At the Youth Industrial Forum, Dmitry Dolganov, a designer at the Kalashnikov Concern who participated in the creation of the AK-12, revealed details of the development of the 5.45-mm assault rifle. The history of the model, adopted on February 21, 2020, began back in 2012 as part of the Ratnik R&D project. However, according to the designer, the initial prototype failed preliminary tests — and in a short time, the design was deeply reworked, essentially creating a new product.
To ensure the necessary accuracy and precision, the layout had to be changed: new solutions were applied to the receiver cover, handguard attachment, and muzzle brake-compensator. At the same time, as Dolganov emphasized, all changes did not affect the legendary reliability of the system.
From 2018 to 2020, the assault rifle underwent military trials, and feedback from servicemen allowed for prompt improvements. The first modernization in 2020 made the AK-12 lighter and more technologically advanced. The second refinement, carried out in 2023 taking into account combat experience, added a folding stock with an adjustable cheek rest, an ambidextrous fire selector, a reinforced handguard, and a new diopter sight.
Today, the AK-12 is the main automatic weapon of the Russian Army. Contracts for its production are growing year by year. At the forum, participants could not only hear the history of the assault rifle's creation but also disassemble and assemble its mock-up.