AEK-971. Assault rifles. Automatic AEK-971

As they say in the military encyclopedia, the Kovrov automatic AEK-971 is the development of ZiD in Kovrov under the guidance of SI Koksharov (based on Konstantinov's automatic system). Let's look at what this weapon represents and what its perspective is in the modern armies of the world.

How it all began

In the middle of 1982, Soviet designers-gunsmiths began active development of prospective models of automatic rifles in the framework of experimental design work on the topic "Creation of an automatic machine, which is one and a half times higher than the efficiency of the AK-74." The code of this program was: "Abakan". The engineers were tasked to increase the accuracy of shooting new weapons 5-10 times during the continuous fire, in order to improve accuracy, even in young inexperienced soldiers. The weapons developed should have inherited all the combat qualities of the previous rifle systems. First of all, this was related to reliability, the possibility to be installed in all domestic military-technical facilities, as well as the possibility of attaching standard components to it: a grenade launcher, a bayonet knife, optical instruments, and so on. All leading designers and gunsmiths of the USSR took part in this competition. In 1984, the commission was presented with twelve projects of automatic weapons. Three samples were eliminated in the first stages of the competition, so only nine developments reached the testing stage. Among them was the automatic Koksharov-Garev AEK-971 (5.45 mm), which has a balanced automation and a design executed in a non-shock scheme.

What is innovation?

Balanced automation is the main distinguishing feature of the design of this machine. This scheme is created by analogy with AK-107 and AK-108 automatic machines based on a gas engine. In this system, an additional gas piston is connected to the anti-mass, its movement is synchronous with the main moving bolt frame, but opposite (that is, it moves towards the main one). In this way, the impulses generated by the movement of the gate mechanisms and their impacts in the front and rear positions are compensated. As a result of the application of this scheme, the machine does not twitch when it fires. And thanks to it AEK-971 has a firing accuracy of two times higher than AKMi AK-74.

Muzzle brake compensator

A distinctive feature of the first model AEK-971 is an unusual muzzle brake-compensator. The basis of its design is a fundamentally new concept of shooting from a stable and unstable position of the arrow. When automatic fire is triggered by turns from standing, from the knee, on the move, it is possible to reduce the holes in the compensator by means of a special lever that is located on the left side of the box. And when firing from a stable position from the stop, respectively, you can increase them. The idea of changing the diameter of the holes for the escape of the powder gases to the muzzle brake compensator together with the balanced automation has made it possible to achieve an even greater level of stabilization of the system while maintaining automatic fire.

Description of the machine

The new automatic device AEK-971 is powered by cartridges from a standard AK-74 store with a capacity of 30 pieces. Lock the stem channel by turning the shutter. Folding butt tilts to the left side of the receiver. An interesting constructive solution was proposed for the flag of the fuse interpreter. It is withdrawn from both sides of the receiver. However, the checkbox on the left side does not have a fuse function, which somewhat reduces its capabilities. Shock-trigger mechanism of the automatic device AEK-971 allows automatic, single fire, as well as fixed queues (two shots). This in no small measure increased the effectiveness of this weapon at a firing rate of 1500 rounds per minute.

Upgrading the machine

Subsequently, the design of the machine was greatly simplified. So, the muzzle brake-compensator was replaced with the standard one from the AK-74, which led to a significant reduction in the rate of fire. The application was made permanent, and the box had to be reworked completely. The upgraded submachine gun showed the results of firing with continuous fire, 20 percent higher than the standard AK-74. However, AEK-971 yielded to the accuracy of the second shot in the conduct of automatic fire to its rival - the Nikonov machine gun, although it surpassed it in this parameter when firing long bursts. So, according to the results of the competition, Nikonov's automatic weapon was adopted for armament, which received the designation AN-91.

The new history of the machine

This is the story of AEK-971 has not ended. In the late 90s, the Ministry of Defense recalled the development of weapons with a balanced automatic system, over which the Carpet designers worked. The machine has once again undergone modernization, already in accordance with the new requirements. As a result, a universal bracket was made on the left side of the receiver to attach all types of night and optical sights. It could be installed by replacing the old butt with a new metal, folding in the right side. Also implemented a regime of conducting fire in fixed bursts of three shots. After that, the machine was put into serial production. These assault rifles were produced in small batches. They were in service with the special purpose departments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and other law enforcement agencies. In 2006, the Kovrov Machine-Building Plant completely stopped the production of military products. Therefore, all production was transferred to the plant. Degtyarev (ZiD).

Accessories

The new Degtyarev automaton AEK-971 consists of the following parts and mechanisms:

• A trunk with a receiver and a receiver cover;
• A bolt and a shutter frame;
• Carriage and balance bar;
• Return mechanism;
• Safety shield;
• USM, executed as a separate node;
• Guide balancer;
• Translator of fire;
• Trunk lining and fore-end;
• Muzzle brake-compensator;
• Shop and bayonet-knife.

Assault rifles of the world

The name "assault rifle" went from the English "assault rifle". In Russian it is customary to say "automatic machine", however, the essence is the same. Today, this type of small arms is individual for infantry units. Modern assault rifles have a caliber from 5.45 mm to 7.62 mm. The capacity of their stores is 30 rounds or more. Automatic rifles can fire in automatic mode, single shots and short bursts. The effective range is 600 m. The effective practical rate of fire in modern automatic weapons reaches 400 rounds per minute (bursts). Practically all weapons of this class have the ability to attach auxiliary equipment: bayonet knives, night, optical or collimator sights, grenade launchers and other. Today assault rifles are produced in almost 30 countries around the world, from leading countries (Russia, the USA, Germany, France, England) to the so-called third world countries (Iran, Taiwan, Korea, etc.).

Conclusion

On the basis of the automatic device AEK-971, two modifications were developed. The first of these is AEK-972. It completely repeats the base, the difference is only the caliber - 5.56 x 45 mm (NATO patron), but there are no other constructive differences. The second modification is AEK-973. This model is designed for a Soviet cartridge 7.62 x 39 mm. With this machine is used a store from AK-47, otherwise it is identical to the base one.