The Kalashnikov assault rifle is one of the most well know small arms.
It is categorized as an assault rifle, a so called selective fire weapon
because of its semi- and fully automatic firing capability. The Kalashnikov
assault rifles are notorious for their robustness, reliability, easy usability
and combat effectiveness. It is estimated that more than 150 million copies
have been made. The international arms trade supports an ongoing wide diffusion
of the weapon (including its versions like the AKM and the AK74). The
Kalashnikov assault rifle can now be found all over the world. The lock-in
effects of the Kalashnikov enhances its position every day. This lock-in
process is still going on due to the manufacture of spare parts, the
creation/improvement of (new) models and the production of ammunition. SAFOPS
believes that the Kalashnikov remains the first choice hence it will be
necessary to understand and to further insight about the weapon and its
context. The study therefore covers the following main objectives:
complete survey into all military models;
technical specifications of these models;
determining the most important aspects like factory markings and typical technical specifications for identification purposes.
The outcomes of the study will be published in October 2015.
