In 2006, one of the most widely read newspapers in the United States, The Washington Post, published a revelation article: “The AK-47 is a weapon of mass destruction,” in which it admitted that the Russian assault rifle has no equal in the world, and that the Kalash is the most famous small arms on the planet. The Americans themselves, turning a blind eye to the historical confrontation between the two most popular small arms - the AK-47 and M-16, preferred Russian weapons, dubbing them the most “reliable and simple weapons in the world.”

By the way, even today Soviet and Russian weapons are loved and highly respected in the United States of America. And even in the era of sanctions and not the warmest bilateral relations, the demand for Russian-made weapons within the United States of America is only increasing. The low cost, great potential for creativity and reliability of the Russian machine gun did their job.

Owners of weapons stores admit that even children over the age of 10, who barely understand adult weapons slang, know perfectly well what a Kalashnikov assault rifle is, what it looks like, and are even able to distinguish it in a store window from other models. Semi-automatic Kalash guns in the era of sanctions, widespread bans and restrictions provide up to 30% of the profit from all sales, and ammunition for such weapons, according to the Americans themselves, leaves warehouses without really having time to sit.

As of the end of 2015, Russian weapons had “conquered” about 20% of the entire American market.

The image of “bad Russians” armed with AKs, widely replicated in American culture, is another reason for high sales Russian weapons. The image created many years ago by PR technologists led to the opposite effect - law-abiding Americans began to acquire weapons of “bad guys”: from housewives and programmers to county sheriffs. To the famous festival small arms, held twice a year in the cozy town of Knob Creek, in Kentucky, for a long time the sheriff of Orange County came from California, who carried only Kalashnikovs in his pickup truck.

The popularity of the Kalashnikov platform in the United States is so high that it was a reasonable decision to start producing this weapon in the United States itself. The American company RWC, the official importer of Kalashnikov assault rifles to the United States, was forced, under pressure from the American government, to terminate contracts for the supply of weapons from Russia, but the company did not dare to give up its huge share in sales of Russian weapons.

The RWC company approached the issue of producing American copies of the Kalashnikov assault rifle thoroughly, but at the new plant in Pompano Beach, Florida, they will not make significant changes to the design of the weapon - modern rails for optics and instruments, modern sights, a full-scale invasion of polymers into materials and unique versions, like the semi-automatic Alpha rifle with a 30-round magazine - these are the main directions of Kalashnikov USA’s work for the near future. At the Shot-Show 2016 exhibition that ended in Las Vegas, company representatives confirmed that the family of AK-based assault rifles is one of the most popular products on the American arms market.

The fact that it is in America, the homeland of the M-16, that love and respect for our AK has increased speaks volumes, of course. But do not forget about the most important fact - today the AK-47 is in service with more than 70 countries. Today, the Kalashnikov assault rifle is no longer just the most popular weapon in the whole world. This is a legend, the national pride of Russia, the most famous arms brand not only in Russia, but throughout the world.

Today we recall the most interesting facts about the AK-47.

35 FACTS ABOUT THE LEGENDARY KALASHNIKOV AUTOMOTIVE

1. For his machine gun, Mikhail Kalashnikov was awarded the Order of the Red Star and the Stalin Prize, amounting to 150 thousand rubles. The amount was huge for those times (1947). It was equal to the cost of 10 brand new Pobeda cars (which then cost about 16 thousand rubles).

2. Put into service two years later (1949), the assault rifle became known as the “Kalashnikov assault rifle, model 1947, 7.62 mm caliber.” Usually its name is shortened to “Kalash”. It’s easier and somehow more familiar. According to the gunsmith himself, his brainchild has two distinctive qualities. This is “reliability and simplicity”. “I myself was a soldier and created my own machine gun for soldiers,” the words of Mikhail Timofeevich.

3. IN Soviet time every schoolchild knew how to assemble and disassemble an AK-47 assault rifle; this was taught in basic military training classes. To get an A, the machine had to be assembled and disassembled in 18-30 seconds. Today in schools, during life safety lessons, Russian schoolchildren are again taught to assemble and disassemble Kalashnikov assault rifles.

