AN-94 Abakan
Summary
| Country | 🇷🇺 Russia |
| Category | Assault rifle |
| Manufacturer | Kalachnikov |
Technical specifications
| AN-94 Abakan | |
|---|---|
| Fire Rate | 600 - 800 rounds/min. |
| Caliber | 5.45 x 39 mm |
| Magazine | 30 rounds |
| Length | 943 mm (37.1 in) |
| Weight | 3.85 kg (8.5 lb) |
| Range | 1000 m (3281 ft) |
Description
The AN-94 (Avtomat Nikonova model of 1994), GRAU designation 6P33, is a Russian assault rifle designed by Gennadiy Nikonov, who previously worked on the Nikonov machine gun. The rifle's name references the Siberian city of Abakan. Developed as a potential successor to the AK-74 rifle series in the Russian Armed Forces, its intricate design and cost prevented it from large-scale replacement of the AK-74. The AN-94 currently sees limited use as a special-purpose weapon.
The rifle is chambered in the 5.45×39mm M74 cartridge and employs a rotating bolt. A notable characteristic is the magazine, angled slightly to the right, which facilitates the ammunition feed mechanism. The design utilizes a "recoil shifted pulse". It operates in semi-automatic and full-automatic modes. A unique characteristic is its ability to delay felt recoil for the initial two rounds fired, enhancing hit probability. This is achieved through a two-shot burst mode, the "hyperburst," which cycles at 1800 rounds per minute, discharging the second round in close proximity to the first. For sustained fire beyond the initial two-round burst, the horizontal striker is held until the full recoil cycle is complete, resulting in a cyclic rate of 600 RPM for subsequent shots.
Production estimates for the AN-94 place the total number of firearms manufactured between 2,000 and 2,500. Although not adopted as a general service rifle, it is used in limited numbers for specific roles. Documented instances of its deployment include:
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Russian troops during the 2014 Russian occupation of Crimea
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Russian forces operating in Chechnya and Dagestan
The rifle is primarily used by military and security forces within the Russian Federation, including the Russian Army, Police, Federal Security Service, units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, paratroopers, and naval infantry. Kyrgyzstan received 60 AN-94 rifles in 2012 as part of a Russian aid package. The Provisional Irish Republican Army reportedly imported 20 examples in late 2001.