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AK-74
The AK-74 is an updated 5.45x39mm version of the AK-47 rifle that was adopted by the Soviet Union since 1974, replacing the 7.62x39mm AKM rifle. The AK-74, and its modernized variant, the AK-74M, are the standard service rifles of the Soviet Union and the Russian Federation from 1974 to the present day; though some Soviet/Russian special forces units and front line soldiers have used 7.62x39mm AK rifles in post-1974 conflicts, they represent only a minority exception, and the vast majority of Soviet/Russian infantry forces use standard 5.45x39mm rifles since 1974 (although as of 2018 it is to be steadily phased out for the AK-12).
The AK-74 and its variants primarily saw service in the Soviet Union and later the former Soviet republics. Some Soviet Bloc countries also made eforts towards adopting the 5.45x39mm cartridge following the Soviet Union. While some like East Germany manufactured AK-74s under license, other countries like Poland and Romania instead developed indigenous 5.45x39mm Kalashnikov rifles like the kbk wz. 88 Tantal and the PA md. 86; these latter rifles resemble the Soviet AK-74, but had more in common with their own locally-designed AK variants than with the Soviet AK-74, and should not be confused with the AK-74.
Another visually similar rifle of note is the Norinco Type 84S, a Chinese 5.56x45mm AK variant. They are commonly used in Western movies and TV shows to impersonate the AK-74, and can be easily confused with genuine Soviet/Russian AK-74s.
The AK-74 and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:
Soviet/Russian Versions
AK-74
Specifications
(1974 – Present)
- Type: Assault Rifle
- Caliber: 5.45x39mm
- Weight: 6.8 lbs (3.1 kg)
- Length: 37 in (94 cm)
- Barrel length: 16.3 in (41.5 cm)
- Feed System: 30, 45-round box magazine, 60-round casket magazine, 95-round dual drum magazine introduced in 2014
- Fire Modes: Semi-Auto/Full-Auto
Film
Television
Show Title | Actor | Character | Note / Episode | Air Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Confrontation (Protivostoyanie) | Soviet soldiers | 1985 | ||
The State Border: Film 8 | Soviet Border guards | 1988 | ||
Purgatory (Chistilishche) | Russian and Chechen forces | AK-74 and AK-74M; some with GP-25 grenade launcher | 1998 | |
Brigada | OMON and SOBR teams | AK-74 and AK-74M | 2002 | |
I Have The Honor! (Chest Imeyu!) | Russian paratroopers | 2004 | ||
E-Ring | Serb gunman | "War Crimes", With drum magazine and scope | 2005-2006 | |
The Storm Gate | Chechen terrorists | AK-74 and AK-74 with GP-25 grenade launcher | 2006 | |
Banshee - Season 3 | Chayton's tribesmen | Ep.5 | 2015 | |
Chernobyl | Soviet soldier | 2019 | ||
Better Call Saul - Season 6 | Álvaro F. Palacio | Cartel Member | Pioneer Arms Forged Series Sporter AK; "Fun and Games" (S6E09) | 2022 |
Anime
Title | Character | Note | Date |
---|---|---|---|
Macross Zero | Anti-UN fighters | 2002-2004 | |
Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig | Dejima Refugees | 2004-2005 | |
Black Lagoon/Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage | Hotel Moscow | 2006 | |
Flag | Militia fighters | both AK-74 and AK-74M | 2006 |
Magical Witch Punie-chan | Captain Paya Livingston, Vietnamese soldier | "So only test scores measure the worth of a human being? At best I'm 0 points. Yup." (E3.A) | 2006-2008 |
Canaan | Sham | 2009 | |
High School of the Dead | in Hirano's FPS game imagination | 2010 | |
Upotte!! | Nanayon | 2012 | |
Jormungand: Perfect Order | North African Islamist fighters | "Warmonger" | 2012 |
Durarara!!×2 Shou | Vorona | Has PBS-1 suppressor. Sometimes changes due to animation error between black synthetic furniture and AK-74-based orange furniture. | 2015 |
Durarara!!×2 Ten | Vorona | Similar setup. Appears in flashback in "A Rumor only lasts Fifty-Seven Days". | 2015 |
Video Games
Game Title | Appears as | Mods | Notation | Release Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Steel Beasts | 2000 | |||
Operation Flashpoint | w/ GP-30 grenade launcher | 2001 | ||
Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix | 2002 | |||
Hitman: Contracts | w/ optional suppressor | 2004 | ||
Close Combat: First to Fight | With ribbed metal magazine | 2005 | ||
Project Reality | With optional bayonet | With inaccurate smooth receiver cover | 2005 | |
S.W.A.T. 4 | "AK-74" | Skeletonized buttstock | Only usable by hostile NPCs | 2005 |
Operation 7 | 2006 | |||
Alliance of Valiant Arms | "AK-47 Hawkeye" | With custom-painted handguard | 2007 | |
Crysis | "FY71" | Heavily customised with various accessories | 2007 | |
ArmA: Armed Assault | 2007 | |||
Cross Fire | with AK-47 front sight; the stock is located as on AK-47 | 2007 | ||
Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 | unusable | 2008 | ||
7.62 High Calibre | w/ various attachments | 2008 | ||
Resident Evil 5 | 2009 | |||
ArmA II | w/ GP-30 grenade launcher | 2009 | ||
Marines: Modern Urban Combat | With ribbed metal magazine | 2010 | ||
Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days | "Kaliningrad 74" | 2010 | ||
Contract Wars | 2010 | |||
Rage | "Assault Rifle" | "Futuristic" AK-74, various fictional accessories | 2011 | |
Dead Island | 2011 | |||
Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D | 2011 | |||
Arctic Combat | 2012 | |||
Resident Evil: Revelations | "High Roller" | gold plated | 2012 | |
Metro: Last Light | "Kalash" | w/ various upgrades | 2013 | |
ArmA Tactics | "AK74" | not usable | 2013 | |
Payday 2 | "AK" | 2013 | ||
State of Decay | "AK 74" | plum furniture | incorrectly chambered 5,56x45mm, added in Lifeline DLC (2014) | 2013 |
Survarium | "AK-74N" | AK-74N | 2013 | |
Insurgency | "AK-74" | w/ various attachments | AK-74N | 2014 |
World of Guns: Gun Disassembly | AK-74N | w/ PSO-1 scope, suppressor, GP-25, bayonet and recoil pad | AK-74N | 2014 |
Resident Evil: Revelations 2 | "AK-7" "High Roller" |
2015 | ||
Squad | with optional GP-25 grenade launcher and 1P78 optic | AK-74, AK-74N and AK-74M | 2015 | |
Escape from Tarkov | AK-74 5.45x39 assault rifle AK-74N 5.45x39 assault rifle |
Tons of attachments | Most popular weapon in-game | 2016 |
Hot Dogs, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades | bayonet, GP-25 and Cobra sight | added in Update 76 | 2016 | |
Insurgency: Sandstorm | "AK-74" | w/ various attachments | AK-74N | 2018 |
Vigor | "A74-K" | 2018 | ||
Krunker | City-47 | Stockless, shorter magazine | Stylized, no muzzle device, holds 28 rounds | 2019 |
Ghost Recon Breakpoint | 2019 |
AKS-74
The AKS-74 ("S"—Russian: складной; skladnoy, lit. "folding"), is a variant of the AK-74 equipped with a side-folding metal shoulder stock, designed primarily for use with air assault infantry and developed alongside the basic AK-74. The stock has a triangular shape; it lacks the folding shoulder pad found on the AKMS stock and is folded to the left side of the receiver.