4. The Kalashnikov assault rifle is inexpensive because it is extremely easy to manufacture. Thus, residents of some countries can choose between buying an AK-47 and chicken. They cost about the same.

5. The “black market” dictates its prices. So in Afghanistan, a fully serviceable machine gun costs from $10, while in India they ask for almost $4,000. In the United States, they are ready to part with a Kalashnikov for a sum of several hundred dollars.

6. The Guinness Book of Records did not ignore the AK-47 assault rifle. It appeared on its pages as the most common weapon on globe. Today, earthlings have 100 million of these machines in their hands. It is easy to calculate that there is an average of 1 machine gun per 60 people.

7. AK-47 is a standard weapon military units more than 100 countries. He has been serving his native fatherland for seventy years.

8. The familiar silhouette of the AK-47 is present on the coats of arms of several states. These include East Timor, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. In the 80-90s, he adorned the coat of arms of Burkina Faso, in Africa. Similar plans were hatched in the Congo at one time. The Hezbollah group from Libya placed this machine gun on its emblem as a symbol of struggle. One of Mozambique's banknotes also contains the image of an AK. In Afghanistan, the image of a machine gun is embroidered on rugs.

9. In Africa, children are named Kalash at birth, such is the authority of this formidable weapon.

10. Basketball player Andrei Kirilenko is from Izhevsk. The famous AKs are also produced there. Andrey played for the Utah Jazz basketball club, wearing No. 47. His bright play and jersey number earned him the nickname “AK-47.” What I was proud of.

11. In Iraq there are buildings in the shape of an AK rifle horn. The Egyptians went further and erected a monument to their favorite machine gun.

12. Saddam Hussein had several gold-plated Kalashnikovs. The dictator awarded them to his closest associates for special merits. When American troops entered Baghdad in April 2003, soldiers found about two dozen gold-plated units firearms. A gold-plated AK with the inscription: “A gift from President Saddam Hussein” was found in the abandoned palace of Hussein’s eldest son Uday.

13. In many videos of Osama bin Laden's speeches, a Kalashnikov was somehow present in the frame.

14. In 2008, the AK-47 appeared on commemorative coins of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, minted to commemorate the 450th anniversary of Udmurtia becoming part of Russia.

15. Not wanting to be outdone, the New Zealand Mint has engraved the AK-47 design on its $2 local dollar coins.

16. The magazine "Libération" (France), when compiling a list of inventions of the 20th century, placed the Kalashnikov assault rifle ahead of such achievements of the human mind as spacecraft and the nuclear bomb.

17. Playboy magazine, in an article about things that changed the world, placed the AK on a par with birth control pills, the Apple Macintosh PC and the first Sony VCR.

18. The most popular weapons in so-called “shooters” and shooters on the computer are various modifications of the same AK-47. And the British company AudioBooksForFree.Com created the AK-MP3 player, designed in the form of a magazine for a Kalashnikov assault rifle.

19. There are sad statistics according to which people died from bullets from a Kalashnikov assault rifle. more people than from bombs, missiles and shells combined. Every year, about 250 thousand people become victims of the use of AK-47.

Kurdish girl in the Zagros Mountains, Northern Iraq, 1979

20. The creator of the AK-47 never tired of repeating that his conscience is clear. “My machine gun was created as a defense weapon. What makes him a murder weapon are the actions of politicians who cannot agree with each other.”

21. Nine months before his death, Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov wrote to Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus'. In his letter of repentance, Kalashnikov shares his thoughts about the fate of the country and humanity, and also shares his emotional experiences and doubts about his responsibility for the deaths of people killed from the machine gun he created.

22. The well-known American TV channel Discovery compared the AK-47 and M-16, putting the “incredibly tenacious and hardy” AK-47 in first place in the ranking of the ten best small arms of the 20th century (American TV crews put the M16 rifle in second place). As an example, the opinions of military experts were mentioned:

“In 1965, the scope of the Vietnam War expanded. American troops poured into the jungle and problems began with the M16. The rifle jammed with alarming regularity and young soldiers died as a result.”

