The AO-63 is a Soviet two-barrel assault rifle, capable of fully automatic fire, chambered for the 5.45 x 39 mm round. It was designed by S. G. Simonov and P. A. Tkachev, and manufactured by TsNIITochMash.
It can reach a maximum rate of fire of 6000 rounds/min, when fired in two-round burst mode, making it the fastest firing assault rifle known. According to some sources the weapon uses an over/under barrel configuration with a top mounted magazine insert fed by a drum magazine with a capacity of 50 or 100 rounds.
The AO-63 assault rifle was used by the Spetsnaz during the Project Abakan trials in the mid-1980s, in search of a more accurate alternative to take place over the standard issue AK-74, with AN-94 being the winner among numerous other weapons.
| AO-63 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Assault Rifle |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union Russia |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Spetsnaz |
| Production history | |
| Designer | S. G. Simonov P. A. Tkachev |
| Designed | 1986 |
| Manufacturer | TsNIITochMash |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 3.68 kg |
| Length | 890 mm |
| Cartridge | 5.45 x 39 mm |
| Caliber | 5.45mm |
| Barrels | 2 |
| Rate of fire | 850-6000 rounds/min |
| Effective range | 600 meters |
| Feed system | 30 round AK-74-compatable box magazine (45 or 60 round) |
| Sights | Iron sights |