Specifications
(1974 – Present)
- Type: Assault Rifle
- Caliber: 5.45x39mm
- Weight: 6.5 lbs (3 kg)
- Length: 37 in (94 cm) (stock unfolded), 27.6 in (70 cm) (stock folded)
- Barrel length: 16.3 in (41.5 cm)
- Feed System: 30, 45-round box magazine
- Fire Modes: Semi-Auto/Full-Auto
Film
Title | Actor | Character | Note | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Black Widow | w/GP-25; seen in arsenal | 2021 | ||
Seventh Circle Prison guards | w/railed handguards | |||
In the Port of Cape Town (V Keyptaunskom portu...) | Russian OMON (SWAT) | 2019 | ||
Treasures of the Twelve Gods (Sokrovishcha dvenadthati bogov) | Spetsnaz | 2016 | ||
Extinction | Matthew Fox | Patrick | With Mako fore grip | 2015 |
22 Minutes (22 minuty) | Russian Marines | 2014 | ||
Block 18 | Policemen | 2014 | ||
Fast & Furious 6 | David Ajala | Ivory | With modernized furniture | 2013 |
Black & White Episode 1: The Dawn of Assault | Pandawa fighters | 2012 | ||
Nightingale the Robber (Solovey-Razboynik) | Ivan Okhlobystin | Solovey-Razboynik | 2012 | |
Russian soldiers, Police and some criminals | ||||
Me Too (Ya tozhe khochu) | Yevgeniy Kellerman | Soldier | 2012 | |
Andrey Sychyov | Soldier | |||
Aleksandr Ortin | Soldier | |||
Yevgeniy Kostroma | Soldier | |||
The Darkest Hour | 2011 | |||
A Quiet Outpost (Tikhaya zastava) | Andrey Chadov | Capt. Pankov | 2011 | |
Sergey Selin | Praporshik Gritsyuk | With GP-25 | ||
Igor Savochkin | Lt. Bobrovskiy | With GP-25 | ||
Yuri Konovalov | Sgt. Durov | |||
Aleksandr Alyoshkin | Sgt. "Trasser" Kiryanov | |||
Azamat Nigmanov | Pvt. Azamat | |||
Timur Efremenkov | Lt. Nazarin | |||
Russian border guards and Spetsnaz, Islamist fighters | Some with GP-25 | |||
The Liquidator | Arystan, police | 2011 | ||
Kick-Ass | With GP-30 grenade launcher, seen on wall | 2010 | ||
Dark World (Tyomnyy mir) | Evgeniy Atarik | Capt. Sharapov | 2010 | |
Newsmakers (Goryachie Novosti) | Criminal gang and Russian OMON officers | 2009 | ||
Hooked (Na Igre) | Tikhon Zhiznevskiy | Dlinnyy | 2009 | |
Captive (Plennyy) | Russian soldiers, Chechen fighters | 2008 | ||
Wild Field (Dikoe pole) | Roman Madyanov | Policeman Ryabov | 2008 | |
Mirage | Alyona Khmelnitskaya | Lera | 2008 | |
Aleksey Bardukov | Zhenya | |||
Aleksey Chadov | Misha | |||
Dmitriy Maryanov | The Catcher | |||
Antonina Komissarova | Ulyana | |||
Natalya Naumova | Tanya | |||
Jamal's man | ||||
The Path of the Death 2: Atonement (Tropa smerti 2: Iskuplenie) | Militiamen | 2008 | ||
The Apocalypse Code | Terrorists, Russian paratroopers | 2007 | ||
Not Gonna Get Us (Nas ne dogonish) | OMON | 2007 | ||
Paragraph 78 (Paragraf 78) | Gosha Kutsenko | Goodwin | 2007 | |
Vladimir Vdovichenkov | Skiff | |||
Anastasiya Slanevskaya | Fox | |||
Anatoliy Belyy | Spam | |||
Aziz Beyshenaliev | Pay | |||
Stanislav Duzhnikov | Lyuba | |||
Criminal | ||||
Typhoon | Russian guards | 2005 | ||
9th Company | Soviet soldiers | w/ bayonets, GP-25 grenade launcher | 2005 | |
Afghan Mujahideen | ||||
He Will Be Left Behind (Arxada qalmis gelecek) | seen during the archive footage | 2005 | ||
The Bourne Supremacy | FSB agent | 2004 | ||
Countdown (Lichnyy nomer) | Aleksey Makarov | Maj. Aleksei Smolin | wooden furniture | 2004 |
Russian special forces | ||||
Vyacheslav Razbegaev | Umar Tamiev | black synthetic furniture | ||
Terrorists | ||||
Moscow Heat | Aleksandr Nevsky | Vlad Stepanov | 2004 | |
Jisai (Dzisay) | Soldiers | 2004 | ||
Antikiller 2: Antiterror | SOBR (SWAT) personnel | 2003 | ||
Antikiller | SOBR personnel | 2002 | ||
The World Is Not Enough | Russian Army soldiers | 1999 | ||
The Saint | 1997 | |||
Ricochet (Rikoshet) | Andrey Sokolov | Arseny | 1997 | |
Soviet soldiers | ||||
Deserter (Dezertir) | Brigands and cult fighters | 1997 | ||
Ghoul (Upyr) | Spetsnaz members | 1997 | ||
Jackie Chan's First Strike | Russian soldiers | 1996 | ||
Prisoner of the Mountains (Kavkazskiy plennik) | Sergey Bodrov Jr. | Ivan Zhilin | 1996 | |
Russian soldiers | ||||
GoldenEye | Soviet soldier | 1995 | ||
Black Shark (Chyornaya akula) | Valeriy Vostrotin | Major Andrey Gusarov | 1993 | |
Aleksandr Belov | Capt. Rastorguev | |||
Soviet and American soldiers, mujahideen, mercenaries | ||||
The Wild East | Aleksandr Sporykhin | Ivan Taiga | attached with GP-25 | 1993 |
