AEK-971

Infobox Weapon
name= AEK-971


caption= AEK-971 chambered for 5.45x39mm
origin=flagcountry|Russia
type= Assault Rifle
is_ranged= yes
service= Field testing
used_by=
wars=
designer= Sergey I. Koksharov
design_date= Early 1970's
manufacturer= Kovrov Machinebuilding Plant
production_date=
number= >100 units
variants=
weight= 3.3 kg (8.5 lb) empty
length= 965 mm (38 in)
part_length= 414 mm (16.3 in)
width=
height=
crew=
cartridge=5.45x39mm AEK-971 7.62x39mm AEK-973 / AEK-973S 5.56x45mm NATO AEK-972
caliber=
action=Gas actuated, rotating bolt, balanced
rate=800 rounds/min
velocity=880 m/s (2887 ft/s)
range=400 m (366 yd)
max_range=
feed=30-round magazine
sights=Hooded front post and the U-notch open rear

The AEK-971 is a Russian assault rifle made by the Kovrov Machinebuilding Plant now Degtyarev Design Bureau and designed by Sergey I. Koksharov. AEK-971 use 5.45x39mm M74 round from the standard 30 round magazines of the AK-74. Two other members of this series—AEK-972 and AEK-973—fire 5.56x45mm and 7.62x39mm, respectively, from 30 round magazines of the AK-101 and AK-47/AK-103. The updated AEK-973 receives a three-shot burst fire mode. AEK-973S (АЕК-973С in Russian) is a modification with changed firing mechanism with the location of the thumb safety-selector lever on the right side and an extended light stock (to make the weapon less bulky). When the stock is retracted, a shoulder rest is being connected with the pistol grip, thereby forming a streamlined structure that does not hamper the fire. The AEK-971 has two fire modes; semi- and full-automatic. The modernised AEK-971 is also able to deliver fire with three-shot bursts. The AEK-971 is based on previous AK rifles in internal design and features but has the addition of a balancing mechanism. The rifle has a counter weight that negates the impulse of the gas piston and bolt carrier: this is the balancing mechanism and results in more controllable automatic fire. Though losing an initial contract for production against the AN-94, mainly due to being underdeveloped at the time, the Russian army has begun field trials of this weapon. The AN-94 assault rifle has slight edge over the AEK-971 only in short burst (2 rounds only) mode . [world.guns.ru AEK-971 (Russia) ] . In full-auto medium or long burst fire mode (3–5 or 7–10 rounds per burst) AEK-971 wins hands down, being also some 0.5 kg lighter than AN-94, simpler and cheaper to manufacture.

ee also

* List of Russian Weaponry
* AN-94

References

* http://www.implg.com/?ASSAULT_RIFLES:AEK-971%2C_AEK-972_and_AEK-973_assault_rifles
* http://black-arsenal.co.cc/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.45

External links

* [http://warfare.ru/?lang=&catid=246&linkid=2362 Warfare.ru]
* http://www.zid.ru/en/products/military/aek971.html manufacturer page
* [http://world.guns.ru/assault/as34-e.htm Overview of AEK-971]
* [http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=zh-CN&u=http://www.gun-world.net/russain/ar/aek971/aek971.htm&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=7&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3DAEK971%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26channel%3Ds%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DG (Translated from Chinese) AEK-971]
* [http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?channel=dti&id=news/DTrif0207.xml]
* [http://www.liveinternet.ru/users/1355677/post62483890/ AEK-971 / AEK-972 / AEK-973 / AEK-973S] - In Russian
* [http://ra.foto.radikal.ru/0707/31/38ccd36b4f98.jpgAEK-973S]