Ak 5

Ak 5

A Swedish conscript carrying an Ak 5 with the old tubular steel stock, and fitted with a blank-firing adaptor with a protective shroud.
Type Assault rifle
Place of origin Sweden
Service history
In service 1986–present
Used by Swedish Armed Forces, Swedish Police, Norwegian Police
Wars Kosovo War, Afghan War, Chad War Operation Artemis, Lebanon, Macedonia
Production history
Designed 1982
Manufacturer Bofors Carl Gustaf
Produced 1986–present
Variants See Variants
Specifications
Weight Ak 5 empty 3.9 kg (8.60 lb)
Ak 5B empty 4.8 kg (10.58 lb)
Ak 5C empty 4.0 kg (8.82 lb)
Ak 5 loaded 4.5 kg (9.92 lb)
Ak 5B loaded 5.4 kg (11.90 lb)
Ak 5C loaded 4.5 kg (9.92 lb)
30-round steel magazine empty: 0.17 kg (0.37 lb)
30-round plastic magazine empty: 0.10 kg (0.22 lb)
Barrel length Ak 5 / Ak 5B 450 mm (17.7 in)
Ak 5C 350 mm (13.8 in)
Cartridge 5.56×45mm NATO
Caliber 5.56 mm
Action Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire Ak 5 (B) 650–700 rounds/min cyclic
Ak 5C 650 rounds/min cyclic
Muzzle velocity Ak 5(B) 930 m/s (3,051 ft/s)
Ak 5C 870 m/s (2,854 ft/s)
Effective firing range 250 and 400 m sight adjustments
Maximum firing range 3,000 m (3,281 yd)
Feed system 30-round detachable STANAG magazine
Sights Rear flip aperture, front post iron sights
513 mm (20.2 in) sight radius (standard rifle)
optical sights

The Ak 5 or Automatkarbin 5 ("automatic carbine 5", "automatic carbine" being the Swedish term for assault rifle)[1] is the Swedish version of the FN FNC assault rifle with certain modifications, mostly to adapt the weapon to the subarctic Swedish climate. The Ak 5 is the service rifle of the Swedish Armed Forces. The Ak 5 replaced the Ak 4 (a licensed-produced version of the Heckler & Koch G3) in Swedish service. Later versions also accept the Colt M203 grenade launcher attachment. The current standard issue version is the Ak 5C.

History

In the mid-1970s, despite the failure of the Nytt infanterivapen (New Infantry Weapon) program, the Swedish Armed Forces decided to continue to follow the general transition towards smaller calibre ammunition and directed the FMV (Defence Materiel Administration) to procure a suitable replacement for the Ak 4 capable of using 5.56×45mm NATO ammunition, which under STANAG 4172 is a standard cartridge for NATO forces as well as many non-NATO countries.[2][3] The weapon was required to be highly reliable in the subarctic climate of northernmost Sweden, as well as being easy to handle and maintain, while meeting a certain minimum level of accuracy.

After evaluating and testing eleven different 5.56×45mm NATO assault rifles from 1979 to 1985,[4] the FMV chose the Belgian FN FNC, which received several modifications. These included a larger trigger guard and cocking handle (to allow for operation while wearing winter gloves, a necessity for temperatures reaching down to −30 °C (−22 °F)), a larger handguard, a different collapsible shoulder stock, different iron sights and gas block, a modified bolt, deletion of the 3-round burst capability, and a corrosion-resistant green (instead of black) finish. Further the detachable box magazines were modified to be interchangeable with the M16 rifle STANAG magazines. Swedish blank ammunition uses a wooden plug in place of a bullet, so the flash suppressor was fitted with grooves to accept the Swedish blank-firing adaptor, which prevents potentially dangerous pieces of wood from leaving the weapon by smashing the plug into a fine sawdust. The flash suppressor was also designed to accept rifle grenades, although none have been accepted into service.

During the troop trials there were an alarming number of complaints by soldiers about damaged teeth from being struck in the mouth by the blank firing adaptor. This was revealed to be caused by the practice of having the weapon slung across the chest rather than the back. Rather than changing this practice (which would reduce the ability of the soldier to rapidly bring the rifle into action), a special plastic cap (later changed to a hard rubber version) was issued to cover the adaptor.[5]

Variants

CGA5C2

The CGA5C2 (Carl Gustav Automatic Carbine 5 C2) was a prototype model during the evaluation and development of the Ak 5 in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

FFV Ak 5

The first versions of the Ak 5 family were made by the Swedish company FFV Ordnance AB (now part of Saab Bofors Dynamics) under license from FN, with deliveries starting in 1986. The Ak5 is still in the inventory of the Swedish Armed Forces, but is no longer issued to soldiers, having been replaced by the Ak 5C and Ak 5D. This version uses fixed iron sights, and the Swedish Armed Forces have estimated that the maximum practical distance is 400 meters, but it can be used at longer ranges. This brings it in line with the M16, using the Swedish Armed Forces definition of maximum practical distance.[6]

As issued, the Ak 5 did not have a bayonet lug. A bayonet lug adaptor (using the Ak 4 bayonet) is fitted to some rifles for ceremonial duties, such as the Royal Guards at the Stockholm Palace.[7]

FFV Ak 5B

The Ak 5B is the designated marksman version of the Ak 5. Modifications include fittings for a 4×25.5 SUSAT L9A1 tritium sight, a cheek pad on the buttstock, and removal of the iron sights. This weapon was typically carried by squad leaders. This version weighs 4.8 kg (without magazine) and 5.4 kg (with full magazine). Approximately 5200 of this version were made. It is no longer in service.