Konstantin Fyodorov | Strannik | |||
Robert Pastukhov | Zhukovsky | |||
Viacheslav Knizel | Skull | |||
Bikers, Fascists | ||||
The Codex of Disgrace (Kodeks beshchestiya) | Soviet soldiers | 1993 | ||
Ghost (Prizrak) | Militsiya special unit personnel | 1991 | ||
Gangsters of the Ocean (Gangstery v okeane) | Pirates | 1991 | ||
Loaded with Death (Zaryazhennye smertyu) | Boris Bystrov | Nikodimov | 1991 | |
Vadim Andreev | Fedoseev | |||
Andrey Tashkov | Druzhkov | |||
Vyacheslav Baranov | Uvarov | |||
Aleksei Rodionov | Borisov | |||
Aleksandr Kulyamin | Sr. Lt. Rakov | |||
Soviet border guard sailors, Spetsnaz troopers, Coyle's henchmen | ||||
Position of Murderer is Vacant... (Mesto ubiytsy vakantno...) | Soldiers | 1991 | ||
Afghan Breakdown | Filipp Yankovskiy | Sr. Lt. Steklov | 1991 | |
Aleksey Serebryakov | Sgt. Arsenyov | |||
Artur Uvarov | Pvt. Ivanov | |||
Rinat Ibragimov | Pvt. Popov | |||
Sergei Isavnin | Pvt. Sedykh | |||
Soviet paratroopers | Some with GP-25 grenade launchers | |||
Rabid Bus (Vzbesivshiysya avtobus) | Kakha Dzadzamiya | "Molchyun" | 1990 | |
Amayak Akopyan | "Zhila" | |||
OMON troopers | ||||
Cargo 300 (Gruz 300) | Soviet soldiers | 1989 | ||
White Crows (Belye vorony) | Soviet paratroopers | 1989 | ||
Interception (Perekhvat) | Soviet Border guards | 1986 | ||
In the Zone of Special Attention (V zone osobogo vnimaniya) | Boris Galkin | Lt Tarassov | 1977 | |
Mihai Volontir | Warrant Officer Volentir | |||
Soviet Army paratroopers |
Television
Show Title | Actor | Character | Note / Episode | Air Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Brigada | Unknown actors | OMON and SOBR teams | 2002 | |
I Have The Honor! (Chest Imeyu!) | Russian paratroopers and Chechen rebels | Some fitted with the GP-25 grenade launchers | 2004 | |
The Storm Gate | Mikhail Porechenkov | Major Egorov | 2006 | |
The Storm Gate | Chechen terrorists and Russian Army Spetsnaz | With GP-25 grenade launcher | 2006 | |
Female Terrorist Ivanova (Terroristka Ivanova) | Anatoliy Zhuravlyov | Aleksandr Ivanovish Ivanov | 2009 | |
Female Terrorist Ivanova (Terroristka Ivanova) | Nikolay Dobrynin | Valera Chistov | 2009 | |
Female Terrorist Ivanova (Terroristka Ivanova) | Valeriy Zelenskiy | Soldier | 2009 | |
Female Terrorist Ivanova (Terroristka Ivanova) | Russian soldier | 2009 | ||
Female Terrorist Ivanova (Terroristka Ivanova) | Bosnian rebels | 2009 | ||
Katran | Militsiya personnel | 2020 | ||
King and Jester (Korol i Shut) | SOBR | (E05) | 2023 |
Anime
Title | Character | Note | Date |
---|---|---|---|
Ghost in the Shell S.A.C. 2nd GIG | Dejima refugee | 2004-2005 |
Video Games
Game Title | Appears as | Mods | Notation | Release Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Rainbow Six: Rogue Spear | unusable | 1999 | ||
Splinter Cell | used by hostile NPC's | 2002 | ||
Conflict: Desert Storm | 2002 | |||
Conflict: Desert Storm II | 2003 | |||
Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow | used by hostile NPC's | 2004 | ||
Project Reality | With optional GP-25 grenade launcher | With inaccurate smooth receiver cover | 2005 | |
Operation 7 | 2006 | |||
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl | Akm-74/2 | Available w/ silencer, PSO-1 scope, and GP-25 grenade launcher | 2007 | |
ArmA: Armed Assault | 2007 | |||
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky | 2008 | |||
7.62 High Calibre | w/ various attachments | 2008 | ||
9th Company: Roots of Terror | AK-74 | w/ With & without GP-25 grenade launchers | 2008 | |
ArmA II | w/ Kobra red dot sight and PSO-1 scope | 2009 | ||
Sniper: Ghost Warrior | 2010 | |||
Dead Island | 2010 | |||
Karma Online | 2011 | |||
Payday 2 | "AK" | 2013 | ||
Escape from Tarkov | AKS-74 5.45x39 assault rifle AKS-74N 5.45x39 assault rifle |
tons of the attachments | added in v0.8.0.1208 update (2018) | 2016 |
Call to Arms | AKS-74 | 2018 | ||
Caliber | AKS-74N | 2019 |
AK-74M
The AK-74M is the modernized version of the AK-74, and the current service rifle of the Russian Ground Forces. The AK-74M features a new side-folding polyamide stock, an improved muzzle device, and a smooth dust cover. All AK-74M rifles feature a side bracket for mounting optics. The AK-100 series is derived from the AK-74M design.
