AEK-971

The AEK-971 is a selective fire 5.45×39mm assault rifle developed at the Kovrov Mechanical Plant (KMZ), currently manufactured by Degtyarev Plant. Its chief designer was Stanislav Ivanovich Koksharov, and development took place in the late 1970s and 1980s. The rifle participated in a competition announced by the Ministry of Defense of the USSR (Project Abakan). Although the AN-94 was preferred in this competition, the AEK-971 was simpler in design and cheaper to manufacture. It was prepared for mass production, but only a few small batches were produced. Later, an updated variant of the rifle passed state trials in late 2014 and underwent operational testing in early 2015. A successor variant, the KORD 6P67, also passed state Ratnik trials in late 2014 and was accepted into service for evaluation with operational units in 2015. In March 2017, the KORD 6P67 was accepted into Russian service alongside the AK-12, designated for use by specific units like border patrol, special forces, and the national guard due to its design complexity. In January 2018, the rifle was formally adopted by the Russian military in 5.45×39mm and 7.62×39mm chamberings, with serial production for the KORD variants commencing in April 2020.

The design of the AEK-971 is based on previous AK rifle internal mechanisms but incorporates a Balanced Automatics Recoil System (BARS). BARS is designed to reduce the effects of recoil by using a counter-weight that moves opposite to the bolt carrier, cancelling out impulses, enhancing the traditional Kalashnikov long stroke gas piston system, leading to improved control during automatic fire. This system had been applied in earlier experimental assault rifles such as the AO-38 and AL-7. Compared to the AK-74M, the AEK-971 demonstrates a 15-20% improvement in automatic firing accuracy. Iron sights consist of an adjustable notched rear tangent sight calibrated in 100-meter increments up to 1,000 meters and a hooded front post. The rifle is equipped with a Warsaw Pact side-rail bracket for mounting optics. The travel distance of the reciprocating parts is less than non-balanced recoil AK-pattern designs, which increases its cyclic rate, reduced from an initial 1,500 rounds per minute of the prototype to 900 rounds per minute for the production model. The AEK-971 is fed using standard AK-74 or RPK-74 pattern 5.45×39mm 30-round or larger box magazines.

Three primary variants exist:

• AEK-971 (5.45×39mm)

• AEK-972 (5.56×45mm NATO)

• AEK-973 (7.62×39mm).

The AEK-971 utilizes AK-74 and RPK-74 magazines, the AEK-972 uses magazines from the AK-100 rifle family chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO, and the AEK-973 uses AK-47, AKM, and RPK 7.62×39mm magazines. Improved variants, the AEK-971S and AEK-973S, include a new trigger mechanism with a right-side thumb safety-selector lever, a three-shot burst fire mode, and an extended padded retractable stock that interfaces with the pistol grip when retracted. The burst fire accuracy of the AEK-971S is noted as two times higher than the AK-74M, and the AEK-973S is two times higher than the AKM. Successor variants designated as KORD 6P67 (5.45×39mm, based on AEK-971) and KORD 6P68 (7.62×39mm, based on AEK-973) feature significant internal and external improvements, including redesigned iron sights with a rotary rear drum aperture and hooded front post providing a longer sight line, ambidextrous selectors, a 2-round burst feature, and an adjustable retractable stock. The Warsaw Pact side-rail is replaced by a Picatinny rail on a redesigned receiver top. The KORD 6P67-1 is a suppressed variant of the KORD 6P67.

The AEK-971 has been combat proven in Chechnya and tested by naval infantry and interior forces. Small batches have been produced and adopted for service with units of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation. Despite not being selected in the initial Project Abakan trials, the Russian Army began conducting field trials of the weapon. Updated variants passed state trials in late 2014, with operational testing in early 2015. The successor KORD variants also passed state trials and were accepted for evaluation with operational units in 2015. The KORD 6P67 was accepted into Russian service after testing was completed by March 2017, intended for specific units. The AEK-971 and AEK-973 were officially adopted by the Russian military in January 2018. Serial production of KORD variants began in April 2020, with initial orders in mid-2020 designated for Spetsnaz units and some Airborne personnel.

In Russia, AEK-971 rifles were produced in small batches and delivered to units of the MVD Internal Troops and other law enforcement agencies. In January 2018, the KORD 6P67 and KORD 6P68 rifles in 5.45×39mm and 7.62×39mm were adopted by the Russian military. Serial production of the KORD variants began in April 2020, with first orders announced in mid-2020, destined for Spetsnaz units and some Airborne personnel.