AN-94 "Abakan". Reviews, specifications, photos. Automatic Nikonov

The international arms market is characterized by competition, which is sometimes extremely fierce. The advanced in the technological sense of the country vying to offer samples of missiles, mines, bombs, tanks, aircraft and ships, each of which has a number of advantages over the products of rivals. Compete among themselves and all kinds of firearms. The ability to beat with the least number of misses, to withstand destructive influences, to work reliably is valued by servicemen of the armed forces of all countries. We can proudly say that Russian models are quite competitive in this particular market, and our designers can create unsurpassed masterpieces of technical creativity on the edge of art.

The end of the era of "Kalashnikov"?

Russian firearms deservedly enjoyed fame due to their lethality, non-repudiation and simplicity. The most striking example - the famous "Kalashnikov", the production of which requires relatively low costs, and the combat effectiveness is off scale. This explains the unique fact that the main current small arms of the Russian army are even depicted on the state symbols of some foreign states. However, this masterpiece has its drawbacks. Progress can not be stopped, military experience dictates new demands that the reliable old AK does not always match. One of the possible options for its replacement is Nikonov's automaton AN-94.

Critical Issues

"Kalash" - the machine is unique. He can shoot practically in any conditions, from polar cold to African heat. He does not care about dust and dirt. It is inexpensive. AK beats away. He is sorted out and collected even by a schoolboy in a minute. Cleaning, like lubrication, is very simple. Dignity, dignity and once again dignity.

But there are disadvantages. It is difficult for them to conduct accurate fire in short bursts. The rate of fire (six hundred rounds per minute) determines the high flow of ammunition. To remove the finger from the trigger in time is almost impossible, a dozen rounds of ammunition leave the trunk in a second. You can shoot solitary, but then the machine becomes a carbine and loses its principal advantages. A soldier is forced to carry a heavy load with him - a stock of cartridges and horns. In modern warfare such a burden is not always permissible. Of the American M-16, you can fire more accurately, but it also has a significant defect - a lower reliability compared to Kalashnikov. Can a handgun combine two advantages at the same time - accuracy and reliability? To answer this question, they tried in the USSR, announcing and holding a secret competition among design developments, code-named "Abakan".

Competition "Abakan", 1981

Work began on the preparation for the competition in 1978, the state commission took three years to develop. Conditions were tough. If we change the illustrious AK to something else, then the new weapon should not just be better, but surpass the pattern that is customary for our soldiers in all respects, and at times. Humming is ten times more effective. Weight - less. The design is more universal. And all the other parameters are also better, on average twice.

By 1981 the finalists were determined. They are engineers from Tula Korobov, Stechkin and specialist in small arms from Izhevsk GN Nikonov. It was Gennady Nikolaevich who could come up with something that had not been seen before. He presented an automaton, the main advantage of which, like the highlight of the design, was the shifted momentum of recoil. What is it, then no one knew, except the creator himself. The automatic Nikonov won. The secret of design was preserved even in those years when almost all Soviet military secrets were presented to the "progressive world public". But about this below.

Tests in the troops

After the competition, the design of the machine called AN-94 "Abakan" (it is clear where this word came from) was modified, modernized, and then tested, and not only in the polygons. At first, the troops reacted to the novelty with distrust, which, in general, is typical for all military men, and not only for us. But in the end both soldiers and officers appreciated her. It was necessary to shoot from various inconvenient positions, including "lying", "sitting" and "from the knee". The soldiers were convinced of the high accuracy of the fire. The commission confirmed the fact that the AN-94 "Abakan" automatic machine fully complies with all the declared TTDs. It can be said that our military men liked the new weapons. It turned out to be "prikladisty", that is, it fit comfortably in hands (this quality is highly appreciated by all who are related to armaments, unimportantly, combat or hunting), convenient and really easy.

What is a biased impulse?

Another refinement of the design was carried out in 1985, the field of which was given the name AFM, in which the main "chip" was encrypted, which caused high accuracy and accuracy - a shifted impulse. What is this, is still unknown to the general public, both ours and foreigners. Theoretically, it is possible to obtain a sample of this machine, measure it with all possible ultra-precise instruments, including laser ones, study in detail, weigh, determine materials of manufacture and even copy. But the principle will remain a mystery. According to the designer GN Nikonov, it will take many years for foreign colleagues to understand what is the matter, and he himself does not want to share his secret for obvious reasons. It remains only to judge the effectiveness of this invention by the result. And he's impressive.

"Sweet couple"

All kinds of firearms, like people, have virtues that smoothly turn into shortcomings. In particular, the high rate of fire turns into a high and inefficiently effective expenditure of cartridges. The point is that after aiming the shooter presses the trigger, and the first bullet flies to where he wants. But the second usually flies out of the trunk of the machine in about one tenth of a second, a time that is sufficient to allow the trunk to deviate due to recoil. The third, fourth and all subsequent shots, if they get somewhere, it is more by chance than natural. The design of the AN-94 "Abakan" provides for a special shooting regime, which allows to level this systemic vice. He has three modes of shooting: single (in the translator is designated as "OD"), queues (AB) and one more, with a mysterious "2". Here in this modest tsiferke all the matter. Putting the lever in this position, you can be sure that only two bullets will fly out of the barrel, and with an infinitesimal temporary pause, corresponding to the rate of fire, three times the usual one. On hearing it is even impossible to understand that there were two shots, they merge. Between them the distance is so small that the barrel does not have time to deviate, and they both fly to the aiming point, lying almost next to each other. Such is the "sweet couple".