In 2017, Kalashnikov Concern (formerly Izhmash) released a new upgrade/modernization kit for AK style rifles, known as Universal Upgrade Kit (Обвес, 'Obves,' Russian for 'body-kit'). The 'Obves' upgrade kits are officially designated as the KM-AK, which stands for 'komplekt modernizatsii - avtomata Kalshnikova' or 'upgrade kit - Kalashnikov assault rifle'. It is a drop-in kit which allows converting any stock AK-47/AKM or AK-74 rifle into a modern weapon, making it more adjustable and suitable for accessorizing. This kit consists of a number of new parts, including a new muzzle device, pistol grip (housing the cleaning kit) and safety selector lever. It also features a new handguard set which adds top and bottom permanently attached Picatinny rails and allows mounting rail sections on its either side.
Specifications
(1991 – Present)
- Type: Assault Rifle
- Caliber: 5.45x39mm
- Weight: 7.5 lbs (3.4 kg)
- Length: 37.1 in (94.2 cm) (stock unfolded), 27.7 in (70.4 cm) (stock folded)
- Barrel length: 16.3 in (41.5 cm)
- Feed System: 30, 45-round box magazine
- Fire Modes: Semi-Auto/Full-Auto
Film
Title | Actor | Character | Note | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Black Widow | Soldiers | Deleted scene | 2021 | |
Republic Z (Respublika Z) | Georgiy Bessonov | Byokke | 2018 | |
Zombie soldier | ||||
Psychos | Spetsnaz | 2015 | ||
The Interview | North Korean soldier | 2014 | ||
Survivor | Survivors | 2014 | ||
Fast & Furious 6 | Kim Kold | Klaus | with a GP-25 grenade launcher | 2013 |
The Project: Panacea (Proyekt: Panatseya) | Vyacheslav Bulavin | Alex | 2013 | |
Dmitriy Turok | Kot | |||
Svetlana Nikolaeva | Laura | |||
August. Eighth | Russian soldiers | with and without GP-25 grenade launchers | 2012 | |
Suicides (Samoubiytsy) | Oleg Labozin | Pvt. Sasha | 2012 | |
Tatyana Shvydkova | Sveta | |||
SOBR members | Standard and customized | |||
Bablo | Russian OMON officers | 2011 | ||
The Best Movie 3D (Samyi Luchshiy Film 3-De) | OMON soldiers | 2011 | ||
The Darkest Hour | 2011 | |||
Smithereens (Vdrebezgi) | OMON soldiers | 2011 | ||
Salt | Russian guard | 2010 | ||
Hooked 2. Next Level (Na Igre 2. Novyy Uroven) | various characters | 2010 | ||
Dark World (Tyomnyy mir) | Ivan Zhidkov | Kostya | 2010 | |
Denis Yushechkin | Jordan | |||
Sergei Ugryumov | Aleksandr Õlto Vallo | |||
Sergey Ryabtsev | Privalov | |||
Pyotr Korolyov | Demon | |||
Aleksey Potapov | Demon | |||
Demons | ||||
Hooked (Na Igre) | different characters | Some with the forward handgrips and the red dot sights | 2009 | |
High Security Vacation (Kanikuly strogogo rezhima) | Prison guards, criminals | 2009 | ||
The Eleventh Hour | North Korean soldiers | 2008 | ||
Mirage | Jamal's men | 2008 | ||
Typhoon | Russian guards | 2005 | ||
Countdown (Lichnyy nomer) | Russian special forces | 2004 | ||
Moscow Heat | Aleksandr Nevsky | Vlad Stepanov | 2004 | |
Oleg's henchmen, Russian police | ||||
I Am a Dummy (Ya - kukla) | Prison Guards | 2001 | ||
Checkpoint (Blokpost) | Russian soldiers | 1998 |
Television
Show Title | Actor | Character | Note / Episode | Air Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Purgatory (Chistilishche) | Russian and Chechen forces | some with GP-25 grenade launcher | 1998 | |
Brigada | OMON and SOBR teams | 2002 | ||
The Storm Gate | Russian soldiers | 2006 | ||
Continuum - Season 2 | / "Second Chances" (E01) | 2013 | ||
Territory | (Ep. 04) | 2020 | ||
Tokyo Vampire Hotel | Survivors | 2017 | ||
Topi | Maksim Sukhanov | Vitaly Alyabyev/Owner | continuity error; "Transfiguration" (S1E05) | 2021 |
Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area | 2022 |
Anime
Title | Character | Note | Date |
---|---|---|---|
Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex | Assassin | Outfitted with scope and 20-round magazine | 2002 - 2003 |
Flag | Militia fighters | 2006 |
Video Games
Game Title | Appears as | Mods | Notation | Release Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ghost Recon | 2001 | |||
The Sum Of All Fears | unusable | 2002 | ||
Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield | AK-74 | Suppressor, ACOG, or 100-round drum | 2003 | |
Söldner: Secret Wars | 2004 | |||
Project Reality | With optional GP-25 grenade launcher, bayonet, and 1P29 scope | 2005 | ||
Alliance of Valiant Arms | With PK-AS red dot scope | 2007 | ||
Kane & Lynch: Dead Men | 2007 | |||
Battlefield 3 | With various accessories | 2011 | ||
War Inc. Battlezone | "Kalashnikov" | w/ various attachments | 2011 | |
Survarium | 2013 | |||
Squad | with optional GP-25 grenade launcher and 1P78 optic | 2015 | ||
Escape from Tarkov | AK-74M 5.45x39 assault rifle | Tons of the attachments | added in v0.8.0.1208 patch (2018) | 2016 |
Call to Arms | 2018 |
AKS-74U
The AKS-74U, also referred to as the "AKSU", "AK-74U", or "Krinkov" (a nickname originating from regional Pashto pronunciations of "Kalashnikov" in Afghanistan), is a compact carbine based on the AK-74 design. Contrary to popular belief, the AKS-74U is not exactly a "chopped" or otherwise shortened AKS-74. The AKS-74U is, in fact, a purpose-built weapon based on the AK-74. Its distinguishing features are its unique muzzle flash suppressor (designed to lower the considerable report and flash stemming from the short barrel, including an integral muzzle booster to increase the weapon's reliability), the short handguard, big-eared flip rear sight, lowered front sight, and pivoting upper receiver.
