Another AK is coming out from the Kalashnikov Concern, and it looks like another derivative of the AK-12, which is the now the official name designation of the AK 200 for the Russian Army. Larry Vickers of Vickers Tactical goes back to Russia to check out the AK 400 and it is hard to distinguish it from the AK-12. But what it does indicate the design evolution of the Kalashnikov rifle, with the AK-12 design being the base design of new rifles in this part of the 21st Century Russia.

What Larry Vickers tested is a pre-production prototype of the AK 400, whether this means this rifle is about to go into actual production or not is not clear. It comes with a picatinny rail with the rear iron sight now set to the rear of the gun. The picatinny rail is an added convenience allowing the installation of weapons accessories, especially optics to the AK 400, rather than buying a separate rail system to mount on this AK rifle.

The stock has a button latch that when pressed, it can be folded, making it ready for close quarters combat or when inside vehicles. The pistol grip has removable storage, useful for storing small bits such as batteries.

Weighing 6.83lbs with a barrel length of 37.1 inches, it has a rate of fire of 600 rounds per minute, firing 7.62x39mm bullets. The firing action is a gas-operated rotating bolt, using short stroke operation and the gas system has been changed to a two-position gas block.

There has been no mention how the AK 400 will be marketed as the Russian Military has been looking into the AK-12 and in 2014 has accepted it and the A-545 into service in operation units for further evaluation.  But according to The Firearm Blog, production has been delayed until this year as they needed to make certain improvements of an “unspecified type”. Is this "unspecified type" the AK 400?

Watch the video below where Larry Vickers test fires the AK 400 prototype in slow motion. There is no mention when actual production will commence.