AK-103

The AK-103 is an assault rifle designed in Russia by Russian small arms designer Mikhail Kalashnikov in 1994. It is an AK-100 derivative of the AK-74M (chambered for the 7.62x39mm M43 cartridge) similar to the AKM. It is basically an AKM configured as an AK-74M. The AK-103 can be fitted with a variety of sights, including night vision and telescopic sights, plus a knife-bayonet or a grenade launcher like the GP-34. Newer versions can fit picatinny rails allowing more accessories to be mounted. It uses plastic components where possible instead of wood or metal, with such components being the pistol grip, handguards, stock and depending on the type, the magazine.

AK-103
AK-103 with GP-25 Grenade Launcher
TypeAssault rifle
Place of originRussia
Service history
In service2001–present[1]
Used bySee Users
WarsSecond Chechen War
Iraq War
War in Afghanistan
Libyan Civil War
Syrian Civil War
Iraqi Civil War
Insurgency in the Maghreb (2002–present)
Yemeni Civil War (2015–present)
Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen
Saudi–Yemeni border conflict (2015–present)
Production history
DesignerMikhail Kalashnikov
Designed1994
ManufacturerKalashnikov Concern
Produced1994–present
No. built250,000+
VariantsAK-104
Specifications
Mass3.4 kg (7.5 lb) empty without magazine
3.6 kg (7.9 lb) with empty magazine
4.1 kg (9.0 lb) with loaded magazine
Length943 mm (37.1 in) stock extended / 705 mm (27.8 in) stock folded
Barrel length415 mm (16.3 in)
Cartridge7.62×39mm
Caliber7.62mm
ActionGas operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire600 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity715 m/s (2,346 ft/s)
Effective firing range500 m (550 yd)
Feed system30-round detachable box magazine
SightsIron sights, with a dove tail side rail for mounting optical and night sights

Design details
AK-103 with the stock folded.

Protective coatings for corrosion resistance of metal parts. Forearm, magazine, butt stock and pistol grip are made of high strength plastic.[2]

The AK-104 is a compact version of the AK-103. It has a muzzle brake derived from the older AKS-74U combined with a shorter barrel. It is also chambered for 7.62×39mm ammunition.

Magazines

The current issue steel-reinforced matte true black nonreflective surface finished 7.62×39mm 30-round magazines, fabricated from ABS plastic weigh 0.25 kg (0.55 lb) empty.[3] Early steel AK-47 magazines are 9.75 in (248 mm) long, and the later ribbed steel AKM and newer plastic 7.62×39mm magazines are about 1 in (25 mm) shorter.[4][5]

The transition from steel to mainly plastic magazines yielded a significant weight reduction and allow a soldier to carry more rounds for the same weight.

Rifle Cartridge Cartridge weight Weight of empty magazine Weight of loaded magazine Max. 10.12 kg (22.3 lb) ammunition load*
AK-47 (1949) 7.62×39mm 16.3 g (252 gr) Slab-sided steel
430 g (0.95 lb)		 30-rounds
916 g (2.019 lb)[6]		 11 magazines for 330 rounds
10.08 kg (22.2 lb)
AKM (1959) 7.62×39mm 16.3 g (252 gr) Ribbed stamped-steel
330 g (0.73 lb)		 30-rounds
819 g (1.806 lb)[7][8]		 12 magazines for 360 rounds
9.83 kg (21.7 lb)
AK-103/AK-104 (1994) 7.62×39mm 16.3 g (252 gr) Steel-reinforced plastic
250 g (0.55 lb)		 30-rounds
739 g (1.629 lb)[7][8]		 13 magazines for 390 rounds
9.61 kg (21.2 lb)

Note: All, 7.62×39mm AK magazines are backwards compatible with older AK variants.
Note *: 10.12 kg (22.3 lb) is the maximum amount of ammo that the average soldier can comfortably carry. It also allows for best comparison of the three most common 7.62×39mm AK platform magazines.

