On Monday, April 27, 2026, the press office of the Kalashnikov Concern Group announced that the first batch of Kalashnikov AK-12 Model 2023 assault rifles had been delivered to the Russian Army this year. Kalashnikov Concern supplied the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation with a batch of AK-12 Model 2023 assault rifles under a 2026 contract. Details of the delivery are traditionally classified, but the quantity was emphasized as a large delivery. The concern noted that the rifle is in high demand on the Russo-Ukrainian front.
AK-12 Model 2023 / Photos: Kalashnikov Concern
The AK-12 was adopted by the Russian Armed Forces in 2018 and has been the Russian Army’s standard individual small arm for six years, so production volumes remain high. At least, that is what the manufacturer of the weapon claims. Its caliber is 5.45 mm x 39, its length in firing position is 880–940 mm, and 690 mm with the stock folded. Its empty weight is 3.5 kg, while its rate of fire is 700 rounds per minute. The baseline version was modified in response to feedback from military personnel taking part in the war against Ukraine. (Russian Forces Deploy AK-12K Carbine in Combat for First Time in Ukraine).
The new AK-12 prototype was unveiled in May 2023. At the request of soldiers taking part in the fighting in Ukraine, the design was improved by introducing a number of changes. In particular, the two-round burst mode was removed, a simplified assembly and disassembly system was introduced, a more ergonomic stock and handguard were fitted, an ambidextrous safety selector was added, and the front sight and muzzle device were modified.
The AK-12 is part of the Ratnik soldier equipment system. It differs from previous generations through advanced ergonomics, adaptability for round-the-clock use, and increased accuracy and precision.
According to Kalashnikov’s press office, the assault rifles in question have proven highly effective during the fighting in Ukraine. They are widely used in particular by assault units across all groups of forces. On April 1, the Kalashnikov Concern press office reported a 15 percent increase in production of the shortened AK-12K model compared with the 2025 plan, while retaining all the combat capabilities of the standard AK-12. At the same time, Alan Lushnikov, the company’s president and a member of the Union of Mechanical Engineers of Russia, announced that the company’s production capacity had been switched to round-the-clock operation (Russian VDV assault units adopt shortened AK-12K carbines).
Based on press release
See also: