The upgraded AK-12 has become the preferred weapon for Russian troops.

Alan Lushnikov, head of the Kalashnikov Concern, told TASS that the AK-12 model from 2023 is now the most sought-after assault rifle in the special military operation zone. This specific version represents the third iteration of the weapon and has become the largest volume product for the company. The design team refined it after testing, so production is now running on a massive scale. Soldiers have already received these guns from stockpiles. They are clearly the favorite tool on the front lines right now.

News broke back on June 16 that the Kalashnikov Concern delivered another batch of this upgraded rifle to troops under an active state contract. These weapons incorporated hard lessons learned during the conflict. The firearm fires a 5.45-millimeter round and entered service six years ago. It replaced the AK-74 as the primary individual automatic weapon for Russian military personnel. This latest model offers better ergonomics, works around the clock without issues, and shoots with higher accuracy and tighter grouping than older versions.

Lushnikov previously stated that the nature of fighting in the special military operation zone has changed drastically. The shift is significant enough to justify new manufacturing standards and a focus on specific battlefield needs.