Saab Bofors AK-5

Assault Rifle / Assault Carbine / Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR)

Sweden | 1986

"The Belgian Fabrique Nationale FNC forms the basis for the AK-5 Assault Rifle - the standard-issue weapon of Swedish Army elements."

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 02/15/2019 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

Image from the United States Department of Defense DVIDS imagery database.

The mid-1970s saw the Swedish Army enter a period of review and modernization amidst a backdrop of the Cold War (1947-1991). This led to an extensive testing phase concerning assault rifles centered on the 5.56x45mm NATO intermediate cartridge. Export guns based on the Israeli GALIL and the Belgian Fabrique Nationale FN FNC (both detailed elsewhere on this site) made it to the final rounds with the FN FNC eventually being selected as the overall winner. Following this, the country acquired a local license to produce the Belgian assault rifle under the local designation of "AK-5".

The AK-5 succeeded the outgoing AK-4 series which was, itself, a locally-produced copy (under license) of the West German Heckler & Koch G3 Battle Rifle in 7.62x51mm NATO. In its prototype form, the AK-5 was marked as "CGA5C2" and, once adopted for service in 1986, became the standard-issue assault rifle of the Army service.

To better serve the local requirement, the Belgian FNC was reworked with a new trigger guard, cocking handle, magazine well, forend pattern, and selector switch. The guard was enlarged to better serve a gloved hand and the forend received deeper cuts for a firmer hold by the supporting hand. The internals were redesigned to better perform in cold weather environments. Bayonet support was not built into the design but could be had by way of an adapter system.

The AK-5 weighed 8.5lb when empty and held an overall length of 39.5", the barrel measuring 17.7" long. It was chambered to fire the 5.56x45mm NATO cartridge through the original FNC gas-operation relying on a rotating bolt mechanism. Feeding was by way of a curved 30-round detachable box magazine inserted ahead of the trigger unit in the usual fashion. Effective range, using the included iron sights, reached out to 1,315 feet. The rear sighting device was of a flip-up aperture type and the front was a simple post. Optical sights could also be fitted for improved ranged fire and the iron sights retained as back up. The shoulder stock was hinged to fold over and away, reducing the overall length of the weapon. Its skeletal, twin-strut design also lightened the weapon's carry weight.

"AK-5A" was used to designate the original standard infantryman rifles. Then arrived the "AK-5B" and this was a Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR) form fitting the L9A1 4x25.5 scope. it also included a cheek-piece at the shoulder stock for operator comfort.

In the mid-2000s, the AK-5B was chosen for modernization and thus the "AK-5C" came into being. This model added Picatinny accessories rails support with sections set over the receiver and under the forend. The weapon could now sport such features as red dot aimers, various scopes, and a vertical foregrip. The shoulder stock was made adjustable and among the additions were an automatic bolt catch, new flash suppressor, ambidextrous controls, and a 13.8" long barrel assembly. The AK-5C superseded the stock of original AK-5A service rifles over a four-year-period of re-equipping by the Army.

The original guns were manufactured by FFV Ordnance AB which later fell under the Saab Bofors Dynamics brand label. The modernization was handled by Saab Bofors Dynamics with the program delivering in 2006.

The AK-5D was a shortened, carbine-like variant for vehicle crews and Close Quarters Battle (CQB) operators (like special forces). The AK-5D Mk II was similar in form and function but featured the improvements added to the C-models.

The AK-5 has since seen deployment with Swedish forces across peacekeeping actions in Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Chad and further action in conflicts related to Lebanon and Macedonia. It is also in use with special operations elements of the Czech Republic (601st Special Forces Group) and select Swedish and Norwegian police services.

Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.

Physical
The physical qualities of the Saab Bofors AK-5. Information presented is strictly for general reference and should not be misconstrued as useful for hardware restoration or operation.

1,005 mm
39.57 in
O/A Length

450 mm
17.72 in
Barrel Length

8.60 lb
3.90 kg
Weight

Gas-Operated; Rotating Bolt; Selective Fire
Action

5.56x45mm NATO
Caliber(s)

30-round detachable box magazine
Feed

Iron Front and Rear; Optional Optics
Sights

Performance
Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Saab Bofors AK-5. Information presented is strictly for general reference and should not be misconstrued as useful for hardware restoration or operation.

1,315 ft
400.8 m | 438.3 yds
Max.Eff.Range

675
Rounds-Per-Minute
Rate-of-Fire

2,855 ft/sec
870 m/sec
Muzzle Velocity

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the Saab Bofors AK-5 Assault Rifle / Assault Carbine / Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR) family line.

AK-5 - Base Series Designation

CGA5C2 - Prototype designation

AK-5A - Model of 1986 produced by FFV; original standard-issue variant for Swedish Army.

AK-5B - Designated Marksman Rifle form; cheekpiece added at butt; limited production of about 5,200 units.

AK-5C - Modernized AK-5B for Swedish Army standard issue; model of 2006; revised external fittings and internal workings.

AK-5D - Shortened carbine form for vehicle crews and special forces elements.

AK-5D Mk II - Revised D-models with improvements seen in C-model assault rifles.

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Saab Bofors AK-5. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national small arms listing.

Contractor(s): FFV Ordnance AB / Saab Bofors Dynamics - Sweden

[ Czech Republic; Norway; Sweden ]

1 / 1

Image from the United States Department of Defense DVIDS imagery database.

Design Qualities
Some designs are single-minded in their approach while others offer a more versatile solution to requirements.

AUTOMATIC FUNCTION

ASSAULT RIFLE

ACCURACY/PRECISION

Recognition
Some designs stand the test of time while others are doomed to never advance beyond the drawing board; let history be their judge.

Military lapel ribbon representing modern aircraft

Going Further...
The Saab Bofors AK-5 Assault Rifle / Assault Carbine / Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR) appears in the following collections:

Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookies

2025 Military Pay Scale Military Ranks U.S. DoD Dictionary Conversion Calculators Military Alphabet Code Military Map Symbols US 5-Star Generals WW2 Weapons by Country

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. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

Part of a network of sites that includes Global Firepower, WDMMA.org, WDMMW.org, and World War Next.

©2024 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2003-2024 (21yrs)