AK-103
AK-103 | |
---|---|
Type | Assault rifle |
Place of origin | Russia |
Service history | |
In service | 2001–present[1] |
Used by | See Users |
Wars |
|
Production history | |
Designer | Iron sights , with a dove tail side rail for mounting optical and night sights |
The AK-103 is an
History
The AK-103 was officially offered for export on March 13, 1993.[4]
Design details
It is an
Protective coatings for corrosion resistance of metal parts. Forearm, magazine, butt stock and pistol grip are made of high strength shatterproof plastic.[5]
The
Magazines
This section needs additional citations for verification. (September 2021) |
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 (1993) | 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
The semi-automatic only variant of the AK-103 is designated the AK-103-1, and the three round burst is designated the AK-103-2.[6]
STL-1A
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.[citation needed] It first appeared in the 2018 Indo Defence Expo & Forum.
CS/LR11
Chinese clones of the AK-103 made by China Jing An Import & Export Corporation (CJAIE).[13]
SDM AK-103
Chinese clones of the AK-103[14] marketed by Sino Defense Manufacturing.[15]
KR-103
The KR-103 is a semi-automatic clone of the AK-103 made by Kalashnikov USA.[16]
PSAK-103
The PSAK-103 is a semi-automatic variant of the AK-103 made by Palmetto State Armory, Columbia SC.
Users
- Algeria: Used by the Parachute Commando Regiments[17]
- Armenia: The licensed production of the AK-103 started in July 2020.[18]
- 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 was reported in 2014 that the deal didn't go through at all.[19]
- 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 forces.[20] The IRGC is reported to be using the AK-103.[21]
- India: Used by MARCOS of Indian Navy and Garud Commando Force of Indian Air force.[1]
- 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 Ordnance Factories.[24]
- Palestine: Used by the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.[25]
- Russia: Used by Spetsnaz GRU and Ministry of Internal Affairs.[6]
- Saudi Arabia:[26] A license to produce AK-103 rifles was granted to Saudi Arabia in 2017.[27][28][29]
- Syrian Arab Army.[30]
- Venezuela: First 30,000 AK-103 rifles were received in June 2006.[31] Made under license by CAVIM.[32] CAVIM's AK-103 factories opened officially in 2012 without the necessary manufacturing equipment.[33] CAVIM-made AK-103s were delivered to the Venezuelan Army in 2013.[34] 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,[35] full-scale production started by 2019.[36]
- Uruguay: 500 AK-103s for the Uruguayan National Guard.[37]
- Yemen: AK-103s made in Yemen as reported in February 2022.[38]
Non-state actors
- Guardians of Religion Organization[39]
- MUJAO used an ex-Libyan AK-103-2 in Agadez and Arlit attacks in 2013.[40]
Gallery
-
Maldives National Defense Force soldier with an AK-103
References
- ^ "Presentation of the unique Kalashnikov small arms collection in the Moscow Kremlin Museum". Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
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
- ^ Noir, War. "MW Exclusive: Ethiopia Using Weapons Supplied by Iran, Turkey, and Azerbaijan". www.militantwire.com. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
- ^ a b c d "AK-103". Kalashnikov Concern. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
- ^ Новые разработки знаменитого семейства АК с улучшенными боевыми и эксплуатационными характеристиками // газета "Красная Звезда" от 6 марта 1993 г.
- ^ "7.62 mm Kalashnikov assault rifles AK103, АК104". Archived from the original on 14 April 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
- ^ a b c Jenzen-Jones, N.R. (September 2012). "The 100-Series Kalashnikovs: A Primer". Small Arms Review. Vol. 16, no. 3. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
- ^ "Официальный сайт группы предприятий "ИЖМАШ"". Archived from the original on 3 September 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.
- ISBN 978-0-425-21750-4.
- ^ a b "Ak 47 Technical Description - Manual". Scribd.com. 30 September 2010. Archived from the original on 28 March 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- ^ a b Dockery, Kevin (2007). Future Weapons. p. 102.
- ^ "7.62 mm Automatic Rifle Type CS/LR11_Rifle_Weapon_Products_Jing An". cjaie.com. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
- ^ "Yemeni Buyer's Guide: How to Distinguish between Russian and Chinese AK-103 -The Firearm Blog". 4 February 2022. Archived from the original on 4 February 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
- ^ "SDM AKS-74 and AKS-103: a tale of two AKs". GUNSweek.com. 14 July 2016. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
- ^ "Explore Kalashnikov USA KR-103 RIFLE". Kalashnikov USA. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
- ^ "The World Defence Almanac". Military Technology Magazine. Vol. XXXIV. March 2010.
- ^ "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 2 February 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- ^ "Exclusive: Iran Imports AK-103 Rifles from Russia". Tasnim News Agency. 6 August 2016. Archived from the original on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
- ^ "Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Deploying AK-103 Rifles". Archived from the original on 12 February 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
- ^ "Update II: AK-103 Exports to Libya". Security Scholar. 31 October 2011. Archived from the original on 22 December 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
- ^ "Namibia receives Russian small arms". defenceweb.co.za. defenceweb. June 2016. Archived from the original on 12 August 2016. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ^ "Pakistan Ordnance Factories Reveals New PK18 and PK21 Assault Rifles". Quwa. 31 October 2019. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
- ^ "Research Report No. 5: A Tale of Two Rifles". Armament Research Services. 2 March 2016.
- ^ "How an AK-103 Works". allinallnews. 3 November 2015. Archived from the original on 18 October 2017.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Moss, Matthew (19 February 2019). "Saudi Arabia to Receive First AK-103s Soon". Overt Defense. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
- ^ "From Russia with Love, Syria's AK-74Ms". 19 February 2015. Archived from the original on 6 February 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
- ^ полковник С. Сергеев. О реформе вооруженных сил Венесуэлы // "Зарубежное военное обозрение", № 8, 2006. стр.22-24
- ISBN 9780199298488. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
- ^ 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 17 April 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
- ^ "Venezuelan Kalashnikov Plant to Begin AK-103 Manufacture in 2019 -". 13 April 2018. Archived from the original on 17 April 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
- ^ "El Ministerio del Interior de Uruguay adquiere 500 fusiles de asalto AK-103 para su Guardia Nacional".
- ^ "The Yemeni-Made AK-103 -The Firearm Blog". 3 February 2022. Archived from the original on 3 February 2022. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
- France Soir (in French). 28 June 2018. Archivedfrom the original on 29 June 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
- ISBN 978-2-940548-48-4. Archived from the original(PDF) on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
External links
- Modern Firearms - AK-103
- Kalashnikov.guns.ru
- Izhmash page on the AK-103