The 2023 version of the AK-12 has become the Kalashnikov Concern’s most sought-after assault rifle in the special operation zone. The latest model is already in serial production and has been delivered to troops, Kalashnikov Concern CEO Alan Lushnikov said in an interview with TASS Director General Andrey Kondrashov.

The current AK-12 is the third modification of the rifle. Its design was refined following field trials, after which the updated version entered mass production.

One of the main changes compared with the earlier AK-74 family is improved accuracy and shot grouping. According to Lushnikov, the handguard is structurally separated from the barrel, leaving the barrel free from additional load. This arrangement improved average accuracy and grouping by about 20% compared with previous versions, a result he described as significant.

Kalashnikov also points to the AK-12’s operating characteristics as one of its strengths. Lushnikov said the rifle surpasses comparable foreign assault rifles in reliability and ease of use while remaining competitive in weight and dimensions.

On the international market, Kalashnikov positions the platform as a high-end assault rifle, noting that relatively few countries manufacture weapons of this class. For export customers, the company offers the AK-15 chambered in 7.62 mm and the AK-19 chambered in 5.56 mm.