The New AK-12+: Pros and Cons
The Kalashnikov Concern presented a new version of the AK-12 assault rifle at the 11th Eastern Economic Forum. This time, it's a new model designed to address unique challenges. Let's explore how this rifle differs from the standard version and who it's intended for.
The newest assault rifle (top) compared to the standard AK-12. The redesigned forend and the lack of fittings on the barrel are striking.
A press release on the concern's website, published on August 31, 2026, stated that the concern would unveil a mockup of its latest 5,45mm AK-12+ high-accuracy assault rifle system. Participants of the 11th Eastern Economic Forum, held September 1–4, 2026, in Vladivostok, were able to see the mockup in the VOIN Center pavilion at the "Far East Street" exhibition.
The press release itself states the following about the goals of creating the machine:
The project's goal is to create a unique, high-accuracy firearm based on the AK-12 assault rifle for special forces, equipped with modern optical-electronic sighting systems to ensure the ability to fire with high accuracy at medium ranges at any time of day and in conditions of limited visibility.
A general view of the AK-12+. It's clearly visible that the display model has two rear sights—a diopter sight and a "U"-shaped sight.
In fact, the assault rifle was actually presented much earlier, on Vladimir Solovyov's program. The rifle was demonstrated live on air by Yuri Trutnev, the Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District, who is said to have been one of the initiators and participants in the development of the new weapon. weapons.
The concern calls the assault rifle the AK-12+, as if hinting at its improved performance. What design changes have been made? According to Kalashnikov Concern, the new model has the following differences from the standard model:
• the barrel design has been changed with an increase in wall thickness;
• barrel fittings for attaching a sling swivel, grenade launcher and bayonet knife have been eliminated;
• the contour of the gas chamber has been increased taking into account the change in the contour of the barrel;
• an extended forend is installed;
• a thread is made in the muzzle of the barrel for installation of a replaceable slotted flame arrester and muzzle brake-compensator;
• sighting devices have been changed.
Yuri Trutnev with an AK-12+ on Solovyov Live
What did these changes bring to the machine?
Let's start with the last and second to last points: the sight and forend.
It's safe to say that the AK-12+ puts an end to all the controversy and gossip surrounding the standard iron sight. The rear sight, which raised so many questions not just because of its design but because it was even installed on a domestic military weapon, is gone. The AK-12+ features a U-shaped rear sight, essentially a "standard" and familiar sight. The rear sight was added to the AK-12 as part of an attempt to improve fire accuracy, as a sight more suited to precision shooting. In fact, not only was its initial design unsuccessful... Most of those receiving the then-new assault rifles learned to fire with a U-shaped rear sight.
But then it turned out that many of the new AK's features, intended to improve accuracy in various firing modes, such as the two-shot burst, were simply unnecessary and completely irrelevant. So the aperture sight disappeared, but so far only on the newest, high-precision assault rifle. However, the model demonstrated at the Eastern Economic Forum does have one. However, the receiver cover can be reinstalled from a standard AK-12, which is the basis for the AK-12+. So, if someone is already accustomed to a mechanical aperture sight, they can install one.
A close-up of the AK-12+ in Vladimir Solovyov's hands during a Solovyov Live broadcast. It's clearly visible that the rifle doesn't have a rear sight at all; it's simply removed.
However, with the new sight, or rather, the entire sight, things aren't so straightforward either. For starters, with an optical sight installed, there's simply no room for it on the receiver cover. That's why it's removable. Another point: the front sight remains in the standard AK-12 position. This means if you don't have an optic installed on your rifle (and the AK-12+ was apparently designed for optics; optics are included as standard) and you want to shoot through the iron sights, your sighting line will be significantly shorter than on, say, an AK-74M with a classic Kalashnikov-style U-shaped rear sight. It's essentially the same as on a submachine gun, meaning any aimed fire at distances greater than 100 meters without an optic is of little use.
Yes, the rear sight can be moved further back on the receiver, but only up to a certain point, otherwise its use becomes impossible. Thus, from the idea of "we're installing iron sights, which aren't everyone's favorites, but provide more accurate shooting," we came to the conclusion that "we can do without iron sights." The weapon's intended use likely doesn't involve frequent use of iron sights, so this isn't such a significant issue. However, the question arises: why leave the front sight if it actually interferes with the normal use of the optics and requires it to be raised to avoid obstructing the field of view through the scope? This is because the assault rifle is essentially a compromise solution and is based on a production model.
