AK-12 Rifle Discussion

So what is happening? Any rifles in service or any orders? The whole AK-12 and Ratnik program just went quiet. Even sappers in Syria using older gear.

sepheronx wrote:So what is happening? Any rifles in service or any orders? The whole AK-12 and Ratnik program just went quiet. Even sappers in Syria using older gear.

I thought that ratnik was already in use with some marines in Syria:






can someone confirm if it is ratnik?

Ratnik is also the thermal imagers, new comm system (which might be there) and helmet mounted piece. Not just the new kevlar vest/helmet. As well, AK-12 is supposed to be part of Ratnik.

sepheronx wrote:Ratnik is also the thermal imagers, new comm system (which might be there) and helmet mounted piece. Not just the new kevlar vest/helmet. As well, AK-12 is supposed to be part of Ratnik.

Rifle still has not be selected, probabily during this year it will be finished. And issued probabily 2017+

Huh, I thought AK-12 beat out AEK? Unless they a waiting on the other rifles like the A525 or whatever it is called bullpup.

sepheronx wrote:Huh, I thought AK-12 beat out AEK? Unless they a waiting on the other rifles like the A525 or whatever it is called bullpup.

i've heard rumors about AEK be more close to be selected, and that both were selected

Arctic_Fox wrote:

sepheronx wrote:Huh, I thought AK-12 beat out AEK? Unless they a waiting on the other rifles like the A525 or whatever it is called bullpup.

i've heard rumors about AEK be more close to be selected, and that both were selected

Both will be "selected", however only 1 will enter full scale deployment.

One rifle is still tested. The other one is finalized. There is one issue with ZID. It doesn't have the spare production to tackle à 50K Rifle production rate per year. It will either need help or it will split the order.

Heard Elite troops will get AK-12's with Ratnik gear for now.

Regular forces will continue to use the 74 into the 2020's

Care to share where you heard that?

sepheronx wrote:Care to share where you heard that?

I cant post links yet, unless I can break the link up and post it here

sepheronx wrote:Care to share where you heard that?

The entire Ratnik collection underwent final acceptance tests in late 2013. All the items of Ratnik (firearms, body armor, optic, communication and navigation devices, medical, and power supply systems plus uniform items including knee and elbow pads) have been tested and accepted. The new rifle was more of a problem until the government finally backed the AK-12. Initially only elite troops will get Ratnik while the rest of the ground forces will be stuck with the AK-74 into the 2020s.

The section from the article. From Feb of last year

Just name the site or send me a pm

OK. So AK-12 was a problematic program? hmm. Anyway, it isn't detrimental since AK-74MR is enough but kalashnikov gotta get it together.

sepheronx wrote:Just name the site or send me a pm

OK. So AK-12 was a problematic program? hmm. Anyway, it isn't detrimental since AK-74MR is enough but kalashnikov gotta get it together.

AEK however might be issued to some specialised units despite not being accepted to be used for Ratnik on large scale.

Militarov wrote:

sepheronx wrote:Just name the site or send me a pm

OK. So AK-12 was a problematic program? hmm. Anyway, it isn't detrimental since AK-74MR is enough but kalashnikov gotta get it together.

AEK however might be issued to some specialised units despite not being accepted to be used for Ratnik on large scale.

Typically yes SoF's will get unique weapons for specific missions. The AEK is more fitted for urban combat so I imagine them issuing it to There Spetz boys under limited production and maybe their newly formed national guard snce they will face mainly Urban combat where has the AK-12 is better fitted for all around use which makes sense for a Regular army.

That's my experience with weapons and special forces

Doesn't make any sense to send à newly formed unit in an area where the CT/SOF have been dominant. Also there's à fact no one seems to explain. Why the VDV would not want a gun (A545/762) that has been tailored for Its needs. From the size, to the consistency in shooting. Saying the 74 will soldier on, is basically having à look at the current stocks and understanding that there's enough of them for another WW. Basically from that PoV there is no need for another rifle.

They have a stated goal of replacing 70% of Soviet equipment by 2020 and something like 80-90% by 2025 so I rather suspect they might start gifting AKs and putting new models into production.

BTW Ratnik is for everyone.... not just special forces... I would suspect special forces have their own version, but regular soldiers will be being equipped with it for testing too.

GarryB wrote:They have a stated goal of replacing 70% of Soviet equipment by 2020 and something like 80-90% by 2025 so I rather suspect they might start gifting AKs and putting new models into production.

BTW Ratnik is for everyone.... not just special forces... I would suspect special forces have their own version, but regular soldiers will be being equipped with it for testing too.

What they mean is the AK-12 is part of the Ratnik and regular troops will not get an AK-12 with it but will keep their 74. also Russia cannot give every soldiers Ratnik's before 2020 ether, maybe they will get half done or over that by then.

Ratnik is the standard soldiers kit and is not designed for any specific rifle.

During development they had AK-74, AN-94, and AK-107 being used with the system... every combat soldier in the military will use some variant of the system and a special version will be for export too... no doubt used with different firearms.

BTW they are making 60,000 odd kits per year starting last year so by 2020 the vast majority of combat soldiers will be using Ratnik...

SeigSoloyvov wrote:

GarryB wrote:They have a stated goal of replacing 70% of Soviet equipment by 2020 and something like 80-90% by 2025 so I rather suspect they might start gifting AKs and putting new models into production.

BTW Ratnik is for everyone.... not just special forces... I would suspect special forces have their own version, but regular soldiers will be being equipped with it for testing too.

What they mean is the AK-12 is part of the Ratnik and regular troops will not get an AK-12 with it but will keep their 74. also Russia cannot give every soldiers Ratnik's before 2020 ether, maybe they will get half done or over that by then.

Lol, parts of Ratnik are currently deployed with the contingent in Syria. You can see the PN23M's and other com goodies. Ratnik is meant as a tactical, modular system. You don't need everyone to play videogames on the field, the mass of the system so far will be optics, commo, weapons and consumables. Organic, low level BMS and C2/3 isn't available for people that have tried to use the system for ages, let alone Russia that is only implementing it. As a matter of fact, individual and even Fireteam BMS is a handicap.

Also the main issue with the rifle is that it might well be that none of them gets produced or even inducted in service if the step forward isn't big enough. Most the things that were introduced with both systems (AK12/A545) are actually gimmicks. What is important is the tolerances of both systems that need to be fine tuned, the manual of arms that needs to be roughly the same and the availability of the system that needs to stay at least similar or be upgraded. With the current AK74, the last issues are basically concentrated around the tolerances and manual of arms.

Whoever has used an AK as his service rifle knows two things about it. It's a damn beast to overcome. It has shortcomings on some areas but they aren't detrimental to the normal capabilities for a service rifle.

KoTeMoRe wrote:

SeigSoloyvov wrote:

GarryB wrote:They have a stated goal of replacing 70% of Soviet equipment by 2020 and something like 80-90% by 2025 so I rather suspect they might start gifting AKs and putting new models into production.

BTW Ratnik is for everyone.... not just special forces... I would suspect special forces have their own version, but regular soldiers will be being equipped with it for testing too.

What they mean is the AK-12 is part of the Ratnik and regular troops will not get an AK-12 with it but will keep their 74. also Russia cannot give every soldiers Ratnik's before 2020 ether, maybe they will get half done or over that by then.

Lol, parts of Ratnik are currently deployed with the contingent in Syria. You can see the PN23M's and other com goodies. Ratnik is meant as a tactical, modular system. You don't need everyone to play videogames on the field, the mass of the system so far will be optics, commo, weapons and consumables. Organic, low level BMS and C2/3 isn't available for people that have tried to use the system for ages, let alone Russia that is only implementing it. As a matter of fact, individual and even Fireteam BMS is a handicap.

Also the main issue with the rifle is that it might well be that none of them gets produced or even inducted in service if the step forward isn't big enough. Most the things that were introduced with both systems (AK12/A545) are actually gimmicks. What is important is the tolerances of both systems that need to be fine tuned, the manual of arms that needs to be roughly the same and the availability of the system that needs to stay at least similar or be upgraded. With the current AK74, the last issues are basically concentrated around the tolerances and manual of arms.

Whoever has used an AK as his service rifle knows two things about it. It's a damn beast to overcome. It has shortcomings on some areas but they aren't detrimental to the normal capabilities for a service rifle.

Yes they are and I never denied this? not sure what point your trying to make this have around what 80k complete systems?.

Russia's intention is to give their men full sets not parts of a set to each man this is what I was referring to. This again is what they want not what you tell me "they need" so I'll go by what they want if ya don't mind.

I have nothing against the 74 its a fine rifle for what its meant to do, however again they want to replace it with the 12. So I keep that in mind, sure they will fine tune the rifle we will merely have to see how that goes.

GarryB wrote:Ratnik is the standard soldiers kit and is not designed for any specific rifle.

During development they had AK-74, AN-94, and AK-107 being used with the system... every combat soldier in the military will use some variant of the system and a special version will be for export too... no doubt used with different firearms.

