The AKSU-74 represents a submachine gun derivative of the full-sized AKS assault rifle. Both feed the 5.45x39.5mm Soviet intermediate rifle cartridge cartridge but the AKSU-74 is a shortened version of the full-length assault form with an overall compact design - made handier for airborne troopers, special forces and vehicle crews appreciating a smaller footprint for their primary weapon. The AKSU-74 sports a foldable butt-stock (side-folding) and feeds from a 30-round, curved detachable plastic box magazine. Knowledge of this submachine / assault carbine model reached Western sources in 1983 during which time the weapon was already in use in the Afghan Theater of the by Soviet troops in the Soviet-Afghan War (1979-1989).
Though borrowing many of the key features of the earlier AKS assault rifle design, the smaller design of the assault carbine model firing a relatively powerful round necessitated the need for additional compensation to be introduced. As such, the AKSU-74 was given a distinct flash hider / muzzle compensator attached to the "business end" of the shortened barrel. An expansion chamber was also fitted to the weapon in an attempt to retard the recoil effects.
Sights are iron front and rear. The weapon is listed with an effective range out to 656 feet and a muzzle velocity of 2,410 feet-per-second. Rate-of-fire is 800 rounds-per-minute.
Beyond its use by Soviet (and now Russian forces, including SPETSNAZ), the AKSU-74 is a known participant of American Delta Force and Navy SEALs special forces actions.
Specifications
Year: 1983
Manufacturing Izhmash / Kalashnikov - Soviet Union / Russia
AKS - Base Assault Rifle Designation
AKSU-74 - Shortened Submachine Gun Variant base on the AKS design; foldable butt-stock; additional gas expansion chamber and bell-shaped flash hider implemented; plastic ammunition box.
The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com.
Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world and WDMMA.org, the World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft.
Iraq; Russia; Soviet Union