The AKS-74U was designed during a contest for a compact carbine (a type of weapon earlier neglected by the Soviet army and police forces) during the late 1970s. Its original and primary purpose was to be a compact weapon that could be easily stowed within vehicles by their crews, and usable for personal defense by those same crews once on foot. Its use by Afghanistan-era airborne troops and later adoption as a standard-issue police weapon answered the need for a compact rifle-caliber weapon in the Soviet arsenal (the earlier and widely manufactured PPSh-41 submachine gun having been discontinued by the 1960s).
AKS-74U clones may differ visually in details like front sight and handguard length and shape, together with differences in construction. No converted AK-74 can be rightfully called an AKS-74U.
Despite common miscategorization, particularly in video games, it also is not, has never been, and will never be a submachine gun: since it fires an intermediate round, it is a compact assault rifle. This perception seems to come from the AKS-74U heavily influencing the NATO "Personal Defense Weapon" concept first published in 1989, which called for an armor-piercing SMG for a similar role and led to the development of the FN P90 and Heckler & Koch MP7.
Specifications
(1979 – Present)
- Type: Assault Rifle
- Caliber: 5.45x39mm
- Weight: 6 lbs (2.7 kg)
- Length: 28.9 in (73.5 cm) (stock extended), 19.3 in (49 cm) (stock folded)
- Barrel length: 8.3 in (21 cm)
- Feed System: 30, 45-round box magazine
- Fire Modes: Semi-Auto/Full-Auto
Film
Title | Actor | Character | Note | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Project Wolf Hunting | 2022 | |||
Black Widow | seen in arsenal | 2021 | ||
Seventh Circle Prison guard | ||||
No Time to Die | Daniel Craig | James Bond | with RIS handguards | 2021 |
Henchmen | ||||
The Witch (Vedma) | Vitaliy Pahomov | Gleb Frolov | 2020 | |
John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum | Seen in armory | 2019 | ||
Rambo: Last Blood | cartel soldiers | 2019 | ||
Justice for All (Pravosudie dlya vsekh) | Ilya Shashkov | Policeman | 2019 | |
Mission: Impossible - Fallout | White Widow operatives | 2018 | ||
Deadly Still | Police | 2018 | ||
The Soul Conductor | Denis Nagretdinov | Policeman #1 | 2018 | |
Denis Druzhinin | Policeman #2 | |||
Yuriy Skulyabin | Policeman #3 | |||
London Has Fallen | Terrorists | 2016 | ||
Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation | syndicate members | 2015 | ||
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 | Paul Giamatti | Aleksei Sytsevich | with RIS handguards | 2014 |
thugs | ||||
22 Minutes (22 minuty) | Russian Marines | 2014 | ||
Hunting the Phantom | SWAT | 2014 | ||
Red 2 | Catherine Zeta-Jones | Katja | 2013 | |
Fast & Furious 6 | Joe Taslim | Jah | 2013 | |
Snitch | El Topo's lieutenant | 2013 | ||
Pawnshop (Lombard) | Mark's and Yuriy's bandits | 2013 | ||
Nightingale the Robber (Solovey-Razboynik) | Russian Police | 2012 | ||
Sergey Badyuk | Molot | |||
Oksana Fandera | Izabella Yur'evna | |||
August. Eighth | Russian soldiers | 2012 | ||
Winter of the Dead. Meteletsa | Dmitriy Kozhuro | Captain Igor Knyazev | 2012 | |
Sergey Shirochin | Khan | |||
Suicides (Samoubiytsy) | Evgeniy Stychkin | Tolik | 2012 | |
Alex Sparrow | Aleksey | |||
Aleksandr Strizhenov | Lieutenant Krylov | |||
Evgeniy Kharlanov | Sergeant Sergeev | |||
Oksana Akinshina | Marina | |||
Mitus' thugs, SOBR members | ||||
Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol | Russian agents | with accessory rails | 2011 | |
Bablo | Russian OMON and Ukrainian Berkut officers | 2011 | ||
The Raid: Redemption | thugs | airsoft | 2011 | |
Home (Dom) | Eduard Flerov | Veteran | 2011 | |
Smithereens (Vdrebezgi) | OMON soldiers | 2011 | ||
The Alien Girl | Henchman | 2010 | ||
Elite Squad 2 | Seen on the ground | 2010 | ||
Icarus | Hitmen | 2010 | ||
Hooked 2. Next Level (Na Igre 2. Novyy Uroven) | OMON and contrabandists | 2010 | ||
Sinners and Saints | Sonny Puzikas | Mercenary | with accessory rail, scope, and 45-round magazines attached | 2010 |
A Yakuza's Daughter Never Cries | khokhol's henchmen | 2010 | ||
My Joy | Dmitriy Bykovskiy-Romashov | Captain Deputy | 2010 | |
Pavel Vorozhtsov | Sergeant Deputy | |||
Dark World (Tyomnyy mir) | Evgeniy Atarik | Capt. Sharapov | 2010 | |
The Interceptor (Zapreshchyonnaya Realnost) | StopCrime members | 2009 | ||
Newsmakers (Goryachie Novosti) | Yevgeni Tsyganov | Herman | 2009 | |
Get Smart | David S. Lee | Krstic | 2009 | |
Hooked (Na Igre) | Russian Militia and OMON | 2009 | ||
Punisher: War Zone | Russian mobster | 2009 | ||
Antikiller D.K. | Gosha Kutsenko | "Lis" | 2009 | |
A pair of bald hitmen | ||||
Dolphin Jump (Pryzhok Afaliny) | police | 2009 | ||
Babylon A.D. | Seen leaning on a wall in Toorop's apartment | 2008 | ||