Variants

AK-103

Select fire version for the military market

AK-103-1

This is a semiautomatic version for the police and civilian market

AK-103-2

This version has a three-round burst feature (3) added in between full automatic (АВ) and the fully engaged semi-automatic settings (ОД) and is intended for the police and civilian markets

AK-103N2

Has a mount for the 1PN58 night scope

AK-103N3

Has a mount for the 1PN51 night scope

AK-104

Carbine version of the AK-103

AK-103M

Modernised version of the AK-103

STL-1A - Vietnam

A version known as the STL-1A is made by Factory Z111 and is used by the PAVN. Another modernized version called the STL-1B is currently planned.[9] It first appeared in the 2018 Indo Defence Expo & Forum.

KR103

A semi-automatic clone of the AK-103 made by Kalashnikov USA

AK-103 "Klone"

A civilian semi-automatic clone of the AK-103 made by Palmetto State Armory of South Carolina.

Users
  •  Algeria: Used by the Para-Commandos[10]
  •  Armenia: The licensed production of the AK-103 started in July 2020.[11]
  •  Egypt: Used By Special Operations Police and Black Cobra Unit along side AK 104 and AK 101
  •  Ethiopia: The Gafat Armament Engineering Complex produces the AK-103 rifle in Ethiopia. Supplements the AKM and AK-47 in the Ethiopian Armed Forces. It's reported in 2014 that the deal didn't go through at all.[12]
  • Guardians of Religion Organization[13]
  •  India: Used by Naval Special Forces, MARCOS,[14] Indian army and police.
  •  Iran: The sale of an undisclosed number of AK-103s for use by sections of the Iranian special forces and marines and use by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps special force[15] The weapon were reported to be shipped to Iran on August 2016.[16] The IRGC is reported to be using the AK-103.[17]
  •  Libya: Seen in the hands of anti-Gaddafi forces and loyalists in numerous photos. The rifles in use are the AK-103-2 version.[18]
  • MUJAO used an ex-Libyan AK-103-2 in Agadez and Arlit attacks in 2013.[19]
  •  Maldives: Used by Maldives National Defense Force.[20]
  •  Namibia: Used by Namibian Marine Corps[21]
  • Pakistan: License production under the name "PK-21" by Pakistan Ordnance Factory. Chosen as a replacement for the TYPE-56 currently in service.[22]
  •  Panamá: Used by National Border Service (SENAFRONT).
  •  Palestine: Used by the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.[23]
  •  Russia: Used by various special police groups, special operations forces and civilians.[24]
  •  Saudi Arabia: Used by Airborne Units and Special Security Forces in the Royal Saudi Land Forces.[25][26] A license to produce AK-103 rifles was granted to Saudi Arabia in 2017.[27][28]
  •  Syria: Used by police.[29][30][31]
  •  Venezuela: Standard issue weapon of the Venezuelan Army. Made under license by CAVIM with initial licensing fee payments made in 2006 and the transfer of Russian-made AK-103s to Venezuela in 2008.[32] CAVIM's AK-103 factories opened officially in 2012 without the necessary manufacturing equipment.[32][33] CAVIM-made AK-103s were delivered to the Venezuelan Army in 2013.[34] Due to trouble with the plant with the Russian contractor failing to meet deadlines with a case of fraud, which forced CAVIM to finish the rest of the construction,[35] full-scale production will start by 2019.[36]
  •  Vietnam: Original AK-103s are in limited use in the military, however the locally produced STL-1As are found much more commonly in use in the military.[9]

