New AK-12 assault rifles began to be used as a small air defense system

Thermal imaging sight helps detect a drone at night

Russian military personnel are using Kalashnikov AK-12 assault rifles as a mobile means of combating kamikaze drones, journalist Evgeny Poddubny reported.

The soldiers hit more than 10 drones with fire from assault rifles with thermal sights. Thus, small arms were actually turned into an improvised "small air defense" system.

AK-12 is the main automatic weapon of the military personnel of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, and therefore the production volumes at the Kalashnikov concern remain at a high level every year.

AK-12 characteristics:

  • Caliber — 5.45 mm
  • Ammunition used — 5.45x39
  • Length with unfolded buttstock — 940 mm
  • Length with folded buttstock — 690 mm
  • Sighting range — 800 mm
  • Barrel length — 415 mm

Also, at the request of the assault units of the Airborne Forces, the Izhevsk plant mastered the production of a shortened 5.45 mm AK-12K assault rifle in "Multicam" coloring in the shortest possible time.

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