Bofors Ak 5C

Final version of the AK5C with Aimpoint red dot sight and forward vertical grip

At the beginning of the 21st century the Swedish military wanted a more modern assault rifle for integration in a future Swedish soldier program. The rifle had to have a Rail Integration System, better ergonomics and improved reliability. Instead of purchasing a new assault rifle, Sweden opted to modify the existing Ak 5(B) rifle family already in use reducing program risks and costs.

Before the Ak 5C went into mass production, it was thoroughly evaluated. This was done by having certain units use an experimental model designated Ak 5CF where "F" stands for the Swedish word försök (in this context, experiment or trial). During the trial over 1 million rounds were fired and the rifles exhibited a Mean Rounds Between Stoppage value of 3,500. The test users found the test weapon too heavy and long so the barrel length was reduced to 350 mm to reduce overall weight and move the center of gravity closer to the user. These tests were completed in June 2005 and four months later, the FMV signed a contract with Saab Bofors Dynamics covering the modification of nearly 40,000 AK 5 assault rifles, which took the company approximately 4 years to implement. Serial deliveries were scheduled to begin in June 2006 and the Ak 5C was first issued to priority units serving in Afghanistan (ISAF), Chad (EUFOR Chad/CAR), and Kosovo (KFOR).

The Ak 5C is the modernized version of the original Ak 5, following the trend of modular weapons. One of the most significant improvements is the MIL-STD-1913 rail system to which a variety of different optics, lights and sights can be mounted, such as telescopic sights and image intensifiers. The double gas position, iron sights and bolt catch of the original Ak 5(B) rifle family were discarded.

New features of the Ak 5C compared to the original Ak 5:

The Aimpoint CS red dot sight with a 4 MOA red dot reticle was chosen as the standard optical sight for the Ak 5C. Other day or night aiming optics can also be mounted on the MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail system.

There has been some confusion about the M203 grenade launcher. While the Ak 5C is prepared to accept the launcher, the correct designation (translated from Swedish) would be "Ak 5[version] with grenade attachment" for the combination. The bayonet-lug adapter for the AK4 bayonet is not used with the AK5C. Instead a new bayonet for ceremonial use only was issued to the troops. This bayonet is attached to the 6 o'clock rail on the hand guard.

The Ak 5C is now the standard-issue rifle of the Swedish armed forces, and production of the A and B versions are currently discontinued and existing stock put in storage.

Bofors Ak 5D

Old version Ak 5D with Aimpoint red dot sight

The Ak 5D has a shortened barrel and handguard. It also features the MIL-STD-1913 rail system for easy mounting of a variety of sights.

Due to the smaller dimensions of the carbine, the Ak 5D is especially suited for ranger/urban warfare units and vehicle crews who often benefit from a more lightweight and compact weapon when taking into account the nature of their assignments and the environments in which they often operate. The Swedish Police have used a version of the Ak 5D; see below.

The newest Ak 5D Mk2 version has the same upgrades as the "C" model but retains the shorter barrel.

CGA5P

Some units of the Swedish Police have used a special version of the Ak 5D called CGA5P or sometimes (incorrectly) Ak 5DP. Essentially it is a black (instead of the regular military green) Ak 5D with automatic fire capability disabled by a hex screw. Unlike the Ak 5D, the police version has fixed sights but is still equipped with the MIL-STD-1913 rail system to allow the use of telescopic sights or red dot sights. Unlike its military counterparts (except for the AK5C/D versions), the police version has safety catches on both sides of the weapon.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Automatkarbin 5" [Automatic Carbine 5] (in Swedish). Swedish Army. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
  2. ↑ http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Infantry-Weapons/CGA5-Ak5-5-56-mm-assault-and-infantry-combat-rifles-Sweden.html
  3. ↑ NATO Infantry Weapons Standardization, Per G. Arvidsson, ChairmanWeapons & Sensors Working GroupLand Capability Group 1 – Dismounted Soldier NATO Army Armaments Group
  4. ↑ http://www.gotavapen.se/gota/ak/ak4_5/ak5_history.htm
  5. ↑ SoldMtrl, Arménytt 5/1985
  6. ↑ http://www.forsvarsmakten.se/sv/Materiel-och-teknik/Vapen/Automatkarbin-5/
  7. ↑ http://www.gotavapen.se/gota/artiklar/sv_perm_baj/military/ak5baj.htm

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