In the early 1980s, the Soviet Army and special units took part in a number of local military conflicts and combat operations. As a result, it became clear that the army needed a new assault rifle that would be effective in firing from unstable positions. The defense industry received an order for such weapons from the government.
Twelve designers from Tula, Kovrov, Vyatskiye Polyany, Podolsk, and one of the enterprises of the Research Institute of the USSR Ministry of Defense participated in the tender. Izhmash designer Gennady Nikonov was also involved in the work. He proposed a variant of the assault rifle with a delaying felt recoil. The design was developed so as not to allow the recoil to displace the weapon until the bullets left the barrel.
Nikonov’s competitors were designers Igor Stechkin, Nikolay Afanasyev, and German Korobov. The Stechkin assault rifle and two Nikonov rifles, one of which was declared the best, were tested at the firing range in 1986. The finalization of the weapon continued for another four years. In 1991, the new weapon of 5.45 mm caliber was tested by the troops, and in 1997, the Nikonov AN-94 assault rifle was adopted for service.
Gun designer Gennady Nikonov was born on August 11, 1950, in Izhevsk. He graduated from the Industrial Technical College. During his studies, he received an inventor’s certificate for an underwater gun. At the same time as studying at the evening department of the Izhevsk Mechanical Institute, he began working in the Chief Designer’s Department of the “Izhmash” Production Association. After receiving his diploma, Nikonov became a leading designer in the development of the AV sporting rifle, worked on the Izubr hunting carbine and the BI-7-2 experimental biathlon rifle.
The body of the AN-94 is made of steel and impact-resistant plastic, the folding stock is made of lightweight plastic. The grenade launcher is mounted on the rail of the firing unit, which consists of the barrel, gas tube, and bolt carrier with the bolt. The bayonet is mounted on the right side of the weapon, not on the bottom, as on the Kalashnikov rifle, which allows it to be mounted simultaneously with the grenade launcher. The rifle is issued with AK-74 30-round magazine, RPK-74 45-round magazine, and new four-row 60-round magazines.
The Nikonov rifle is fitted with adjustable iron sights, but it can also be fitted with optical and night vision sights. Special luminous tritium dots are also used for low-light shooting. They glow due to the beta decay of the radioactive substance tritium encased in a borosilicate glass shell.
Twelve designers from Tula, Kovrov, Vyatskiye Polyany, Podolsk, and one of the enterprises of the Research Institute of the USSR Ministry of Defense participated in the tender. Izhmash designer Gennady Nikonov was also involved in the work. He proposed a variant of the assault rifle with a delaying felt recoil. The design was developed so as not to allow the recoil to displace the weapon until the bullets left the barrel.
Nikonov’s competitors were designers Igor Stechkin, Nikolay Afanasyev, and German Korobov. The Stechkin assault rifle and two Nikonov rifles, one of which was declared the best, were tested at the firing range in 1986. The finalization of the weapon continued for another four years. In 1991, the new weapon of 5.45 mm caliber was tested by the troops, and in 1997, the Nikonov AN-94 assault rifle was adopted for service.
Gun designer Gennady Nikonov was born on August 11, 1950, in Izhevsk. He graduated from the Industrial Technical College. During his studies, he received an inventor’s certificate for an underwater gun. At the same time as studying at the evening department of the Izhevsk Mechanical Institute, he began working in the Chief Designer’s Department of the “Izhmash” Production Association. After receiving his diploma, Nikonov became a leading designer in the development of the AV sporting rifle, worked on the Izubr hunting carbine and the BI-7-2 experimental biathlon rifle.
The body of the AN-94 is made of steel and impact-resistant plastic, the folding stock is made of lightweight plastic. The grenade launcher is mounted on the rail of the firing unit, which consists of the barrel, gas tube, and bolt carrier with the bolt. The bayonet is mounted on the right side of the weapon, not on the bottom, as on the Kalashnikov rifle, which allows it to be mounted simultaneously with the grenade launcher. The rifle is issued with AK-74 30-round magazine, RPK-74 45-round magazine, and new four-row 60-round magazines.
The Nikonov rifle is fitted with adjustable iron sights, but it can also be fitted with optical and night vision sights. Special luminous tritium dots are also used for low-light shooting. They glow due to the beta decay of the radioactive substance tritium encased in a borosilicate glass shell.