“If I needed to train an American soldier in combat conditions to disassemble, clean and maintain a Kalashnikov assault rifle, I would do it in four hours. For the M16 rifle it would take me a week. Like this...,” says Dr William Atwater from the US Army Museum of Arms and Ammunition.

23. The word “Kalash” (ka-lash-ni-kov, kalash) entered the world’s languages ​​without translation, along with the concepts vodka, Kremlin, sputnik, tsar. And in the Pashto and Farsi languages, the word “automatic” is generally pronounced as “Kalash”.

24. A famous American writer and weapons historian once said: “If I had to go to some unknown planet and had to choose the only weapon, I would take the AK-47 with me. When Western civilization declines, I want an AK-47."

25. The foreign press has long believed that a Soviet designer with that name does not exist, and “Kalashnikov” is a kind of collective pseudonym for a group of gunsmiths who have developed and continue to work on the world’s most popular small arms.

26. The main advantage of the Russian machine gun is that it can fire both NATO 5.56 mm cartridges and Soviet-style 7.62 mm cartridges. It is the “double standard,” experts say, that has made the Kalashnikov so popular on the world market.

27. Illegal production of the Kalashnikov assault rifle is underway in many countries. It is officially produced in 12 countries, but it is impossible to count illegal producers. Most foreign fakes are of much worse quality and discredit the work of Russian gunsmiths. At almost any exhibition, Russian representatives have to make claims to foreign manufacturers regarding the counterfeiting of Soviet weapons. In fact, the patent for the Kalashnikov assault rifle received in 1997 (world patent WO9905467 dated February 4, 1999) actually protects only individual design solutions embodied in the AK-74M series assault rifles, but not the early AK and AKM.

28. In Somalia, the Kalashnikov assault rifle has become for many what a net is for a fisherman - the only tool of production. In this country, where the radical Islamist group Al-Shabab operates, children are good knowledge The Koran is even awarded with this weapon.

29. In the first half of 2006, the United States imposed an embargo on arms sales to Venezuela. Then President Hugo Chavez announced a complete cessation of arms purchases from the United States. In 2005, Venezuela and Russia signed an agreement to purchase 100 thousand Kalashnikov assault rifles. The supply contract has been completed. On July 3, 2006, Venezuela signed a contract for the supply of another 100 thousand Kalashnikov assault rifles and cartridges for them for $52 million, and on July 12, 2006, two contracts were signed with a total value of $474.6 million for the construction of a plant in Venezuela for the production of AK-103 and AK-103 assault rifles under license. enterprises producing 7.62 mm cartridges.

30. The first case of mass combat use of AKs on the world stage occurred on November 1, 1956, during the suppression of the uprising in Hungary. Until this moment, the machine gun was hidden from prying eyes in every possible way: the soldiers carried it in special cases that concealed the outlines, and after the shooting, all the cartridges were carefully collected. The AK has proven itself well in urban combat.

31. The soldiers of the newly created Iraqi army, to the surprise of the coalition forces, refused the American M16 and M4, demanding AKs. According to Walter B. Slocombe, a senior adviser to the Coalition Provisional Authority, "anyone in Iraq over the age of 12 can take it apart and put it back together with their eyes closed and shoot it pretty well."

32. Afghan Mujahideen leader and sworn enemy Soviet troops Ahmad Shah Massoud, in 1989, when asked: “What weapon do you prefer?”, answered: “Kalashnikov, of course.”

Afghan guerrilla leader Ahmad Shah Massoud surrounded by mujahideen, 1984. (Photo by AP Photo | Jean-Luc Bremont)

33. Kalashnikov is not only a brand of small arms. Snowboards, watches, thermoses, and flasks are produced in Germany under the Kalashnikov brand.

