AK-103: Difference between revisions
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* {{flagicon image|Guardians Of Religion INFOBOX flag.png}} [[Guardians of Religion Organization]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.francesoir.fr/en-coop-matteo-puxton/syrie-comment-al-qaida-reprend-pied-en-zone-djihadiste|title=Syrie: comment al-Qaïda reprend pied en zone djihadiste|language=fr|website=[[France Soir]]|date=28 June 2018|access-date=28 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629022401/http://www.francesoir.fr/en-coop-matteo-puxton/syrie-comment-al-qaida-reprend-pied-en-zone-djihadiste|archive-date=29 June 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> |
* {{flagicon image|Guardians Of Religion INFOBOX flag.png}} [[Guardians of Religion Organization]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.francesoir.fr/en-coop-matteo-puxton/syrie-comment-al-qaida-reprend-pied-en-zone-djihadiste|title=Syrie: comment al-Qaïda reprend pied en zone djihadiste|language=fr|website=[[France Soir]]|date=28 June 2018|access-date=28 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629022401/http://www.francesoir.fr/en-coop-matteo-puxton/syrie-comment-al-qaida-reprend-pied-en-zone-djihadiste|archive-date=29 June 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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* [[Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa|MUJAO]] used an ex-Libyan AK-103-2 in [[Agadez and Arlit attacks]] in 2013.<ref>{{Cite report|language = en|title = At the Crossroads of Sahelian Conflicts: Insecurity, Terrorism, and Arms Trafficking in Niger|author = Savannah de Tessières|isbn = 978-2-940548-48-4|publisher = [[Small Arms Survey]]|url = http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/U-Reports/SAS-SANA-Report-Niger.pdf|date = January 2018|page = 24|access-date = 2018-06-05|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180612184751/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/U-Reports/SAS-SANA-Report-Niger.pdf|archive-date = 2018-06-12|url-status = dead}}</ref> |
* [[Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa|MUJAO]] used an ex-Libyan AK-103-2 in [[Agadez and Arlit attacks]] in 2013.<ref>{{Cite report|language = en|title = At the Crossroads of Sahelian Conflicts: Insecurity, Terrorism, and Arms Trafficking in Niger|author = Savannah de Tessières|isbn = 978-2-940548-48-4|publisher = [[Small Arms Survey]]|url = http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/U-Reports/SAS-SANA-Report-Niger.pdf|date = January 2018|page = 24|access-date = 2018-06-05|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180612184751/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/U-Reports/SAS-SANA-Report-Niger.pdf|archive-date = 2018-06-12|url-status = dead}}</ref> |
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*[[Islamic State's West Africa Province|Islamic State West Africa Province]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=https://twitter.com/murtalaibin/status/1430852070622515202|url=https://twitter.com/murtalaibin/status/1430852070622515202|access-date=2021-08-26|website=Twitter|language=en}}</ref> |
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==Gallery== |
==Gallery== |
Revision as of 11:21, 26 August 2021
AK-103 | |
---|---|
Type | Assault rifle Carbine (AK104) |
Place of origin | Russia |
Service history | |
In service | 2001–present[1] |
Used by | See Users |
Wars | 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 Saudi–Yemeni border conflict (2015–present) |
Production history | |
Designer | Mikhail Kalashnikov |
Designed | 1994 |
Manufacturer | Kalashnikov Concern |
Unit cost | Gov price $150-160 (USD) per unit in 2014 |
Produced | 1994–present |
No. built | 250,000+ |
Variants | AK-104 |
Specifications | |
Mass | 3.6 kg (7.9 lb) empty[2] |
Length | 943 mm (37.1 in) stock extended / 705 mm (27.8 in) stock folded[3] |
Barrel length | 415 mm (16.3 in)[4] |
Cartridge | 7.62×39mm |
Caliber | 7.62mm |
Action | Gas operated, rotating bolt |
Rate of fire | 600 rounds/min |
Muzzle velocity | 715 m/s (2,346 ft/s) |
Effective firing range | 350 m (380 yd) at point-blank range[5] 500 m (550 yd) |
Feed system | 30-round detachable box magazine |
Sights | Iron sights, with a dove tail side rail for mounting optical and night sights |
The AK-103 is an assault rifle designed by Russian small arms designer Mikhail Kalashnikov in 1994. It is an AK-100 derivative of the AK-74M (chambered for the 7.62x39mm M43 cartridge) similar to the 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 like the GP-34. Newer versions can fit Picatinny rails allowing more accessories to be mounted. It uses plastic components where possible instead of wood or metal, with such components being the pistol grip, handguards, folding stock and depending on the type, the magazine.