Unification of ammunition

One of the conditions of the "Abakan" contest was the possibility of unified use of mass-produced ammunition. Nikonov's automatic rifle AN-94 fires a standard 5.45 caliber cartridge (39 mm long), which is used for AK-47 or the RPK-74 machine gun. This principle is also observed for the reception part of the store. It is possible to use three types of horns: standard from AK-47 (30 pcs.), Machine gun (45 pcs.) Or special (60 pcs.), In which the cartridges are arranged in four rows. The use of a grenade launcher is also not a problem. It is mounted on the rod located under the barrel, which simultaneously serves as a guide rod for the moving assembly of the mechanism.

Modern materials

Many parts of the AN-94 "Abakan" automaton are made of heavy-duty plastic, which corresponds to modern trends that determine the promising directions of the development of the weapons industry. The application is made flip-flop to the right side, which can be attributed to a few constructive misses. Shooting from a weapon is convenient only when it is discarded. The moving receiver and the casing are made of plastic too, which reduced two parameters that are "harmful" for the weapon at once. The noise of shooting is reduced and up to 3 kg 850 g the weight is lowered. Metal parts are made of steel with the precision precision, which is famous for "Izhmash". Weapons here are able to do.

Sights

The design of the sight takes into account the experience of previous samples and provides opportunities for future development. The staffing device includes an adjustable fly and dioptric purpose, equipped with five possible positions (apertures). It is made in the form of a five-pointed star, the rays of which are marked with holes.

The production of firearms of standard general-purpose use does not imply the installation of special means of combat in difficult conditions, but Nikonov took into account the possibility of manning with an additional optical or night (infrared) or collimating sight, for which there is an additional universal purpose bar to the left of the main end.

Characteristics

Automation, used in the construction of the AN-94 "Abakan", is based on the principle of gas discharge and the trivalent fire regime. In this case, if the shooting mode is selected by bursts (AB), the first two rounds will be fired at a rate of 1800 rounds per minute, and the rest - 600 fps. The weight of the weapon is less than four kilograms, the length with the folded butt is 943 mm, with the folded - 728 mm. The barrel 405 mm long provides a high initial speed, increasing the breakout force and accuracy of shooting (up to 1000 m) in comparison with the Kalashnikov assault rifle . In general, the machine is good. But…

Assembly-disassembly

A person familiar with weapons, not by hearsay, and equipped with the appropriate technical instruction, after seeing this machine for the first time, will analyze it in about half an hour. The same amount he will spend on his assembly, which is done in the reverse order. In the next times, things will go faster, but the presence of fairly complex knots and a steel cable that you need to pull on the roller, it still takes a few minutes. "Abakan" with the blindfold dismantled, to collect, the more quickly, it is impossible. This is not "Kalashnikov".

Of course, the designer provides all the possibilities to facilitate the process of maintenance. Original and easy, literally on an intuitive level, the "eight-shaped" muzzle brake is removed and placed. It simply needs to be turned to half a turn and pulled in the direction forward. In general, there are many beautiful solutions, there are no unnecessary details, the complexity is minimized.

Too complicated or not simple enough?

Traditionally, it is believed that the weapons of the Russian Army, by virtue of its multiplicity, simply must be simple. More than a million strength of personnel in itself indicates that people of different intellectual levels are serving in it, and if the soldier can not master such a simple thing as his own machine, then problems are inevitable. Disassembly-assembly "Abakan" binomial Newton can not be called, but to argue that this is a trifle, too, is not necessary. By the way, this problem is not only Russian. American servicemen in Vietnam were only marveling at the capabilities of our Kalashnikov, its simplicity and reliability. Many of them would gladly change their M-16, despite the best accuracy and accuracy of shooting. What is the use of these good qualities, if in the case of a small amount of dirt or sand, the weapon does not want to shoot at all? Of course, the AN-97 is better than the M-16. But more difficult and more expensive than AK.

The problems of rearmament

The production base for the new sample was Izhmash. Weapons of this type are manufactured at this plant since 1988, but are limited to relatively small batches, for special units of the Armed Forces and the police. The decision to fully replace the AK with AN-94 was made back in 1997, but due to various circumstances, including financial ones, Kalashnikov still remains the main model. Despite the designer's striving for simplicity, it was not possible to achieve it completely. AN-94 "Abakan" is somewhat more complicated than its predecessor, and so far only professionals are able to manage with it confidently. It is possible that ordinary soldiers would master this science, but it can only be determined experimentally.

In addition, large-scale rearmament requires impressive budgetary expenses and time for retraining of personnel.