AN-94
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| AN-94 | |
|---|---|
 The AN-94 fitted with a GP-30 40 mm grenade launcher. |
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| Type | Assault Rifle |
| Place of origin |  Russian Federation |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1997–present |
| Used by | See Users |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Gennadiy Nikonov |
| Manufacturer | Izhmash |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 3.85 kg (8.49 lb) |
| Length | 943 mm (37.1 in) stock extended 728 mm (28.7 in) stock folded |
| Barrel length | 405 mm (15.9 in) |
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| Cartridge | 5.45x39mm |
| Action | Gas-operated |
| Rate of fire | 1800 or 600 rounds/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 900 m/s (2,953 ft/s) |
| Effective range | 400 m |
| Maximum range | 700 m |
| Feed system | 30, 45 or 60-round detachable box magazine |
| Sights | Iron sights 700 mm (27.6 in) sight radius |
The AN-94 (sometimes called the "Abakan") is an advanced Russian assault rifle. The initials stand for Avtomat Nikonova (after chief designer Gennadiy Nikonov) Model 1994; The AN-94 was the declared successor to the legendary Kalashnikov series of rifles after the 1980s Soviet Military conducted the extensive Project Abakan advanced assault rifle trials. Gennadiy Nikonov's system reportedly outperformed its many remarkable rivals significantly, proving better still than the most advanced Kalashnikov ever, The 'AKB'. Thus the Nikonov AN-94 was commissioned for adoption by the Russian Military, with mass production scheduled at the traditional home of the Kalashnikov, the historic Izhmash state factories. The stated great advantage of the AN-94 system is its ability to 'postpone' recoil until after the round/s fired have left the weapon. This, it is claimed, enables more 'hits' on target under the most adverse combat conditions. The AN-94 offers a two-shot burst function at a stated 1800 shots per minute rate of fire. Simply, the Nikonov mechanism 'sneaks' a superfast second round into a one shot recoil cycle. This - In theory, increases the 'hit' probability. It was chosen over many other competing firearms in an extensive trial, including the AEK-971 design by a team led by Sergey Koksharov. The AN-94 was designed at the Izhmash state factories, as a replacement for the AK-74 assault rifle currently in use in the Russian military. Currently, the Russian military has chosen to retain the AK-74M as its standard service rifle and the AN-94 is only being issued to the elite forces of the Russian military, some Russian police forces, and the MVD. An interesting fact about the AN-94, setting it apart from almost all other Russian weapons, is that it is not sold to foreign buyers although Venezuela has shown interest in either acquiring the AN-94 or developing an indigenous assault rifle based on the AN-94s recoiling barrel mechanism. Peru also requested a purchase of 580,000 AN-94s to replace the Peruvian army's HK33s but the purchase order was dropped in favor of an indigenous Peruvian rifle, the FAD which also makes use of a recoiling barrel system.
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[edit] Design details
The AN-94 is chambered in the same 5.45x39mm M74 cartridge as the AK-74, and it utilizes a rotating bolt to lock the action. Nikonov and the other engineers use the Russian term смещенный импульс свободного затвора (smeshchonnyy impuls svobodnovo zatvora) to describe the rifle's method of operation, meaning "blowback shifted pulse". When the bolt carrier is driven backwards by the force of the gas from the cartridge, a pulley activates a cartridge feeding device. This mechanism allows a much higher rate of fire than would otherwise be possible. This high rate of fire (1,800 rounds/min) is employed in two-round bursts. These form the first two shots on fully automatic fire, with following rounds fired at 600 rounds/min. This, it is claimed, is highly effective against body armour; the second round supposedly strikes at the same point as the first, enabling the penetration of armour that a standard 5.45 mm system cannot. The rear peep sight is an improvement over the standard Kalashnikov notch and post. The compound muzzle design is intended to significantly reduce weapon report and muzzle flash.
The AN-94 design is stated to be vastly more accurate than the AK-74M. And unlike the AK-74M, It can mount a GP-30 grenade launcher and bayonet simultaneously. It can also use newly designed 60-round magazines.
It is reported that the AN-94 unit manufacture costs are six times greater than the AK-74M. The mechanism of the AN-94 is comparatively complex and reportedly more demanding to maintain than the simple, efficient and rugged AK-74M. Indications are, perhaps, that the Russian Military has found that any advantages of operating the AN-94 are offset by a cumulative cost spiral. Those funds are sorely needed elsewhere in the vast Russian defense budget.
[edit] Users
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Izhmash – official page
- Modern Firearms
- Russian Firearms
- Warfare.ru
- Oruzhie magazine, Pages 6/7/8, Issue No1 1998.
- Nowa Technika Wojskowa 2002-03/04.
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