BTW they are making 60,000 odd kits per year starting last year so by 2020 the vast majority of combat soldiers will be using Ratnik...

They want it used with the AK-12 at that point in time they used what they could to test the system but they consider the 12 the standard rifle they want to go with it. now if they can accomplish this we will see and the system is only meant for ground forces and related specs ops. I imagine airborne units will get some but over all that going to be minor changes nothing huge.

Has for the export version? has that been announced if not. Not something I care to speculate on.

BTW there is also a huge difference between what Moscow claims it can produce and what they actually produce sometimes. Don't get me wrong other nations are guilty of this but just because they say will pump out 60k a year doesn't mean they will.

SeigSoloyvov wrote:

KoTeMoRe wrote:

SeigSoloyvov wrote:

GarryB wrote:They have a stated goal of replacing 70% of Soviet equipment by 2020 and something like 80-90% by 2025 so I rather suspect they might start gifting AKs and putting new models into production.

BTW Ratnik is for everyone.... not just special forces... I would suspect special forces have their own version, but regular soldiers will be being equipped with it for testing too.

What they mean is the AK-12 is part of the Ratnik and regular troops will not get an AK-12 with it but will keep their 74. also Russia cannot give every soldiers Ratnik's before 2020 ether, maybe they will get half done or over that by then.

Lol, parts of Ratnik are currently deployed with the contingent in Syria. You can see the PN23M's and other com goodies. Ratnik is meant as a tactical, modular system. You don't need everyone to play videogames on the field, the mass of the system so far will be optics, commo, weapons and consumables. Organic, low level BMS and C2/3 isn't available for people that have tried to use the system for ages, let alone Russia that is only implementing it. As a matter of fact, individual and even Fireteam BMS is a handicap.

Also the main issue with the rifle is that it might well be that none of them gets produced or even inducted in service if the step forward isn't big enough. Most the things that were introduced with both systems (AK12/A545) are actually gimmicks. What is important is the tolerances of both systems that need to be fine tuned, the manual of arms that needs to be roughly the same and the availability of the system that needs to stay at least similar or be upgraded. With the current AK74, the last issues are basically concentrated around the tolerances and manual of arms.

Whoever has used an AK as his service rifle knows two things about it. It's a damn beast to overcome. It has shortcomings on some areas but they aren't detrimental to the normal capabilities for a service rifle.

Yes they are and I never denied this? not sure what point your trying to make this have around what 80k complete systems?.

Russia's intention is to give their men full sets not parts of a set to each man this is what I was referring to. This again is what they want not what you tell me "they need" so I'll go by what they want if ya don't mind.

I have nothing against the 74 its a fine rifle for what its meant to do, however again they want to replace it with the 12. So I keep that in mind, sure they will fine tune the rifle we will merely have to see how that goes.

Once again, I'll explain myself. As far as the AK12 is concerned the rifle will not be fielded as it is. It has still some choices to be made for MASS production. It still isn't worth the effort as as "new rifle" for itself. While the only "new rifle" is the A545 and that rifle has been finalized and is still strongly backed by both trials and elements which that rifle is aimed at, notably VDV.

As for Ratnik. I leave to Russia the time, like for the US and France (two of the nations that went the furthest with Future infantry programs) to discover that multi tasking at individual level, simply deprives, at the current state of affairs, the combat units of their freedom of action.

Russian MOD might want complete kits, but nations who've tested similar systems have NOT fielded them in the same level that the Russian MOD might want them. Basically, having 80K kits will simply be enough for 5 to six times that number of troops.

The strong point of the full Ratnik kit will be the possibility to create a "node/hub" at the foot-soldier level. You don't need that on a 1/1 basis. the US tried to implement that in OIF and it failed miserably. Notably by lack of computing power. The channels simply got jammed by the traffic. And they were set up on vehicles, NOT individual soldiers.

France latest Malian adventure with a rather small contingent (about 5000 men) showed again a very difficult adaptation or the FELIN subsystems and they have them since 2000. The systems are still too cumbersome and prone to bugs and kinks. Never-mind they're NOT foul and fool-proof as shown in the late Gao and Timbuktu battles that almost got French soldiers killed because bad feedback input on the BMS maps sent about 60 French soldiers straight into a Mujao position because it was marked as Malian Army.

Russians are more than aware of this and therefore, the Ratnik package is modular. And the troops will use what they need according to situation. And I expect to see the BMS systems integrated at fireteam at best, thus one full complement of Ratnik surrounded by soldiers who will have 80% of its capabilities (bar BMS and C2 cap).

^ Yeah, what he said.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRhQJCYb7MU