AK-74

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	Weapon: AK-74 Type: Assault Rifle Country of Origin: USSR Year Adopted: 1974 Overall Length (mm): 940.0 Overall Length (in): 37.01 Weight (kg): 3.00 Weight (pounds): 6.61

The AK-74 was designed in the early 1970s by Mikhail Kalashnikov and his team as a successor to the iconic AK-47, adopting the new 5.45x39 mm cartridge to improve accuracy, velocity, and controllability. Its design retained the rugged gas-operated, rotating bolt system of its predecessor but incorporated a distinctive muzzle brake to reduce recoil and muzzle climb, making it highly effective in automatic fire. The rifle was officially adopted by the Soviet Army in 1974 and became the standard infantry weapon of the Warsaw Pact during the Cold War.

Production of the AK-74 and its variants ran into the millions, with widespread manufacturing not only in the Soviet Union but also in other Eastern Bloc nations. Variants such as the AKS-74 (with folding stock), AK-74M (modernized with polymer furniture and scope rails), and the carbine-sized AKS-74U expanded its use across different branches of the military. The design philosophy of durability, simplicity, and adaptability ensured that the weapon could be mass-produced and remain reliable in extreme conditions, further solidifying its place in global arsenals.

The AK-74 earned notoriety during the Soviet-Afghan War of the 1980s, where its small-caliber, high-velocity rounds demonstrated both effectiveness and controversy, particularly with reports of their wounding patterns. It has since been employed in conflicts across Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia, continuing to serve in Russian and allied forces into the present day. Its legacy is that of a weapon that bridged the technological gap between the older AK-47 and modern assault rifles, influencing small-arms development worldwide.