AK-103

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AK 103
An AK-103 Rifle
Type	Assault Rifle
Place of origin	Russia
Service history
Used by	Russia Venezuela
Specifications
Weight	3.4 kg
Length	943 mm, 700 mm with folded stock
Barrel length	415 mm

Cartridge	7.62 x 39 mm
Caliber	7.62 x 39 mm
Action	gas operated rotating bolt with 2 lugs
Rate of fire	600 round/minute
Muzzle velocity	715 m/s (~2345 ft/s)
Effective range	Effective range 300-500m
Feed system	30 rounds

The AK-103 is a modern Russian-built version of the famous AK-47 assault rifle, chambered for the 7.62 x 39 mm round. It combines the developments made in the later AK-74 and AK-101 with a use of plastics to replace metal or wooden components wherever possible to reduce overall weight. The AK-103 can be fitted with a tactical light, lasersight, scope, suppressor, and the GP-30 grenade launcher.

The AK-103 is in limited service with selected units in the Russian army, and is already being exported to other countries such as Venezuela.

1 Design differences
2 Adoption
- 2.1 Venezuela
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] Design differences

Differences from the AK-47-series weapons include redesigned rear and front trunnions, as well as a different gas block, front sight block, and an AK-74-type muzzle brake.

[edit] Adoption

[edit] Venezuela

In May of 2005 the Department of Defense of Venezuela signed a contract with the Russian company Rosoboronexport to purchase 100,000 AK-103 rifles as well as the purchase of machinery and technology to domestically manufacture the corresponding ammunition[1]. Venezuela received its first shipment of 30,000 rifles on June 3, 2006. a second shipment of 32,000 Ak-103 arrived on August 30th. The third and final shipment was delivered on November 29th, 2006.

The rifles are planned to replace approximately 60,000 Belgian FAL rifles bought in 1953 as well as a further number of domestically produced FAL rifles. A manufacturing plant of the Russian rifles in Maracay would be fully operational in mid 2010, with a production capacity of 50,000 units per year.[2] [3]