34. The famous Israeli designer Uzi Gal, author of the Uzi assault rifle, recognized the talent of our gunsmith and told Mikhail Kalashnikov the following: “You are the most unrivaled and authoritative designer among us.”

35. The AK works in any conditions, shoots flawlessly even after being in the ground, a swamp, or falling from a height onto a hard surface. Moreover, the Kalashnikov assault rifle can fire underwater. Simple and trouble-free, incredibly cheap, made from stamped steel and plywood, it is a symbol of soldierly ingenuity and Russian dexterity that defeats the enemy's superior technology. Its receiver can be used to open a stew, its butt can be used to dig and row.

“I am a gunsmith, not a businessman”

At one time, especially after meeting with Eugene Stoner (creator of the second most popular automatic weapon in the world - the M-16 rifle), journalists constantly asked Mikhail Kalashnikov whether he regretted that, unlike Stoner, he did not receive royalties ( interest payments) from the sale of weapons invented by him.

“Stoner was a friendly person and a wonderful designer. Really rich. And he came up with a good weapon. But I didn't feel jealous. He lived in America, and I lived in Russia. To each his own. Yes, Eugene got rich from every new rifle percentage of deductions, but did not receive a single government award. And as a twice Hero of Socialist Labor during my lifetime, I was given a bronze bust in my homeland. And a museum named after me was built in Izhevsk. Of course, if I were paid five kopecks for each sample of my machine gun, I would probably build it myself. But I lived in a time when we all worked for the state.”

When asked if he regretted not having acquired much wealth, Kalashnikov replied: “You can’t measure everything with money. For me, the most precious thing is when people say: “Your weapon saved my life!” Why do I need millions? I already live well.”

On November 10, 1919, the legendary gunsmith Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov was born. He forever wrote his name in history by creating the AK-47 assault rifle. This weapon, having undergone many modernizations, has been used by the army of our country for more than 60 years. We decided to recall a few facts about the Kalash.

The machine gun that half the world is armed with

The legendary Kalash is considered the most common small arms in the world. Over more than 60 years of history, this machine gun in various modifications was produced in the amount of 70 million units. And this is not counting “pirated” fakes. According to experts, every fifth soldier in the world is armed with an AK. In addition to Russia, it is used by 50 foreign armies. This distribution is an absolute record, which is officially listed in the Guinness Book of Records. For comparison, the next most popular rifle is the American M16 rifle. It was released in a circulation of 10 million copies and is in service in 27 countries around the world.

7 years in secret

It would not be out of place to say that the very fact of the existence of the AK was kept secret for a very long time. Despite the fact that the machine gun was adopted by the Soviet troops in 1949, the world learned about it only in 1956. It was in this year that its baptism of fire occurred, when the USSR brought in its army to suppress the uprising in Hungary. Until that time, soldiers were strictly instructed to carry their machine guns only in camouflage cases, and cartridges were carefully collected from firing ranges after firing practice.

Reference Reliability

As the main disadvantage of the Kalash, many experts note the low accuracy of burst fire compared to other brands of weapons. This indicator had to be sacrificed for the sake of reliability. Mikhail Kalashnikov, being a soldier himself, knew firsthand the conditions under which he had to fight. The weapon must, first of all, not be afraid of dirt and water, so that it does not fail at the most inopportune moment. Every second lost due to a jammed mechanism can cost a soldier his life. That is why large gaps were made in the design of the machine gun between the moving and stationary parts of the receiver. This allows the Kalash to function absolutely normally even after falling into mud, sand or water. True, this decision led to strong recoil, which reduced the accuracy of the weapon. But this problem is gradually being solved with the help of various upgrades.

The reliability of the machines is strictly controlled at the manufacturer. After assembly, each AK is poured with water, frozen, heated in an oven and hit with all its might on a concrete slab several times (in battle, you not only have to fire, but also fight hand-to-hand). If after all these tests the new Kalash does not fire, then it is rejected.