Design details
Protective coatings for corrosion resistance of metal parts. Forearm, magazine, butt stock and pistol grip are made of high strength shatterproof plastic.[6]
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.[7] 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.[8][9]
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)[10] |
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)[11][12] |
12 magazines for 360 rounds 9.83 kg (21.7 lb) |
AK-103/AK-104 (1994) | 7.62×39mm | 16.3 g (252 gr) | Steel-reinforced plastic 250 g (0.55 lb) |
30-rounds 739 g (1.629 lb)[11][12] |
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
Selective 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 intended for the police and civilian markets
AK-103N2
Has a mount for the 1PN58 night scope
AK-103N3
Has a mount for the 1PN51 night scope
Carbine version of the AK-103
AK-103M/AK-203
Modernised version of the AK-103
A Vietnamese version known as the STL-1A is made by Factory Z111 and is used by the People's Army of Vietnam. Another modernized version called the STL-1B is currently planned.[13] It first appeared in the 2018 Indo Defence Expo & Forum.
KR103
A semi-automatic clone of the AK-103 made by Kalashnikov USA.[14]
Users
- Algeria: Used by the Parachute Commando Regiments[15]
- Armenia: The licensed production of the AK-103 started in July 2020.[16]
- 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.[17]
- India: Used by Naval Special Forces, MARCOS,[18] Indian army and police.
- Iran: The sale of an undisclosed number of AK-103s for use by sections of the Iranian special forces and marines and use by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps special force[19] The weapon were reported to be shipped to Iran on August 2016.[20] The IRGC is reported to be using the AK-103.[21]
- Libya: Seen in the hands of anti-Gaddafi forces and loyalists in numerous photos. The rifles in use are the AK-103-2 version.[22]
- Namibia: Used by Namibian Marine Corps[23]
- Pakistan: License production under the name "PK-21" by Pakistan Ordnance Factory. Chosen as a replacement for the TYPE-56 currently in service.[24]
- Palestine: Used by the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.[25]
- Russia: Used by various special police groups, special operations forces and civilians.[26]
- Saudi Arabia: Used by Airborne Units and Special Security Forces in the Royal Saudi Land Forces.[27][28] A license to produce AK-103 rifles was granted to Saudi Arabia in 2017.[29][30][31][32]
- Syria: Used by police.[33][34]
- Venezuela: first 30 000 AK-103 rifles were received in June 2006[35] 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.[36] CAVIM's AK-103 factories opened officially in 2012 without the necessary manufacturing equipment.[36][37] CAVIM-made AK-103s were delivered to the Venezuelan Army in 2013.[38] 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,[39] full-scale production will start by 2019.[40]
- Vietnam: Original AK-103s are in limited use in the military, however the locally produced STL-1As are found much more commonly in use in the military.[13]
Non-State Actors
- Guardians of Religion Organization[41]
- MUJAO used an ex-Libyan AK-103-2 in Agadez and Arlit attacks in 2013.[42]
- Islamic State West Africa Province[43]
Gallery
-
AK-103 with GP-34 Grenade Launcher.
-
Maldives National Defense Force soldier with an AK-103
See also
- AK-107 (Includes AK-108)
- List of Russian weaponry
- List of assault rifles
- Comparison of the AK-47 and M16
References
- ^ "Presentation of the unique Kalashnikov small arms collection in the Moscow Kremlin Museum". Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. 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
- ^ "AK-103". Kalashnikov Concern. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
- ^ "AK-103". Kalashnikov Concern. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
- ^ "AK-103". Kalashnikov Concern. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
- ^ "AK-103". Kalashnikov Concern. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
- ^ "7.62 mm Kalashnikov assault rifles AK103, АК104". Archived from the original on 14 April 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
- ^ "Официальный сайт группы предприятий "ИЖМАШ"". Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ^ Rifle Evaluation Study Archived 2012-12-01 at the Wayback Machine, United States Army, Combat Development Command, ADA046961, 20 Dec 1962
- ^ "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". Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ^ Dockery, Kevin (2007). Future Weapons. p. 102. ISBN 978-0-425-21750-4.
- ^ a b "Ak 47 Technical Description - Manual". Scribd.com. 2010-09-30. Archived from the original on 2012-03-28. Retrieved 2012-08-23.