One of the tuning options for the AK-12, including a new forend, from a well-known domestic manufacturer
The forend is probably self-explanatory. Judging by the photos and videos, it's noticeably longer and covers much more of the barrel and gas tube than the stock one. The stock forend was heavily criticized. Despite the presence of Picatinny rails, its size often prevented the user from mounting everything they wanted to. The forend's size also prevented a change in grip. Hold the weapon as prescribed in the firearms manual. This is fine for a general-purpose weapon, but for those tasked with specific tasks, it was a significant drawback. And then there's the forend material itself. It was frankly... soft. Mounting a bipod or optics specifically on the forend was pointless. There was no room, and anyway, all those items would move around on the soft plastic, not ensuring the necessary accuracy. It's no surprise that almost immediately after the appearance of the AK-12 itself and civilian carbines based on it, commercial tuning manufacturers began working on their own replacements for the standard forend.
The muzzle of an AK-12+ barrel with threads. Also pictured is the AK-12+'s standard silencer, which has undergone extensive firing tests.
Well, and probably the main changes in the weapon, roughly speaking, are the barrel and everything connected with it.
The muzzle threads are also a matter of course. Bayonet-mounted muzzle devices, and later, non-removable muzzle devices, severely limited the range of available accessories/suppressors, etc. Considering that, judging by soldier feedback, standard PBS muzzle brakes for the AK-12 were unheard of in many units, the problem is extremely pressing. The market, of course, responded quickly to soldiers' concerns, and a large number of civilian "closed-type muzzle brake" designs appeared. However, such designs have several disadvantages: complexity, cost, and weight. While the first two are somewhat tolerable, the latter is downright bad. While the classic PBS-1 muzzle brake weighs just over 400 grams, designs designed for installation on a non-removable muzzle device confidently exceed the 500-600 gram threshold... And then you still have the muzzle brake attached to your weapon. If you need to shoot relatively far, and most importantly accurately, this is not a very pleasant moment.
AK-12+ with standard PBS and folded stock
Now comes the main thing – the barrel itself. The barrel has become thicker, and all the fittings for attaching a bayonet, grenade launcher, and even a sling swivel have been removed. And since the barrel has changed in thickness, the gas chamber had to be redesigned. It's all perfectly logical. The thicker the barrel, the stiffer it is, the less vibration it produces when fired, and the slower it overheats. All this has a positive effect on accuracy. And, of course, if you primarily need a gun for accurate shooting, you don't want to mount a grenade launcher or bayonet on the barrel, and it's better if the sling swivel isn't attached to the barrel.
It's not as if the AK-12 is particularly popular among special forces. The level of modularity offered by the design doesn't satisfy many special forces, and the necessary customization is often more common and less expensive for older designs. And the quality of the new assault rifles isn't all that clear-cut. Pictured here is a customized AK-74M belonging to an army special forces soldier.
There's one point the concern's press release doesn't mention. How has the weapon's weight changed? Considering the larger forend and thicker barrel, it's logical to assume the rifle has gained weight. The AK-12 isn't the lightest assault rifle to begin with. In fact, the Kalashnikov system is the heaviest in the full-size assault rifle lineup. According to the concern itself, the AK-12 weighs 3,5–3,6 kg (depending on the modification) without a magazine. For example, the AK-74 weighs the same with a loaded 30-round magazine. This means the rifle, loaded with ammunition and optics, comfortably exceeds the 4 kilogram threshold. The standard AK-12+ comes with an optical sight and a proprietary PBS. Over 4 kilograms is already in the weight category of self-loading sniper rifles. Meanwhile, the version of the same new SVCh rifle with a 410 mm barrel and chambered for the 7,62×51 mm cartridge isn't much larger. So is it worth it? Ultimately, it looks more like a sporting weapon than a combat weapon. And don't forget the limitations of the cartridge itself: the 5,45×39 mm round isn't, to put it mildly, suitable for sniper rifles or even designated marksman rifles.
But is it worth the effort, considering that the new assault rifle is as heavy as the SVCh rifle with a 410 mm barrel chambered for 7,62×51 mm, and there are other “controversial points” too?
Regardless, it's good that Kalashnikov Concern is continuing to develop its line of new assault rifles. The new AK-12+ clearly won't be a mass-market success, but it could very well find its niche, giving our soldiers performing specialized missions another tool.
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