Even a child can handle it

Another secret of the machine’s success was its extreme simplicity in production and maintenance. According to Mikhail Kalashnikov, “soldiers did not graduate from academies,” so the weapon must be such that anyone can be trained to use it. The machine gun turned out to be so simple that not only soldiers, but even schoolchildren mastered its assembly and disassembly. In Soviet times, it was the norm that almost every student could easily disassemble and assemble an AK in the allotted time. This is achieved thanks to the minimum number of parts in the machine. They say that the weapon is so simple that an experienced fighter field conditions can independently assemble one working machine from two failed machines.

True, there was a price to pay for simplicity. Thanks to it, machine guns are produced even in artisanal conditions, which has led to a flood of the arms market with counterfeits.

"Kalash" does not shoot underwater

The Kalashnikov assault rifle has become overgrown with a variety of myths. For example, they say that he can even shoot underwater. According to experts, this is not true. Underwater, the machine's mechanisms will not work, since they operate on a gas exhaust system. But even if the shot is successful, it can break the barrel, and the bullet will not fly even two meters.

There is also a myth circulating that the Kalashnikov assault rifle does not need to be cleaned at all and it will work properly. This is also incorrect. The weapon is, indeed, extremely unpretentious, but still requires care. That is why cleaning the machine gun is part of the daily routine in army units.

The machine gun that became a symbol

The Kalashnikov assault rifle was lucky enough to become not just a weapon, but also a symbol. His image was present at various times on the state flags of Zimbabwe, Mozambique, East Timor, Burkina Faso and Congo. In eastern countries it is often depicted on carpets. In honor of the 60th anniversary of the machine gun New Zealand minted commemorative two dollar coins. The famous AK-47 was engraved on one side.

The brainchild of Mikhail Kalashnikov, the AK-47 assault rifle, the best small arms of the last century, is more than 70 years old.

A simple Soviet guy, 27 years old, gave the world a miracle machine gun and forever wrote his name in history. There is not a person who has not heard about Kalashnikov and him. Descriptions of where he has been over the years and what he has seen would be enough for more than one book. Next are 20 interesting facts about the AK-47.

For his assault rifle, Mikhail Kalashnikov was awarded the Order of the Red Star and a prize of 150 thousand rubles. The amount was huge for those times (1947). It was equal to the cost of 10 brand new Pobeda cars (which then cost about 16 thousand rubles).

Put into service two years later (1949), the assault rifle became known as the “Kalashnikov assault rifle, model 1947, 7.62 mm caliber.” Usually its name is shortened to “Kalash”. It’s easier and somehow more familiar. According to the gunsmith himself, his brainchild has two distinctive qualities. This is “reliability and simplicity”. “I myself was a soldier and created my own machine gun for soldiers,” the words of Mikhail Timofeevich.

In the USSR, during NVP (initial military training) lessons, schoolchildren mastered the ability to assemble and disassemble a machine gun, mastering it in a matter of seconds.

The Kalashnikov assault rifle is inexpensive because it is extremely easy to manufacture. Thus, residents of some countries can choose between buying an AK-47 and chicken. They cost about the same.

The “black market” dictates its prices. So in Afghanistan, a fully serviceable machine gun costs from $10, while in India they ask for almost $4,000. In the United States, they are ready to part with a Kalashnikov for a sum of several hundred dollars.

The Guinness Book of Records did not ignore the AK-47 assault rifle. It appeared on its pages as the most common weapon on the globe. Today, earthlings have 100 million of these machines in their hands. It is easy to calculate that there is an average of 1 machine gun per 60 people.

The AK-47 is the standard weapon of military units in more than 100 countries. He has been serving his native fatherland for seventy years.

The familiar silhouette of the AK-47 is present on the coats of arms of several states. These include East Timor, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. In the 80-90s, he adorned the coat of arms of Burkina Faso, in Africa. Similar plans were hatched in the Congo at one time. The Hezbollah group from Libya placed this machine gun on its emblem as a symbol of struggle.

In Africa, children are named Kalash at birth, such is the authority of this formidable weapon.

