AK-101
The AK-101 is an assault rifle of the Kalashnikov series. The AK-101 is designed for the world export market, using the NATO standard 5.56x45mm cartridge. The AK-101 is marketed at those looking for a weapon that combines the logistical compatibility and familiarity of the 5.56×45mm NATO round with the reliability of a Kalashnikov. The design of this rifle is almost similar to AK-74. It is designed with modern and composite materials, including plastics that reduce weight and improve accuracy. Many of the improvements found in the AK-101 are also present in the AK-103 and the rest of the AK-100 series of rifles.
AK-101 | |
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![]() AK-101 | |
Type | Assault rifle |
Place of origin | Russia |
Service history | |
In service | 1995–present |
Used by | See Users |
Wars |
|
Production history | |
Designer | Mikhail Kalashnikov |
Designed | 1994[1] |
Manufacturer | Kalashnikov Concern |
Produced | 1995-present |
No. built | 27,500+ |
Variants | AK-102 RPK-201 |
Specifications | |
Mass | 3.6 kg (7.9 lb) without magazine 4 kg (8.8 lb) fully loaded[2] |
Length | 943 mm (37.1 in) with stock extended / 700 mm (28 in) with stock folded |
Barrel length | 415 mm (16.3 in) |
Cartridge | 5.56×45mm NATO |
Caliber | 5.56mm |
Action | Gas-Operated, rotating bolt with two lugs[3] |
Rate of fire | 600 rds/min |
Muzzle velocity | 910 m/s (3,000 ft/s) |
Effective firing range | 500 m (550 yd) |
Feed system | 30-round detachable box magazine |
Sights | Adjustable iron sights, Equipped with optical plate for attaching various scopes |
Design
The AK-101 is a selective fire weapon that can be fired in either semi-automatic or fully automatic mode. The disassembly procedure for the AK-101 is identical to that of the AK-74. The AK-101 has an attachment rail installed on the side of the receiver for mounting scopes and other optical sights, which will accept most types of Russian and European AK optics. The rifle accepts most synthetic and metal AK-74-style magazines with 30-round capacity. The AK-101 has a 415 mm (16.3 in) barrel with an AK-74 style muzzle brake attached to the barrel to control muzzle climb.
The AK-102, AK-104 and AK-105 are the designations given to the more compact carbine variants of the AK-10x rifle series, firing the 5.56×45mm NATO, 7.62×39mm M43 and 5.45×39mm M74 rifle rounds respectively. These carbines differ from the normal rifles of the series in that they have much shorter barrels, only 314 mm (12.4 in) in length. These AK-100 series carbines, much like their rifle counterparts, were made primarily for export.
The AK-101 is chambered in 5.56mm NATO and features a black glass-filled polyamide side folding stock. The side folding stock looks similar to a normal fixed stock, but folds and locks securely to the left side of the receiver. It has a cutout to compensate for the side rail.
Chinese copy
![](../I/m/AK-2000P.jpg)
Norinco produced a copy of the AK-101 as the AK-2000, with the stock of the Type 56-2. It has been in service with Indonesia Police units.[4]
Users
![](../I/m/AK-101_operators.png)
Indonesia: used by Mobile Brigade Corps, Detachment 88 and Indonesian Marine Corps[5] Fiji[6] Egypt: Used By Central Security Forces Kenya[7] Uruguay[8] Syria – Small group of Syrian Army have been seen using the AK-101 in Aleppo[9] Russia – in limited use because the AK-74M is still a main Russian service rifle. Serbia - used by the Serbian Armed Forces Mali - used by the army of Mali
See also
- List of Russian weaponry
- List of assault rifles
References
- Gordon L. Rottman (2011). The AK-47: Kalashnikov-series assault rifles. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 37. ISBN 978-1-84908-835-0.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-01-06. Retrieved 2012-01-03.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- http://world.guns.ru/assault/rus/ak-101-e.html
- Jenzen-Jones, N.R. (September 2012). "The 100-Series Kalashnikovs: A Primer". Small Arms Review. Vol. 16 no. 3.
- "Pasukan Brimobda Kalsel Gunakan Senjata Baru AK101 dan AK102" (in Indonesian). banjarmasin.tribunnews.com. Retrieved 2016-06-22.
- "Rosyjska broń dla Fidżi" (in Polish). altair.pl. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
- https://www.pri.org/stories/2013-10-08/rangers-kenya-are-outgunned-new-poaching-arms-race
- "EJÉRCITO NACIONAL – Ministerio de Defensa Nacional". www.mdn.gub.uy. Retrieved 2019-03-18.
- Group of Tiger forces used AK-101