AK-103
The AK-103 is an assault rifle designed in Russia by Russian small arms designer Mikhail Kalashnikov in 1994. It is a derivative of the AKM in the configuration similar to the AK-74M. The AK-103 can be fitted with a variety of sights, including night vision and telescopic sights, plus a knife-bayonet or a grenade launcher. It uses plastic components where possible instead of wood or metal, with such components being the pistol grip, handguards, stock and depending on the type, the magazine.
Design details
Protective coatings ensure excellent corrosion resistance of metal parts. Forearm, magazine, butt stock and pistol grip are made of high strength plastic.The AK-104 is a compact version of the AK-103. It has a muzzle brake derived from the older AKS-74U combined with a shorter barrel. It is also chambered for 7.62×39mm ammunition.
Magazines
The current issue steel-reinforced matte true black nonreflective surface finished 7.62×39mm 30-round magazines, fabricated from ABS plastic weigh empty. Early steel AK-47 magazines are long, and the later ribbed steel AKM and newer plastic 7.62×39mm magazines are about shorter.The transition from steel to mainly plastic magazines yielded a significant weight reduction and allow a soldier to carry more rounds for the same weight.
| Rifle | Cartridge | Cartridge weight | Weight of empty magazine | Weight of loaded magazine | Max. ammunition load* |
| AK-47 | 7.62×39mm | 16.3 g | Slab-sided steel | 30-rounds | 11 magazines for 330 rounds |
| AKM | 7.62×39mm | 16.3 g | Ribbed stamped-steel | 30-rounds | 12 magazines for 360 rounds |
| AK-103/AK-104 | 7.62×39mm | 16.3 g | Steel-reinforced plastic | 30-rounds | 13 magazines for 390 rounds |
Note: All, 7.62×39mm AK magazines are backwards compatible with older AK variants.
Note *: 10.12 kg is the maximum amount of ammo that the average soldier can comfortably carry. It also allows for best comparison of the three most common 7.62×39mm AK platform magazines.
Variants
AK-103
Select fire version for the military marketAK-103-1
This is a semiautomatic version for the police and civilian marketAK-103-2
This version has a three-round burst feature added in between full automatic and the fully engaged semi-automatic settings and is intended for the police and civilian marketsAK-103N2
Has a mount for the 1PN58 night scopeAK-103N3
Has a mount for the 1PN51 night scope[AK-104]
Carbine version of the AK-103AK-103M
Modernised version of the AK-103[STL-1A] - [Vietnam]
A version known as the STL-1A is made by Factory Z111 and is used by the PAVN. Another modernized version called the STL-1B is currently planned. It first appeared in the 2018 Indo Defence Expo & Forum.KR103
A semi-automatic clone of the AK-103 made by Kalashnikov USAAn American Made AK-103 made by in South Carolina. Its forged internal parts, hammer forged barrel and side-folding option make it one of the premier AK-103 clone options on the market today.
Users
- : Used by the Para-Commandos
- : The licensed production of the AK-103 started in July 2020.
- : Used By Special Operations Police and Black Cobra Unit along side AK 104 and AK 101
- : The Gafat Armament Engineering Complex produces the AK-103 rifle in Ethiopia. Supplements the AKM and AK-47 in the Ethiopian Armed Forces. It's reported in 2014 that the deal didn't go through at all.
- Guardians of Religion Organization
- : Used by Naval Special Forces, MARCOS, Indian army and police.
- : The sale of an undisclosed number of AK-103s for use by sections of the Iranian special forces was negotiated. The weapons were reported to be shipped to Iran on August 2016. The IRGC is reported to be using the AK-103.
- : Seen in the hands of anti-Gaddafi forces and loyalists in numerous photos. The rifles in use are the AK-103-2 version.
- MUJAO used an ex-Libyan AK-103-2 in Agadez and Arlit attacks in 2013.
- : Used by Maldives National Defense Force.
- : Used by Namibian Marine Corps
- : Used by National Border Service.
- : Used by the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
- : Used by various special police groups, special operations forces and civilians.
- : Used by Airborne Units and Special Security Forces in the Royal Saudi Land Forces. A license to produce AK-103 rifles was granted to Saudi Arabia in 2017.
- : Used by police.
- : Standard issue weapon of the Venezuelan Army. Made under license by CAVIM with initial licensing fee payments made in 2006 and the transfer of Russian-made AK-103s to Venezuela in 2008. CAVIM's AK-103 factories opened officially in 2012 without the necessary manufacturing equipment. CAVIM-made AK-103s were delivered to the Venezuelan Army in 2013. Due to trouble with the plant with the Russian contractor failing to meet deadlines with a case of fraud, which forced CAVIM to finish the rest of the construction, full-scale production will start by 2019.
- : Original AK-103s are in limited use in the military, however the locally produced STL-1As are found much more commonly in use in the military.