Andrey Kirilenko is from Izhevsk. The famous AKs are also produced there. Andrey played for the Utah Jazz basketball club, wearing No. 47. His bright play and jersey number earned him the nickname “AK-47.” What I was proud of.

In Iraq there are buildings in the shape of an AK rifle horn. The Egyptians went further and erected a monument to their favorite machine gun.

Iraqi President Saddam Hussein had a specially designed AK-47 assault rifle, plated with gold.

In many videos of Osama bin Laden's speeches, a Kalashnikov was somehow present in the frame.

In 2008, the AK-47 appeared on commemorative coins of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, minted to commemorate the 450th anniversary of Udmurtia becoming part of Russia.

Not wanting to be outdone, the New Zealand Mint has engraved the AK-47 design on its $2 local dollar coins.

The magazine "Libération" (France), when compiling a list of inventions of the 20th century, placed the Kalashnikov assault rifle ahead of such achievements of the human mind as spacecraft and the nuclear bomb.

Playboy magazine, in an article about things that changed the world, placed the AK on a par with birth control pills, the Apple Macintosh PC and Sony's first VCR.

The most popular weapons in so-called “shooting games” on the computer are various modifications of the same AK-47.

There are sad statistics according to which more people died from bullets from a Kalashnikov assault rifle than from bombs, missiles and shells combined. Every year, about 250 thousand people become victims of the use of AK-47.

[b] A selection of facts from the life of a world-famous inventor named Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov, who became famous thanks to the development of one of best slot machines, still used today. Read on.

Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov was born on November 10, 1919 in the village of Kurya, Altai Territory, into a large peasant family. Already in his childhood, Mikhail was interested in technology and, according to him, for a long time tormented himself with the idea of ​​​​creating a perpetual motion machine.

In 1938, Kalashnikov was drafted into the Red Army and, after completing the course for junior commanders at the division school, received the specialty of a tank driver. Already during his military service, Kalashnikov showed himself to be an inventor. He improved the design of the tank, among other things, making a device for firing a TT pistol through the slots in the tank turret.

Great Patriotic War Senior Sergeant Mikhail Kalashnikov started as a tank commander. In October 1941, near Bryansk, he was seriously wounded and shell-shocked. After this, an event occurred that determined the further activities of the designer. When they made their way to their own from the enemy rear with other wounded, almost the entire detachment was shot by the Nazis with machine guns. Kalashnikov and two comrades survived, being sent on reconnaissance. Since then, the thought has not left him that if they had machine guns, the outcome of the battle would have been different. And he decided to create this weapon.

In the photo, Senior Sergeant Mikhail Kalashnikov.

AK-47

Already in the hospital, Kalashnikov began making drawings of a new weapon; he continued to work on it during his leave for injury at the depot at the Matai station in Kazakhstan, where he worked before the army. There, a working model of the new submachine gun was created, which was later modified in Moscow. And although, according to the test results, the new machine gun did not show any advantages over the then known PPD and PPSh (Degtyarev and Shpagin submachine guns), neither it nor those additionally created by the gunsmith light machine gun and the self-loading rifle did not go into production, but the master was noticed and gained the necessary experience, and his weapon attracted attention with its design and layout.

In 1945, Kalashnikov took part in a competition to create an assault rifle chambered for the 1943 model, and after testing in 1947, the design of his weapon was recognized as the best. The following year, it was decided to produce a pilot batch of AKs in Izhevsk, and Kalashnikov was sent there. After the release of the pilot batch, mass production was launched at the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant, where there was extensive experience in mastering new weapons. From now on, the name Kalashnikov is forever associated with Izhmash.

By the time of the transition to mass production of the AK in 1949, hundreds of changes had been made to its design to simplify production. --- Since then, several generations of this weapon have already been produced.

AKM

When developing first-generation assault rifles (AK, AK-47, AKS-47), the problem was solved of adapting powerful hand-held automatic weapons to an intermediate cartridge - between pistol and rifle - 7.62x39, which at that time was a big breakthrough in the weapons system.