- ^ a b Dockery, Kevin (2007). Future Weapons. p. 102.
- ^ a b "Vietnam has upgraded Kalashnikov AKM under the name STL-1A". www.armyrecognition.com. 2018-09-26. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
- ^ Inc, Pixai. "Explore Kalashnikov USA KR-103 RIFLE". Kalashnikov USA. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
{{cite web}}
:|last=
has generic name (help) - ^ The World Defence Almanac. (March 2010). "Military Technology Magazine. Vol.XXXIV" (Document).
{{cite document}}
: Cite document requires|publisher=
(help) - ^ "Armenian assault rifle factory begins production". Janes.com.
- ^ "North Korea and Ethiopia, brothers in arms | NK News". 4 September 2014. Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2017-01-30.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-11-08. Retrieved 2016-11-07.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ 1149841 (2016-08-06). "Exclusive: Iran Imports AK-103 Rifles from Russia". Tasnim News Agency. Archived from the original on 2016-08-07. Retrieved 2016-08-06.
{{cite web}}
:|author=
has numeric name (help) - ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2019-02-12. Retrieved 2019-02-11.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2019-02-12. Retrieved 2019-02-11.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Update II: AK-103 Exports to Libya". Security Scholar. 31 October 2011. Archived from the original on 22 December 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
- ^ Defence Web. "Namibia receives Russian small arms". defenceweb.co.za. defenceweb. Archived from the original on 12 August 2016. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ^ "Pakistan Ordnance Factories Reveals New PK18 and PK21 Assault Rifles". Quwa. 2019-10-31. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
- ^ "Research Report No. 5: A Tale of Two Rifles – Armament Research Services". 2 March 2016.
- ^ Jenzen-Jones, N.R. (September 2012). "The 100-Series Kalashnikovs: A Primer". Small Arms Review. Vol. 16, no. 3. Archived from the original on 2019-03-06. Retrieved 2019-03-06.
- ^ "How an AK-103 Works". allinallnews. November 3, 2015. Archived from the original on October 18, 2017.
- ^ "Saudi special forces operator in Yemen and armed with Russian AK 103". mighty_earth. Archived from the original on 2016-09-26. Retrieved 2016-09-24.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia to Start Licensed Manufacturing of AK-103 Rifles". 10 October 2017. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
- ^ "РФ и Саудовская Аравия подписали меморандум о покупке и локализации продукции ВПК". TASS. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia to Receive First AK-103s Soon -". The Firearm Blog. 2019-02-26. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
- ^ Moss, Matthew (2019-02-19). "Saudi Arabia to Receive First AK-103s Soon". Overt Defense. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
- ^ "In pictures: Elite Syrian security troops preparing to protect Damascus". 3 August 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-10-06. Retrieved 2017-09-30.
- ^ Graduating police in Latakia with AK-103 (in Arabic)[permanent dead link]
- ^ полковник С. Сергеев. О реформе вооруженных сил Венесуэлы // "Зарубежное военное обозрение", № 8, 2006. стр.22-24
- ^ a b John Pike. "Defense Industry". Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
- ^ Christopher Looft (19 July 2012). "Venezuela Set to Mass Produce Kalashnikovs, Sniper Rifles". Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
- ^ "Cavim inicia entrega de fusiles de asalto Kalashnikov AK-103 a la Fuerza Armada de Venezuela". Infodefensa.com. 3 June 2013. Archived from the original on 16 April 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
- ^ "Venezuelan AK-103 Factory Will Start Working in 2019 -". 12 December 2016. Archived from the original on 2018-04-17. Retrieved 2018-04-16.
- ^ "Venezuelan Kalashnikov Plant to Begin AK-103 Manufacture in 2019 -". 13 April 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-04-17. Retrieved 2018-04-16.
- ^ "Syrie: comment al-Qaïda reprend pied en zone djihadiste". France Soir (in French). 28 June 2018. Archived from the original on 29 June 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
- ^ Savannah de Tessières (January 2018). At the Crossroads of Sahelian Conflicts: Insecurity, Terrorism, and Arms Trafficking in Niger (PDF) (Report). Small Arms Survey. p. 24. ISBN 978-2-940548-48-4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-06-12. Retrieved 2018-06-05.
- ^ "https://twitter.com/murtalaibin/status/1430852070622515202". Twitter. Retrieved 2021-08-26.
{{cite web}}
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