See also

References
  1. "Presentation of the unique Kalashnikov small arms collection in the Moscow Kremlin Museum". Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 2015-04-11. AK-103 – Kalashnikov assault rifle, caliber 7.62 mm. It is designed for the 7.62-mm cartridge of the 1943 model. This model was included in the inventory in 2001
  2. "7.62 mm Kalashnikov assault rifles AK103, АК104". Archived from the original on 14 April 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  3. "Официальный сайт группы предприятий "ИЖМАШ"". Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  4. Rifle Evaluation Study Archived 2012-12-01 at the Wayback Machine, United States Army, Combat Development Command, ADA046961, 20 Dec 1962
  5. "Are kalashnikov magazines as robust as their reputation? He tormented a selection of AR magazines last year, now he takes on the AK. The results you may find surprising". Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  6. Dockery, Kevin (2007). Future Weapons. p. 102. ISBN 978-0-425-21750-4.
  7. "Ak 47 Technical Description - Manual". Scribd.com. 2010-09-30. Archived from the original on 2012-03-28. Retrieved 2012-08-23.
  8. Dockery, Kevin (2007). Future Weapons. p. 102.
  9. www.armyrecognition.com https://www.armyrecognition.com/weapons_defence_industry_military_technology_uk/viertnam_has_upgraded_kalashnikov_akm_under_the_name_stl-1a.html. Retrieved 2020-03-01. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  10. The World Defence Almanac. (March 2010). "Military Technology Magazine. Vol.XXXIV". Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  11. https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/armenian-assault-rifle-factory-begins-production
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2017-01-30.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. "Syrie: comment al-Qaïda reprend pied en zone djihadiste". France Soir (in French). 28 June 2018. Archived from the original on 29 June 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  14. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-11-08. Retrieved 2016-11-07.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. 1149841 (2016-08-06). "Exclusive: Iran Imports AK-103 Rifles from Russia". Tasnim News Agency. Archived from the original on 2016-08-07. Retrieved 2016-08-06.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  16. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2019-02-12. Retrieved 2019-02-11.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  17. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2019-02-12. Retrieved 2019-02-11.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  18. "Update II: AK-103 Exports to Libya". Security Scholar. Archived from the original on 22 December 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  19. Savannah de Tessières (January 2018). At the Crossroads of Sahelian Conflicts: Insecurity, Terrorism, and Arms Trafficking in Niger (PDF) (Report). Small Arms Survey. p. 24. ISBN 978-2-940548-48-4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-06-12. Retrieved 2018-06-05.
  20. https://www.dvidshub.net/image/1152180/marines-maldives%5B%5D
  21. Defence Web. "Namibia receives Russian small arms". defenceweb.co.za. defenceweb. Archived from the original on 12 August 2016. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  22. "Pakistan Ordnance Factories Reveals New PK18 and PK21 Assault Rifles". Quwa. 2019-10-31. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  23. https://armamentresearch.com/research-report-no-5-a-tale-of-two-rifles/
  24. Jenzen-Jones, N.R. (September 2012). "The 100-Series Kalashnikovs: A Primer". Small Arms Review. Vol. 16 no. 3. Archived from the original on 2019-03-06. Retrieved 2019-03-06.
  25. "How an AK-103 Works". allinallnews. November 3, 2015. Archived from the original on October 18, 2017.
  26. "Saudi special forces operator in Yemen and armed with Russian AK 103". mighty_earth. Archived from the original on 2016-09-26. Retrieved 2016-09-24.
  27. "Saudi Arabia to Start Licensed Manufacturing of AK-103 Rifles". Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  28. "РФ и Саудовская Аравия подписали меморандум о покупке и локализации продукции ВПК". TASS. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  29. https://mobile.twitter.com/bm21_grad/status/709464360356323328. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  30. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-10-06. Retrieved 2017-09-30.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  31. Graduating police in Latakia with AK-103 (in Arabic)
  32. John Pike. "Defense Industry". Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  33. Christopher Looft. "Venezuela Set to Mass Produce Kalashnikovs, Sniper Rifles". Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  34. "Cavim inicia entrega de fusiles de asalto Kalashnikov AK-103 a la Fuerza Armada de Venezuela". Infodefensa.com. 3 June 2013. Archived from the original on 16 April 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  35. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-04-17. Retrieved 2018-04-16.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  36. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-04-17. Retrieved 2018-04-16.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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