Reports/SAS-SANA-Report-Niger.pdf. 
  17. ↑ Defence Web. "Namibia receives Russian small arms". defenceweb. http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=43723&catid=74&Itemid=30. Retrieved 18 June 2016. 
  18. ↑ http://www.armyrecognition.com/june_2016_global_defense_security_news_industry/pakistan_to_buy_numerous_ak-103_assault_rifles_to_russia_tass_32106163.html
  19. ↑ "How an AK-103 Works". allinallnews. November 3, 2015. http://allinallnews.com/guns/ak-103. 
  20. ↑ "Saudi special forces operator in Yemen and armed with Russian AK 103". mighty_earth. http://www.imgrum.net/media/1246060538704571269_2338571929. 
  21. ↑ "Saudi Arabia to Start Licensed Manufacturing of AK-103 Rifles". http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2017/10/10/saudi-arabia-start-licensed-manufacturing-ak-103-rifles/. Retrieved 10 October 2017. 
  22. ↑ "РФ и Саудовская Аравия подписали меморандум о покупке и локализации продукции ВПК". TASS. http://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/4620884. Retrieved 10 October 2017. 
  23. ↑ "Saudi Arabia to produce Russian Kalashnikovs under new deal". rt.com. https://www.rt.com/business/405820-kalshnikov-russia-saudi-salman/. Retrieved 5 October 2017. 
  24. ↑ "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}". https://mobile.twitter.com/bm21_grad/status/709464360356323328. 
  25. ↑ "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}". https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/pictures-elite-syrian-security-troops-preparing-protect-damascus/. 
  26. ↑ Graduating police in Latakia with AK-103 (in Arabic)
  27. ↑ "Syrie: comment al-Qaïda reprend pied en zone djihadiste" (in fr). 28 June 2018. http://www.francesoir.fr/en-coop-matteo-puxton/syrie-comment-al-qaida-reprend-pied-en-zone-djihadiste. 
  28. ↑ "Russia to build 2 Kalashnikov factories in Venezuela by 2010 / Sputnik international". http://en.ria.ru/russia/20070806/70445720.html. Retrieved 14 November 2014. 
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 John Pike. "Defense Industry". http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/venezuela/industry.htm. Retrieved 14 November 2014. 
  30. ↑ Christopher Looft. "Venezuela Set to Mass Produce Kalashnikovs, Sniper Rifles". http://www.insightcrime.org/news-briefs/venezuela-set-to-mass-produce-kalashnikovs-sniper-rifles. Retrieved 14 November 2014. 
  31. ↑ "Cavim inicia entrega de fusiles de asalto Kalashnikov AK-103 a la Fuerza Armada de Venezuela". Infodefensa.com. 3 June 2013. http://www.infodefensa.com/latam/2013/06/03/noticia-cavim-inicia-entrega-de-fusiles-de-asalto-kalashnikov-ak-103-a-la-fuerza-armada-de-venezuela.html?aleat=1831#googtrans%28es-en%29. Retrieved 14 November 2014. 
  32. ↑ http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/12/12/venezuelan-ak-103-factory-will-start-working-2019/
  33. ↑ http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2018/04/13/venezuelan-kalashnikov-plant-to-begin-ak-103-manufacture-in-2019/

External links

ru:АК-103




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