AKMS-1

The second generation of assault rifles (AKM, AKMS, AKMN) appeared as a result of modernization in the areas of increasing firing accuracy and manufacturability. Machine guns of this generation were mass produced and replaced the submachine guns (PPSh, PPS), machine guns and rifles that were previously in service.

AK-74

The third generation (AK-74, AKS-74, their modifications) replaced the second; the assault rifles were designed to be chambered for a reduced caliber 5.45x39. The AK-74 has one and a half times more portable ammunition without increasing its weight. In the early 1990s, when the introduction of electronic and optoelectronic technology into small arms became increasingly important, the AKS-74U assault rifle with the Kanadit-O laser sight was created.

AKS-74U

The fourth generation began with the AK-74M assault rifle, which had all the distinctive features of previous assault rifles.

AK-74M

But it was on its basis that during the era of conversion in the early 90s of the last century, the development of machine guns for three calibers of cartridges began:

AK101, AK102 chambered for the 5.56x45 cartridge standardized in NATO countries;

AK-101

AK103, AK104 chambered for 7.62x39;

AK-103

AK105 chambered for 5.45x39.

The designations have also changed: if previously the numbers indicated the year of development, now the numbers of the “hundredth series” machines are serial number weapon models. ---Advantages of “100th series” assault rifles: more durable locking unit, lower recoil impulse, better accuracy of automatic fire, use of plastic for resistance to impacts environment, folding stock, the ability to install an under-barrel grenade launcher without adjustments (AK101 and AK103).

The latest developments in this generation are the AK107 and AK108. The first is designed for the 5.45x39 cartridge, the second for the “NATO” cartridge 5.56x45. Although they are externally similar to the AK-74M, they have a different design scheme and operating principle of automation. In particular, the stroke of the moving parts of these models is shorter than that of the basic one, they have their own geometry of the cartridge case ejector window, as a result, the rate of fire in automatic mode is one third higher.

MMG-AK104

MMG-AK105

But the main difference between these two models is the principle of balanced automation. The basic principle of operation of the AK-107 and AK-108 assault rifles is the use of energy from combustion gases of gunpowder, when part of the gases is directed from the barrel bore to the gas engine. The gas chamber does not have one working cylinder and piston, as before, but two cylinders and two pistons, while the opposite movement of the pistons is synchronized using a gear. As a result of this device, the recoil force is reduced.
When firing in mode “3” (short burst with three rounds cut off), a special device, after three shots, intercepts the trigger and holds it until the next pull of the trigger. As a result of this design, new models of assault rifles provide an increase in accuracy of fire from an unstable position by 1.5 - 2 times compared to the AK-74M.
In addition to machine guns, many models of machine guns have been developed and produced based on the AK-47, including manual, easel and tank models. It is possible to install night and optical sights on machine guns and machine guns. But that’s not all: based on the AK-47, a series of Saiga hunting carbines and a Bison submachine gun, designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov’s son, Viktor, were created.

The designers of Izhmash continue to develop Kalashnikov weapons, and they are undoubtedly. will have the status of the best for a long time. According to Russian and foreign experts, only the Kalashnikov assault rifle will be used by the troops as an unrivaled small arms at least until 2025.
Thus, at the Izhevsk plant, under the personal leadership of Mikhail Kalashnikov, dozens of samples of automatic small arms were developed. It is difficult to even define the technical boundaries and scope of the use of weapons created on the basis of AK systems.

Today, the AK is the most famous and popular weapon in the world. It is in service with more than 50 countries, 6 states have placed it on their coats of arms. AK - symbol of valor Russian army and the main symbol of the city of gunsmiths Izhevsk.

Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov truly became a legend. He has a lot of state awards and scientific titles - today he is an honorary academician of 14 academies. He is still in the spotlight of the public, communicates with media representatives, meets with guests from Udmurtia and Izhevsk, and participates in international symposiums and conferences. He published five books of memoirs.

