Manufacturers of the airsoft version of the AK-12, which is the new service rifle of the Russian Army will need to make their own updates to their airsoft AK-12 offerings. In May 2023, the Kalashnikov Group showed off the improved AK-12 assault rifle at the Patriot Park near Moscow. The weapon was fine-tuned based on the feedback from its use in the special military operation area in Ukraine, according to a report from the Russian news agency, TASS.

The first batch of AK-12s was issued to troops in 2019. This weapon was developed according to the tactical and technical assignment of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation as part of the Ratnik development work. The requirements for this assault rifle were determined by the Ministry of Defense: they were taken from the concept for the development of a set of combat equipment in force in the Ministry of Defense at that time. The machine has passed all the cycles of tests and confirmations that meet military state standards.

Kalashnikov Group Chief Designer Sergey Urzhumtsev showing the AK-12 2023 Model (Photo credit: Kalashnikov Media)

“The AK-12s were delivered to the troops in 2019. We quickly made some changes based on the suggestions we got. The feedback came from the experience of using the gun in the special operation,” Kalashnikov Group Chief Designer Sergey Urzhumtsev told reporters.

The AK-12 assault rifle was modified according to its performance in the special military operation area in Ukraine. Kalashnikov Group CEO Vladimir Lepin said that they showed the upgraded prototype to the Russian Defense Ministry by July 2022. Kalashnikov Group Chief Designer Urzhumtsev earlier told TASS that they had already sent the first batch of improved AK-12 assault rifles to the special military operation area in Ukraine “to get more feedback.”

Indian vlogger, Gun Tour got his hands on the new AK-12 to find out the changes:

One of the changes was to remove the two-round burst mode from the assault rifle because it did not make the weapon much more effective and only made it more complex. The other changes were to make the assault rifle more user-friendly and easier to manage.

One of the changes was to remove the two-round burst mode from the assault rifle because it did not make the weapon much more effective and only made it more complex. The other changes were to make the assault rifle more user-friendly and easier to manage.

The AK-12 is a 5.45mm army assault rifle that has increased accuracy of fire. The weapon has several Picatinny rails for adding extra gear: sights, the front handle, a flashlight, and a laser designator. The AK-12 also has an easily detachable bayonet-type high-performance muzzle brake. The muzzle’s design allows adding noiseless and flameless firing devices.