In the early 1990s, the defense order was significantly reduced. At this time, the Izhmash design bureau developed export versions of assault rifles for 5.56×45 mm NATO and 7.62×39 mm cartridges. They were based on the AK-74M model with a buttstock that folded to the left and a bar for dovetail sights.
These are the so-called intermediate cartridges, as they are located between rifle and pistol bullets in terms of power. The numbers 5.56 and 7.62 indicate the caliber, while 45 and 39 indicate the approximate length of the cartridge case.
To organize the numeration of models, the entire series of five models was marked by the index of 100.
The AK-101 is an assault rifle with a plastic buttstock, pistol grip, fore-end, and handguard. Night, scope, and collimating sights can be attached to the bar on the left side of the receiver. The rifle can be used with 5.56×45 mm NATO cartridges.
Collimating sights are equipped with a special lens that reflects the aiming mark into the observer’s eye. When the eye moves relative to the lens, this mark always remains on the object of aiming, thus increasing the aiming speed by 2–3 times.
The portable AK-102 is distinguished by its barrel that is 101 mm shorter. The rifle’s dimensions are reduced due to the length of the barrel, but at the same time its gas outlet is in the same place as the AK-74M, and the gas chamber is the same as in the AKS-74U. Therefore, all the AK-102 components are suitable for other models and vice versa. The AK-102 sight is notched only up to 500 meters. A 5.56×45 mm NATO cartridge can be used with the rifle.
The AK-103 and AK-104 are designed for one of the most popular Soviet cartridges of the 7.62×39 mm caliber.
The AK-105 can be equipped with a trigger mechanism that allows a single shot, automatic fire, and fire in fixed bursts of three shots.
As the design of the Kalashnikov assault rifle was preserved for the 100 series, it is possible to mount under-barrel grenade launchers on these rifles without any changes and modifications, and the rifle itself can be installed on infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, and combat helicopters.
Designer Yuri Alexandrov participated in the development and production of the “hundredth” series. In 1958, he graduated from the Leningrad Military Mechanical Institute and was assigned to the chief designer’s department of the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant. He worked in Evgeny Dragunov’s group and participated in the development of the SVD sniper rifle. Between 1974 and 2002, Alexandrov worked as deputy chief designer for small arms, deputy head of the design and weapons center, and later became the leading designer of “Izhmash”.
These are the so-called intermediate cartridges, as they are located between rifle and pistol bullets in terms of power. The numbers 5.56 and 7.62 indicate the caliber, while 45 and 39 indicate the approximate length of the cartridge case.
To organize the numeration of models, the entire series of five models was marked by the index of 100.
The AK-101 is an assault rifle with a plastic buttstock, pistol grip, fore-end, and handguard. Night, scope, and collimating sights can be attached to the bar on the left side of the receiver. The rifle can be used with 5.56×45 mm NATO cartridges.
Collimating sights are equipped with a special lens that reflects the aiming mark into the observer’s eye. When the eye moves relative to the lens, this mark always remains on the object of aiming, thus increasing the aiming speed by 2–3 times.
The portable AK-102 is distinguished by its barrel that is 101 mm shorter. The rifle’s dimensions are reduced due to the length of the barrel, but at the same time its gas outlet is in the same place as the AK-74M, and the gas chamber is the same as in the AKS-74U. Therefore, all the AK-102 components are suitable for other models and vice versa. The AK-102 sight is notched only up to 500 meters. A 5.56×45 mm NATO cartridge can be used with the rifle.
The AK-103 and AK-104 are designed for one of the most popular Soviet cartridges of the 7.62×39 mm caliber.
The AK-105 can be equipped with a trigger mechanism that allows a single shot, automatic fire, and fire in fixed bursts of three shots.
As the design of the Kalashnikov assault rifle was preserved for the 100 series, it is possible to mount under-barrel grenade launchers on these rifles without any changes and modifications, and the rifle itself can be installed on infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, and combat helicopters.
Designer Yuri Alexandrov participated in the development and production of the “hundredth” series. In 1958, he graduated from the Leningrad Military Mechanical Institute and was assigned to the chief designer’s department of the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant. He worked in Evgeny Dragunov’s group and participated in the development of the SVD sniper rifle. Between 1974 and 2002, Alexandrov worked as deputy chief designer for small arms, deputy head of the design and weapons center, and later became the leading designer of “Izhmash”.