Body of Lies | Terrorists | 2008 | ||
RocknRolla | Russian thug | 2008 | ||
Hitman | FSB agents | 2007 | ||
The Path of the Death 2: Atonement (Tropa smerti 2: Iskuplenie) | Militiamen | 2008 | ||
Tins (Konservy) | A few characters | 2007 | ||
Postal | Larry Thomas | Osama Bin Laden | 2007 | |
Trackman (Putevoy Obkhodchik) | Aleksandr Vysokovskiy | Pakhomov | 2007 | |
Vladimir Elin | Militiaman | |||
Mikhail Udy | Militiaman | |||
Tomas Motskus | Kostya | |||
Oleg Kamenshchikov | Irkut | |||
Dmitriy Orlov | Grom | |||
Svetlana Metkina | Katya | |||
Aleksey Dmitriev | Trackman | |||
Racketeer (Reketir) | SOBR | 2007 | ||
Piranha (Okhota na piranyu) | Security Guard | 2006 | ||
Svetlana Antonova | Olga Khmelnitskaya | |||
Junk (Zhest) | Mikhail Efremov | "The Kind Man" | 2006 | |
Typhoon | Chatthapong Pantanaunkul | Toto | With 45-round magazine and suppressor | 2005 |
Sky Fighters | Terrorists | 2005 | ||
Anthony Zimmer | Henchman | 2005 | ||
Sniper 3 | 2004 | |||
District B13 | Henchman | 2004 | ||
Countdown (Lichnyy nomer) | seen on instruction poster | 2004 | ||
Moscow Heat | Klimov's henchmen, Russian police | 2004 | ||
Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life | Henchman | 2003 | ||
Bumer | Militsioners and OMON members | 2003 | ||
Detention | A terrorist | 2003 | ||
Antikiller 2: Antiterror | A Chechen terrorist | With PBS-4 suppressor | 2003 | |
Die Another Day | Pierce Brosnan | James Bond | 2002 | |
Bond's teammates | ||||
North Korean soldiers | ||||
Rick Yune | Zao | |||
Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever | Lucy Liu | Sever | Fitted with black furniture and a GP-30 grenade launcher | 2002 |
War (Voyna) | Militia patrolman | 2002 | ||
Antikiller | Criminals, Militsia officers | 2002 | ||
Black Hawk Down | Razaaq Adoti | Mo'alim | 2001 | |
Tomb Raider | Daniel Craig | Alex West | 2001 | |
April (Aprel) | Maksim Trapo | Militsia sergeant | 2001 | |
I Am a Dummy (Ya - kukla) | Olga Sumskaya | Gerda | 2001 | |
Aleksandr Domogarov | Viktor Vorobyov | |||
Viktor Abdulov | Escort | |||
Russian soldiers, Prison Guards, Mujaheddin | ||||
Brother 2 | Belkin's henchman | 2000 | ||
The World Is Not Enough | Russian Army soldiers | 1999 | ||
Composition for Victory Day (Sochinenie ko Dnyu Pobedy) | Russian Militsia (police) | 1998 | ||
The Jackal | MVD SOBR officers | 1997 | ||
The Saint | Val Kilmer | Simon Templar | 1997 | |
All the Things We Dreamt of for So Long | A criminal | 1997 | ||
Deserter (Dezertir) | Anatoliy Kotenyov | Skif | With jungle-taped magazines | 1997 |
Viktor Demertash | Murab | |||
Jonas Arakelu | Habibullah's lieutenant | |||
Soviet soldiers, brigands and cult fighters | ||||
Ghoul (Upyr) | Aleksey Serebryakov | Vampire Hunter | 1997 | |
Spetsnaz members | ||||
Jackie Chan's First Strike | Ukrainian police officers | 1996 | ||
Prisoner of the Mountains (Kavkazskiy plennik) | Russian soldiers and Chechen fighters | 1996 | ||
Mercenary | Lindsey Ginter | Klinge | 1996 | |
GoldenEye | Pierce Brosnan | James Bond | 1995 | |
Famke Janssen | Xenia Onatopp | With dual mag clamp | ||
Sean Bean | Alec Trevelyan | |||
Shirli-Myrli | Militia, Special Forces | 1995 | ||
Son for Father... (Syn za ottsa...) | Vladimir Gostyukhin | Tikhanovich | 1995 | |
Militsiya and criminals | ||||
Police Academy 7 | Guard | 1994 | ||
Hagi-Tragger | Militiaman | 1994 | ||
The Little Bee (Pchyolka) | Prison guards | 1993 | ||
Son of the Pink Panther | Jennifer Edwards | Yussa | 1993 | |
Makarov | OMON (SWAT) troopers | 1993 | ||
The Full Moon (Polnolunie) | Spetsnaz | 1993 | ||
The Wild East | Skull's thugs, Fascists | 1993 | ||
The Codex of Disgrace (Kodeks beshchestiya) | Special unit personnel | 1993 | ||
Water Thieves (Pohititeli vody) | Sergei Rozhentsev | Ivan Mukhin | 1992 | |
Pavel Abdalov | "Maradona" | |||
Gangsters | ||||
The Third Take (Tretiy dubl) | Vyacheslav Zakharov | Anatoliy Ryumin | 1992 | |
Yulian Makarov | Militsiya Capt. Aleksandr Panin | |||
Risk Without Contract (Risk bez kontrakta) | Vasily Shlykov | Sergey Gromov | 1992 | |
Bandit | ||||
Police officer | ||||
The Arbiter (Arbitr) | Aleksandr Solovyov | "The Arbiter" | With PBS sound suppressor | 1992 |
The Bay of Death (Bukhta smerti) | Aleksandr Slastin | Capt. Anatoli Lensky | 1991 | |
Militsia officers, criminals | ||||
Gangsters of the Ocean (Gangstery v okeane) | Aleksandr Mikhaylov | Gennady | 1991 | |
Peteris Gaudins | Stuart Donald | |||
Pirates; Russian and American sailors | ||||
Afghan Breakdown | Soviet tank crewman | 1991 | ||
Ghost (Prizrak) | Militsiya special unit personnel | 1991 | ||
I Declare War on You (Ya obyavlyayu vam voynu) | OMON personnel | 1990 | ||
Kill the "Jackal" (Ubit "Shakala") | Special Forces, Jackal's gangsters | 1991 | ||
Living Target (Zhivaja mishen) | Militsia and criminals | 1990 | ||
