Project Abakan
Encyclopedia
Project Abakan was a Russia
n advanced assault rifle
programme in rival to the US Advanced Combat Rifle
that took place between 1980 to 1994.
.
In 1974, the Soviet Army also replaced the AK-47
with the AK-74
assault rifle chambered for the new smaller 5.45×39mm caliber. In spite of the smaller caliber and many other improvements the AK-74 failed to overcome the major shortcoming of its predecessor, which was the low accuracy of short bursts of fire.
The complexity of modern firearms design and manufacturing dictated that design bureaus with dedicated manufacturing facilities were enlisted to design and manufacture prototypes. The prototypes were produced after three years by TsKIB SOO (subsidiary of KBP Instrument Design Bureau
), Kovrovskogo mechanical and Izhmash (Izhevsk Mechanical Works) plants under the general guidance of TsNIITochMash
(Central Research Institute for Precision Machine Building).
By August 1984, eight prototypes from eight designers were ready to be tested. Preliminary trials on the technical design stage in August and November 1984 were subjected to assault rifles:
The Commission, appointed by the decision Minoboronproma and GRAU
, reviewed the test results and confirmed the possibility of finding a candidate that meets the initial ROC specifications. Two designs were eliminated after this first stage of testing: the automatic APT, because of its unreliability, and the TKB-0111 (the least promising). The remaining designs went through 18 months of further development to improve manufacturing details and accuracy.
(designed by S.G. Simonov
and P.A. Tkachev).
Tests included firing a high volumes of rounds under extreme conditions including dust, extreme temperatures and altitudes. No prototype met all requirements. Only the AU and AO-63 met the requirement of accurate grouping.
Designers were given three months to update their designs before the tests were repeated in late October 1986. Two designs where modified fundamentally for this round of testing; the ASM construction by Nikonov (shift in momentum returns in the stationary store) and the battery instead of CRA-1 design Kalashnikov (balanced automatics).
Further developments of the prototypes were limited to muzzle devices. Halfway through the tests it became clear that it was not viable to continue further work the TKB-0111, AEK-971 and CRA.
The AS/ASM and TKB-0146 showed excellent accuracy. Testers and members of the commission all noted the great comfort with which both of these weapons could be fired. The recoil was also light enough that the weapons could be fired without having to shoulder them. Both were capable of firing a two-shot burst at such a high rate of fire that it sounded like a single shot. Observers could also see the trajectory of the two bullets. Eventually, the AS/ASM was selected and designated the AN-94
(Assault-rifle, Nikonov, 1994).
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n advanced assault rifle
Assault rifle
An assault rifle is a selective fire rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge and a detachable magazine. Assault rifles are the standard infantry weapons in most modern armies...
programme in rival to the US Advanced Combat Rifle
Advanced Combat Rifle
The Advanced Combat Rifle was a United States Army program to find a replacement for the M16 assault rifle. The program's total cost is approximately US$300 million...
that took place between 1980 to 1994.
History
The 1960s ushered a new generation of assault rifles with the introduction of smaller calibers. U.S. military analysis of combat during the Second World War showed that a greater volume of fire at shorter ranges was more significant than long range accuracy. They decided that a smaller caliber would be more effective in most conditions, because the soldier could carry more ammunition. In 1963, NATO duly adopted the smaller 5.56×45mm to replace the larger 7.62×51mm7.62×51mm NATO
The 7.62×51mm NATO is a rifle cartridge developed in the 1950s as a standard for small arms among NATO countries...
.
In 1974, the Soviet Army also replaced the AK-47
AK-47
The AK-47 is a selective-fire, gas-operated 7.62×39mm assault rifle, first developed in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is officially known as Avtomat Kalashnikova . It is also known as a Kalashnikov, an "AK", or in Russian slang, Kalash.Design work on the AK-47 began in the last year...
with the AK-74
AK-74
The AK-74 is an assault rifle developed in the early 1970s in the Soviet Union as the replacement for the earlier AKM...
assault rifle chambered for the new smaller 5.45×39mm caliber. In spite of the smaller caliber and many other improvements the AK-74 failed to overcome the major shortcoming of its predecessor, which was the low accuracy of short bursts of fire.
