The AK-101 is an assault rifle of the Kalashnikov series. The AK-101 is designed for the world export market, using 5.56x45mm NATO cartridges, which is the standard of all NATO armies. The AK-101 is marketed at those looking for a weapon that combines the logistical compatibility and familiarity of the 5.56x45 NATO round with the legendary reliability of a Kalashnikov. 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-10X series of rifles.
| AK-101 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Assault rifle |
| Place of origin | Russia |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Mikhail Kalashnikov |
| Designed | 1994 |
| Number built | 25,000+ |
| Variants | AK-102 |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 3.4 kg (7.5 lbs) w/o magazine |
| Length | 943 mm (37.13 in) with stock extended / 700 mm (27.56 in) with stock folded |
| Barrel length | 415 mm (16.34 in) |
| Cartridge | 5.56x45mm NATO |
| Action | Gas-actuated, rotating bolt |
| Rate of fire | 650 rds/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 920 m/s |
| Effective range | 500 m |
| Feed system | 30 round magazine |
| Sights | Adjustable Iron Sights, Equipped with optical plate for attaching various scopes |
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 optical plate installed on the side of the receiver for attaching scopes and other optical equipment, which will accept most types of Russian and European AK optics. The rifle accepts most synthetic and metal ammo magazines with 30 round capacity. The AK-101 has a 16 inch 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 5.56x45mm NATO, 7.62x39mm M43 and 5.45x39mm M74 rifle rounds respectively. These carbines differentiate themselves from the normal rifles of the series in that they have much shorter barrels, only 314 mm in length. These AK-10X carbines, much like their rifle counterparts, were made primarily for export.
A common misconception is that the AK-101 has entered service as the main assault rifle of the Russian Federation, but this is not true; the AK-74M is still the main assault rifle, the AK-105 is being introduced alongside, both chambered for 5.45x39mm. The AK-103 firing 7.62 mm Soviet rounds, is in limited service with selected units in the Russian army, and the AN-94 is entering limited service in the elite forces of the Russian military, some Russian police forces, and the Internal Ministry of Affairs.
The AK-101 is chambered in 5.56 NATO and features gray synthetic furniture, with a side folding stock. The side folding stock looks just like a normal fixed stock, however it folds and locks securely to the side of the receiver.