Rabid Bus (Vzbesivshiysya avtobus) | Sergei Maksachyov | "Sedoy" | 1990 | |
Kakha Dzadzamiya | "Molchyun" | |||
Amayak Akopyan | "Zhila" | |||
Cargo 300 (Gruz 300) | Romualds Ancans | Cooper | 1989 | |
Aleksandr Cheskidov | Tolya | |||
Soviet warrant officers | ||||
Road to Hell (Doroga v ad) | Mafia gunman | 1988 |
Television
Show Title | Actor | Character | Note / Episode | Air Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Confrontation (Protivostoyanie) | Soviet paratroopers | Seen in documentary footage | 1985 | |
The State Border: Film 8 | Andrei Alyoshin | Capt. Valeriy Belov | 1988 | |
The Halt of Wanderers (Prival strannikov) | OMON personnel | 1991 | ||
Truckers | Sergey Veksler | Chechen boss Salman | "Movie" (S01E04) | 2000 |
Grazhdanin nachalnik | Sergey Pinchuk | "Valet" | 2001 | |
Egor Pazenko | "Zaboy" | |||
Militsia and criminals | ||||
Brigada | Unknown actors | Many characters | 2002 | |
Brigada | Alexander Vysokovskiy | Max Karelskiy | 2002 | |
Brigada | Dmitri Dyuzhev | Kosmos Kholmogorov | 2002 | |
Brigada | Pavel Maikov | Viktor Pchyolkin | 2002 | |
Ultimate Force | French Special Forces | "Communication" (S02E01) | 2003 | |
E-Ring | Benjamin Bratt | Lt. Col. James Tisnewski | "Fallen Angels" (S01E06) | 2006 |
Female Terrorist Ivanova (Terroristka Ivanova) | OMON | 2009 | ||
Human Target | Spetznaz soldiers | 2010 | ||
Sanctuary | Liberian rebels | "Homecoming" (S04E06) | 2012 | |
Continuum - Season 2 | "Second Chances" (E01) | 2013 | ||
The Tunnel | Nicolas Wanczycki | Thibaut Briand | 2016 | |
The Jackal (Shakal) | Yuriy Itskov | Mikhail Podkolzin aka Uncle Misha | 2016 | |
Pavel Chinaryov | Ilya Lyubovskiy | |||
Aleksandra Bortich | Nyura Gorbatova | |||
Sergey Belov | Sergey Matyushin | |||
Andrey Feskov | Pavel | |||
Aleksey Bardukov | Militsiya Sr.Lt. Aleksey Garkusha | |||
Aleksey Komashko | Militsiya Capt. Aleksey Chesnokov | |||
Pavel Yulku | A gunrunner | |||
Formula of Revenge (Formula mesti) | Militsiya | 2019 | ||
Katran | A Soviet Internal Troops soldier | 2020 | ||
Stranger Things - Season 4 | Soviet Army | 2022 |
Anime
Title | Character | Notes | Date |
---|---|---|---|
Hyper Police | Security Guard | 1997 | |
Planetes | El Tanikan soldiers | With solid stock and top of handguard removed | 2003 - 2004 |
Ghost in the Shell S.A.C. 2nd GIG | terrorists | 2004 - 2005 | |
King of Thorn | Russian soldiers | 2009 | |
Guilty Crown | Funeral Parlor members | 2011 - 2012 | |
Jormungand | Major Pollack's troops | "Pulsar" | 2012 |
Jormungand: Perfect Order | Jonathan "Jonah" Mar Hex |
"The Snake that Admires the Heavens" and "Century of Shame" (Jonah) "Dance with Undershaft phase.1". |
2012 |
Upotte!! | 2012 |
Video Games
Game Title | Appears as | Mods | Notation | Release Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ghost Recon | not usable | 2001 | ||
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty | w/ laser sight and an optional sound suppressor | 2001 | ||
Operation Flashpoint | AK-74 SU | w/ metallic body and AKS like folding stock | 2001 | |
America's Army | w/ and without Kobra red dot sight and PSO-1 scope | 2002 | ||
Delta Force: Task Force Dagger | 2002 | |||
Conflict: Desert Storm | 2002 | |||
Hitman 2: Silent Assassin | AK Rifle | 2002 | ||
The Sum Of All Fears | "5.45mm SMG" | can fire in 3-round burst | 2002 | |
Chaser | AKS74UN | AKS-74UN with scope | 2003 | |
Conflict: Desert Storm II | 2003 | |||
Combat Arms | AK-74U | 2004 | ||
Battlefield 2 | AK-74U | w/ camouflage paint scheme and Kobra red dot sight | 2005 | |
Project Reality | 2005 | |||
Chameleon | 2005 | |||
S.W.A.T. 4 | AK-74su | Skeletonized buttstock | Only usable by hostile NPCs | 2005 |
Black | Stock footage | 2006 | ||
Alliance of Valiant Arms | 2007 | |||
ArmA: Armed Assault | w/ and without silencer | 2007 | ||
Insurgency: Modern Infantry Combat | 2007 | |||
Cross Fire | 2007 | |||
9th Company: Roots of Terror | 2008 | |||
Battlefield: Bad Company | w/ sound suppressor | 2008 | ||
7.62 High Calibre | w/ various attachments | 2008 | ||
Dark Sector | AKS-74 | 2008 | ||
Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 | In the console versions only; absent from the PC version | 2008 | ||
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots | 2008 | |||
Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 | Mistakenly chambered for 7.62x39 M43 | 2008 | ||
ArmA II | w/ Kobra red dot sight and sound suppressor | 2009 | ||
Battlefield: Bad Company 2 | AKS-74U Krinkov | w/ sound suppressor, and red dot and/or ACOG sight | 2010 | |
Splinter Cell: Conviction | 2010 | |||
Operation 7 | 2010 | |||
Call of Duty: Black Ops | AK74u | w/ blackened forend, red dot/reflex sight or scope, or GSN-19 grenade launcher | 2010 | |
Medal of Honor (2010) | w/ various attachments | 2010 | ||
