AN-94
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| AN-94 | |
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 AN-94 |
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| Type | Assault Rifle |
| Place of origin |  Russia |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1997-present |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Gennadiy Nikonov |
| Manufacturer | Izhmash |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 3.85 kg (8.5 lb) |
| Length | 728 mm (28.66 in) (stock retracted) 943 mm (37.13 in) (stock extended) |
| Barrel length | 405 mm (16.2 in) |
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| Cartridge | 5.45x39mm |
| Action | Gas-operated |
| Rate of fire | 1800 or 600 rounds/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 900 m/s (2,953 ft/s) |
| Effective range | 400 m (1312 ft) |
| Maximum range | 700 m (2296 ft) |
| Feed system | 30, 45 or 60-round detachable box magazine |
| Sights | Iron sights |
The AN-94 (sometimes called the "Abakan") is a modern Russian assault rifle. The acronym stands for Avtomat Nikonova (after Gennadiy Nikonov) Model 1994, and it was chosen over many other competing firearms in an extensive trial, including the AEK-971 design by a team led by Sergey Koksharov. The AN-94 was designed at the Izhmash state factories, as a replacement for the AK-74 assault rifle currently in use in the Russian military. Currently, the Russian military has chosen to retain the AK-74M as its standard service rifle and the AN-94 is only being issued to the elite forces of the Russian military, some Russian police forces, and the MVD.
[edit] Design details
AN-94 is chambered in the same 5.45x39mm M74 cartridge as the AK-74, and it utilizes a rotating bolt to lock the action. Nikonov and the other engineers use the Russian term смещенный импульс свободного затвора (smeshchonnyy impul's svobodnovo zatvora) to describe the rifle's method of operation, meaning "blowback shifted pulse". When the bolt carrier is driven backwards by the force of the gas from the cartridge, a pulley activates a cartridge-feeding device. This mechanism allows a much higher rate of fire than would otherwise be possible. This high rate of fire (1800 rounds/min) is employed in two-round bursts. These form the first two shots on fully automatic fire, with following rounds fired at 600 rounds/min. This is highly effective against body armour; the second round impacts at the same point as the first, enabling the penetration of armour that a conventional 5.45 mm system cannot. The rear peep sight is a dramatic improvement over the standard Kalashnikov notch and post. The muzzle brake is much more effective and produces a quieter weapon report than the AK-74.
The AN-94 is more accurate than the AK-74. It has a higher rate of fire in burst mode, and it can mount a GP-30 grenade launcher and bayonet simultaneously. It can also use newly designed 60-round magazines.
However it is reported that the AN-94 costs five to six times more to produce than the AK-74. The internal mechanism of the AN-94 is extremely complex and much harder to maintain than the AK-74, so it also costs more to train soldiers to look after it effectively. Notably an uncomfortable pistol grip and a folding stock that covers the trigger, renders the weapon unusable when folded.
