Russia Legacy Tula Arms Plant
AEK-971
A gas-operated assault rifle developed by the Kovrov Mechanical Plant using a balanced-recoil action that cancels reciprocating-mass momentum for improved automatic-fire accuracy. It competed against the AN-94 in the Abakan program and remains used in limited numbers by Russian special units.
In service since 1978 · 2 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
600
m range
900
rpm
890
m/s
30
rds
💲 ≈ $2,500, Approximate export unit price estimate
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
Russian state channel
Rosoboronexport monopoly; Western sanctions exposure and payment/logistics risk for many buyers.
Channel: Rosoboronexport (state)
Fielded & proven
Limited · 2 operators
In service since 1978. Status: legacy · ~5,000 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
Unit cost known; one-shot / small-arms class has no meaningful O&S tail to model.
Interoperability
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Effective range Distance at which the weapon reliably hits point targets. Higher extends engagement envelope. | 600 m |
|---|---|
| Rate of fire Rounds per minute (cyclic). Higher increases suppression and hit probability. | 900 rpm |
| Muzzle velocity Projectile speed leaving the barrel. Higher means flatter trajectory and better armor penetration. | 890 m/s |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Main armament Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type. | 5.45×39 mm |
|---|---|
| Caliber Bore diameter of the main gun or rifle. Larger throws heavier projectiles; not simply better, ammunition commonality matters. | 5.5 mm |
| Ammunition Rounds carried (main gun) or standard magazine capacity. | 30 |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 0.97 m |
|---|---|
| Empty weight Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew. | 4 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 1 |
| Barrel length Barrel length, longer improves muzzle velocity and accuracy, shorter improves handling. | 415 mm |
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Unit cost Approximate flyaway/unit cost where public. Defense pricing varies hugely by contract, offsets and configuration. Lower is cheaper. | $2,500 |
|---|---|
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 5,000 |
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 2 |
Specifications compiled from public Tula Arms Plant and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
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Brugger & Thomet APC9 Frequently asked questions
How many crew does the Tula Arms Plant AEK-971 require? +
The Tula Arms Plant AEK-971 requires a crew of 1.
What is the main armament of the Tula Arms Plant AEK-971? +
The Tula Arms Plant AEK-971's primary weapon is the 5.45×39 mm.
What is the Tula Arms Plant AEK-971 used for? +
The Tula Arms Plant AEK-971 is a rifle & long arms typically used for infantry combat.
How many countries operate the Tula Arms Plant AEK-971? +
The Tula Arms Plant AEK-971 is operated by 2 countries.
How much does the Tula Arms Plant AEK-971 cost? +
The Tula Arms Plant AEK-971 has an approximate unit cost of 2,500 USD. Defense pricing varies by contract, offsets and configuration, treat this as directional.
