AK-74

The AK-74 is a select-fire assault rifle designed in the Soviet Union and produced in 1974. Designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov, it was a derivative of the then in service AKM in the Soviet Army to adopt a smaller intermediate cartridge (5.45x39mm) for full-automatic fire control and ease in load weight. Today, 21 countries use the AK-74 in their aresenal.

History
The AK-47 and the AKM were the main service assault rifle for the Soviet Union since its procurement in 1949. It offered great stopping power with its 7.62x39mm, yet give a rather controllable automatic fire. During the 1960s, America issued the M16 Rifle with its intermediate cartridge 5.56x45mm, which gives lots of advantage over the standard full-power rifle cartridges. The 5.56x45mm allowed the soldier to carry more ammo for less weight and give a very controllable recoil. This innovation was requested to be implemented into the Soviet small arms design and several prototypes were made for this request. The AK-design rechambered into a smaller caliber was then chosen as its design was nearly an exact copy of the AK-47 mechanism, so training does not need to be redone or revised, plus was easier to manufacture with existing industry plants. This rifle was then designated the AK-74 and put into service in 1974.

AKS-74
The AKS-74 features an side-folding stock to allow for a more compact firearm when transporting. The stock extended gives AKS the length of 943 mm while 690 mm when folded.

AKS-74U
A carbine variant of the AK-74 rifle. The barrel is shortened to 206.5 mm and the carbine is given a folding stock similar to AKS-74. Overall length is 735 mm stock extended and 490 mm with the stock folded. This carbine was designed for use by soldiers expected to be in small quarters such as special forces, rear-echelon troops, armored vehicle crews, and paratroopers.

AK-74M
In 1991, a modernization program was put into the AK-74 and renamed the AK-74M. Aside from a slight modification in the bolt, the rifle wood stock and handguard has been replaced by synthetic black plastic ones. The plastic butt stock could fold sideways now to the left. A side mount is also installed for mounting optics, plus with a Picatinny rail on some of the rifles to accommodate accessories not needing the side mount.

AK-12
In 2010, a derivative of the AK-74 rifles was made and was to potentially be the new standard issue rifle of Russia. It featured a modular design where its barerl could be changed to use different calibers and rail were present on the dust cover for mounting optics. The stock telescopes and could fold, the bolt cocking handle can be customed to left or right hand and the fire selector is now ambidextrous.

AK-100s Rifle Family
The AK-74M became the basis for a modernized AK-series called the AK-100s.
 * AK-101 (rifle) & 102 (carbine) - 5.56x45mm NATO
 * AK-103 (rifle) & 104 (carbine) - 7.62x39mm
 * AK-105 (carbine) - 5.45x39mm
 * AK-107 (rifle) & 108 (carbine) - 5.56x45mm NATO (with recoil system derived from AEK-971)

101, 102, 103, 104 are made for export, 105 is made for the Russian paratroopers.