The world fame of Mikhail Kalashnikov confirms that a person can achieve harmony and perfection in his life through hard work for the benefit of his native country. A high goal has consistently created this courageous and industrious character, in which glory and modesty, genius and simplicity are wonderfully combined.

1. For the invention of the assault rifle in 1947, Mikhail Kalashnikov received the Stalin Prize of the first degree and the Order of the Red Star. The bonus was 150 thousand rubles. With this money you could buy almost ten Pobeda cars (at that time this car cost 16 thousand rubles)

2. The machine gun was put into service in 1949. His official name- “7.62-mm Kalashnikov assault rifle model 1947” (AK-47). It is also often called simply “Kalash”. According to the designer himself, the main qualities of his weapons are “simplicity and reliability.” “I created an assault rifle when I was a sergeant, and I always remembered that a soldier did not graduate from academies,” said Kalashnikov himself.

3. In Soviet times, the ability to assemble and disassemble a Kalashnikov assault rifle was part of the minimum knowledge acquired in basic military training classes.

4. The Kalashnikov assault rifle is not very expensive due to its ease of production. In some countries it costs less than chicken.

5. According to Foreign Policy magazine, the cost of one machine gun on the black market ranges from $10 in Afghanistan to $4,000 in India. In the USA, a Kalashnikov assault rifle can be purchased for $70-350.

6. The Kalashnikov assault rifle is included in the Guinness Book of Records as the most common weapon in the world. Currently, there are about 100 million AKs in the world. This means that for every 60 adult inhabitants of our planet there is 1 machine gun.

7. The Kalashnikov assault rifle is in service with the armies and special forces of 106 countries. The Kalashnikov weapon has been in service with the “native” army for 60 years.

8. The Kalashnikov assault rifle is depicted on the coats of arms of some states. Currently, it is present in the coat of arms of the African country of Zimbabwe (since 1980), on the coat of arms and flag of Mozambique (since 1975), and the coat of arms of the Asian state of East Timor. From 1984 to 1997, the AK was depicted on the coat of arms of the African state of Burkina Faso. In addition, there was a project to include a machine gun in the coat of arms of the Congo. The AK is depicted on the emblem of the Lebanese group Hezbollah.

9. In some African countries, newborns are given the name Kalash - in honor of the Kalashnikov assault rifle.

10. Russian basketball player Andrei Kirilenko, a native of the city of Izhevsk, where the famous Kalashnikov assault rifles are manufactured, received the nickname AK-47 in the United States, playing in the NBA for the Utah Jazz wearing number 47.

11. In Egypt, on the shores of the Sinai Peninsula, a monument to the Kalashnikov assault rifle was erected. There is a mosque in Iraq whose minarets are built in the shape of AK magazines.

12. U former president Saddam Hussein's Iraq had a gold-plated AK of a modified design.

13. Many video messages from “terrorist number one” Osama bin Laden were made “against the background” of AK.

14. In 2008, the Central Bank of the Russian Federation issued coins with the image of a Kalashnikov assault rifle in honor of the 450th anniversary of Udmurtia joining Russia.

15. To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the weapon, New Zealand minted coins with an AK engraving in denominations of two New Zealand dollars.

16. At the end of the 20th century, the French magazine Libération recognized the Kalashnikov assault rifle as the invention of the century. The famous weapon managed to bypass the atomic bomb and space technology.

17. In 2004, Playboy magazine named the Kalashnikov assault rifle one of the “50 products that changed the world,” ranking it after the Apple Macintosh computer, birth control pills and a Sony Betamax VCR.

18. The Kalashnikov assault rifle of one model or another is the most popular weapon in computer games - it is in almost all 3D shooters.

19. It is believed that more people were killed with a Kalashnikov assault rifle than as a result of artillery fire, aerial bombing and rocket attacks. A quarter of a million people are killed by AK bullets every year.

20. Legendary Russian gunsmith Mikhail Kalashnikov says that all his life he invented weapons for protection, not for killing: “I sleep peacefully because I have always created weapons for protection. It’s the politicians who can’t agree and use him to kill.”