Specifications
Soviet analysts determined that modern battlefield tactics require short bursts of fire from shooting positions including standing, kneeling and prone (lying down). The requirement for more accurate bursts of fire was one of the most important aspects of the Required Operational Capability (ROC) specification for any replacement of the AK-74. Therefore in 1981 the Commission of the Council of Ministers of the USSR in the military-industrial issued Required Operational Capability (ROC) number 280 27.08.81. Because of the expensive and time consuming nature of manufacturing and adopting a new assault rifle this ROC specified that any new assault rifle had to be 1.5 to 2.0 times more "combat effective" than the AK-74.The complexity of modern firearms design and manufacturing dictated that design bureaus with dedicated manufacturing facilities were enlisted to design and manufacture prototypes. The prototypes were produced after three years by TsKIB SOO (subsidiary of KBP Instrument Design Bureau
KBP Instrument Design Bureau
KBP Instrument Design Bureau is a Russian developer and manufacturer of high-precision weapons. It was established in 1927 in Tula, USSR. Arkady Shipunov has been the Designer General since 1962...
), Kovrovskogo mechanical and Izhmash (Izhevsk Mechanical Works) plants under the general guidance of TsNIITochMash
TsNIITochMash
TsNIITochMash is an initialism for the Central Research Institute for Precision Machine Building , a Russian industrial design bureau...
(Central Research Institute for Precision Machine Building).
First stage
| Bureau | Model | Designer |
|---|---|
| TsKIB SOO | |
| TKB-0111 | G.A. Korobov |
| TKB-0136-3M | N.M. Afanasyev |
| TKB-0146 TKB-0146 The TKB-0146 is a bullpup assault rifle that participated in the Russian Army's Project Abakan assault rifle trials. This weapon was considered more advanced than the AN-94 but was turned down due to its complexity of components.-References:... |
I.Y. Stechkin |
| SKB KMZ | |
| AEK-971 AEK-971 AEK-971 is a Soviet / Russian selective fire assault rifle that was developed at the Kovrov Mechanical Plant by chief designer S.I. Koksharov in the 1980s... |
B.A. Garev |
| AEK-978 | P.A Pikinsky |
| PO Izhmash | |
| AL-9 | V.M. Kalashnikov |
| AU | G.N. Nikonov |
| APT | I.A. Postnikov |
The Commission, appointed by the decision Minoboronproma and GRAU
Grau
Grau is a German word meaning "gray" and a Catalan word meaning "grade". It may refer to:* BAP Almirante Grau , a De Zeven Provinciën class cruiser in service with the Peruvian Navy* Grau Käse, Tyrolean grey cheese...
, reviewed the test results and confirmed the possibility of finding a candidate that meets the initial ROC specifications. Two designs were eliminated after this first stage of testing: the automatic APT, because of its unreliability, and the TKB-0111 (the least promising). The remaining designs went through 18 months of further development to improve manufacturing details and accuracy.
Second stage
From May to June 1986, following the 18-month development period, one of the remaining six designs, the AL-9 was replaced by the CRA-1 and new prototype was added, the AO-63 assault rifleAO-63 assault rifle
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....
(designed by S.G. Simonov
Sergei Gavrilovich Simonov
Sergei Gavrilovich Simonov was a Soviet weapons designer; he is one of the fathers of the modern assault rifle....
and P.A. Tkachev).
Tests included firing a high volumes of rounds under extreme conditions including dust, extreme temperatures and altitudes. No prototype met all requirements. Only the AU and AO-63 met the requirement of accurate grouping.
Designers were given three months to update their designs before the tests were repeated in late October 1986. Two designs where modified fundamentally for this round of testing; the ASM construction by Nikonov (shift in momentum returns in the stationary store) and the battery instead of CRA-1 design Kalashnikov (balanced automatics).
Further developments of the prototypes were limited to muzzle devices. Halfway through the tests it became clear that it was not viable to continue further work the TKB-0111, AEK-971 and CRA.
Results and Outcome
AN-94
The AN-94 is an advanced Russian assault rifle. The initials stand for Avtomat Nikonova Model of 1994....
(Assault-rifle, Nikonov, 1994).