Battlefield 3 | With Surefire Universal weaponlight | 2011 | ||
War Inc. Battlezone | w/ various attachments | 2011 | ||
Battlefield Play4Free | 2011 | |||
Jagged Alliance: Back in Action | AKSU-74 | 2012 | ||
Call of Duty: Black Ops II | AK74u | w/ synthetic forend and metal magazines | SP and Zombies only | 2012 |
Arctic Combat | AKSU-74 | 2012 | ||
State of Decay | "AKS 74U" | 2013 | ||
Tomb Raider | Fully Automatic Pistol | modified | MP only | 2013 |
ArmA Tactics | AKS74U | not usable | 2013 | |
Metro: Last Light | AKSU | 2013 | ||
Counter-Strike Online | "AK-74U" | 2013 | ||
Survarium | 2013 | |||
Warface | added in 2021 | 2013 | ||
Insurgency | w/ various attachments | 2014 | ||
World of Guns: Gun Disassembly | AKS-74U | 15 and 30-rounded taped mags, recoil pad, PBS-4 suppressor | 2014 | |
Rainbow Six Siege | unusable; seen on a pre-release concept | 2015 | ||
Call of Duty: Black Ops III | AK74u | w/ synthetic forend and metal magazines | update on 23 May 2017 | 2015 |
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered | 2016 | |||
Hot Dogs, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades | AKS74U | 2016 | ||
Escape from Tarkov | Kalashnikov AKS-74U 5.45x39 Kalashnikov AKS-74UN 5.45x39 |
w/ various attachments | 2016 | |
Insurgency: Sandstorm | AKS-74U | AKS-74UN | 2018 | |
State of Decay 2 | 2018 | |||
Call to Arms | 2018 | |||
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War | AK-74u | 2020 | ||
Battlefield 2042 | AKS-74U | 2021 |
AKS-74UB
The AKS-74UB ("B" is Russian for Бесшумный; Besshumniy, or "silent") is a suppressed variant of AKS-74U. In place of the standard AKS-74U muzzle device, it instead has a threaded barrel made for the PBS-4 suppressor.
The 6S1 Kanareyka is a suppressed "rifle-grenade-launching complex" (Стрелково-гранатомётный комплекс, a Russian-specific weapon classification, describing a rifle with an attached grenade launcher) developed by TsNIITochMash for the Russian Spetsnaz. The complex includes the AKS-74UB, the PBS-4 supressor, and 30-mm silent grenade launcher BS-1.
Video Games
Game Title | Appears as | Mods | Notation | Release Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
America's Army | With Kobra red dot sight, GSN-19 grenade launcher, and PSO-1 scope | 2002 | ||
7.62 High Calibre | With GSN-19 grenade launcher | 2008 | ||
Escape from Tarkov | Kalashnikov AKS-74UB 5.45x39 | w/ various attachments | 2016 |
Foreign Copies & Derivatives
Vepr
The Vepr (Ukrainian: Вепр, wild boar) is a Ukrainian bullpup conversion of the AK-74. The Vepr was announced in 2003 as the first indigenous Ukrainian assault rifle, designed by the State Space Agency of Ukraine.
Video Games
Game Title | Appears as | Mods | Notation | Release Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cross Fire | "Vepr" | 2007 | ||
Call of Duty: Ghosts | Vepr | w/ various attachments | Incorrectly classified as a submachine gun | 2013 |
Survarium | 2013 |
Type 88
The Type 88 is a North Korean version of the Soviet AK-74, but with some modifications to suit local needs and production capabilities. Variations in gas block and handguard type are known. This assault rifle was adopted by the North Korean military and gradually replaced the previous Type 68 assault rifle, which is a copy of the AKM. There are at least two variants:
- The Type 88-1 is a version with a side-folding skeletal metal stock, generally similar to the AKS-74. However, its stock is of a different design, and is right-side folding.
- The Type 88-2 is a newer version with a top-folding stock. When the stock is folded it does not obstructs the sights. A notable aspect of the weapon is its unusual high-capacity helical magazine, which looks like a larger version of the Russian PP-19 Bizon magazine. This helical magazine allows for a higher capacity without the same bulk as on a drum magazine. This weapon has been in service since around 2010.
Specifications
(1988-present)
- Type: Assault Rifle
- Caliber: 5.45x39mm
- Weight: 6.8 lbs (3.1 kg)
- Length: 42.9 in (109 cm) (stock extended), 20.4 in (51.9 cm) (stock folded)
- Barrel Length: 8.1 in (20.7 cm)
- Feed System: 30-round detachable box magazine, 150 (reported) rounds helical magazines (Type 88-2 only)
- Fire Mode(s): Semi-Auto/Full-Auto
Film
Title | Actor | Character | Note | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Take Point | North Korean soldiers | Type 88-2, very likely to be mockups | 2018 |
Video Games
Game Title | Appears as | Mods | Notation | Release Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Phantom Forces | Conversions to 7.62x39mm and regular Type 88 stock available as attachments | Type 88-2 | 2015 |
See Also
- Kalashnikov Concern - A list of all firearms manufactured by Kalashnikov Concern.
- Izhevsk Machinebuilding Plant - A list of all firearms manufactured by Izhmash.