AK-82
Development
Evoans followed closely SNTL's development of the new 5.45x39mm caliber ammunition at the 1960's when SNTLs designers opted to adopt more modern assault rifle concepts, partially inspired by the Evoan AK-58. When the SNTL's AKJ was fielded, Evo did not immediately follow the suite for replacing the 7.62mm caliber stocks, but design work for 5.45mm adaptation of AK-58 begun at Saraste Machinery Works design department. Testing took place most of the 1970's and it focused on producing as much possible comparability with the existing AK-58 production, as well as with SNTL's AKJ line. This was to ensure both affordable production expenses, but also to compete the SNTL weapon exports and economical aid projects inside the Red Block, where AKJ and its new caliber was becoming the standard. The prototype begun testing in 1977 and various details, such as different barrel lengths and sight profiles as well as stock configurations were considered, before settling in with the model that was placed in production as AK-82 TP
Design
AK-82 TP follows AK-58 in its principal operation mechanism, and the AK-82 TP's receiver has 80% comparability with the older rifle. Biggest differences comes in form of side folding stock that featured more prominent structure. As the Increasing of the compactness of overall infantry equipment, the Evoan People's army issued the AK-82 only in this folding stock configuration, and fixed stock models were only tested during prototype stage. The naming convention however had made lots of Southern Block observations to reference to a erroneous existence of plain AK-82, such rifle does not exist. Another big change was the replacement of the original sliding tangent aperture sight with simpler flip sight with two positions: 150m and 300m. The hand guard has been rearranged for better ergonomics and the muzzle features an AKJ style muzzle brake. They can be fitted with side rails on the left side of the receiver to mount various optical sights, including the KT-2-82 4x optical sight, reverse engineered copy of Chandorean UIGIT sight. An under-barrel rocket launcher, KKRHM firing 40x47mm rounds development in the 1980's can be fitted to AK-82 and AK-58 series of rifles.
Production and History
Production of AK-82 TP started at 1982 and it begun equipping the EPA units during the 1980's gradually replacing the AK-58 from front line use. It was extensively deployed in the Evoan troops involved in the Saanksi civil war from 1984 onward and subsequent unrest among the steppes. By 1990's Evoan's begun to actively follow SNTL's modern firearm projects that aimed at increasing the accuracy of automatic fire and assault rifles in general. In mean time the production of AK-82 TP switched to AK-82 TPM that featured new improved material quality plastic hand guards and grips, as well as magazines, and all were converted to dark colors to improve the invisibility of the weapon. They were mainly produced by Yrpäjä's Weapon Mill's while the Saraste Machinery Works geared for the next generation AK-96 production in parallel. After the Ak-96 was deemed unsatisfactory for military use, a program to improve the AK-82 for more traditional ways begun, and the resulting AK-17 introduced new stock and furniture around the proven basic concept of the AK-82. In total, over 1 000 000 weapons have been produced by the present day.
Versions
- AK-82 TP Produced from 1982 to 1993.
- KP-84 A sub-machine gun/PDW variant development analog to the rifle version. Inspired by the SNTL's AKJL, and by the Rimian assault-rifle carbines, the concept of the shortened AK-58 72 TPL was further adapted into a shorter, 207mm barrel and reduced length gas block and hand guard. It was intended to reinvent the concept of Sub-machine gun as rear-echelon personal weapon for those troops that needed more compact weapon than full length assault rifle and more powerful one than a pistol. While sacrificing some accuracy and firing range, the KP-84 proved an compact compromise for various roles, and was fielded by EPA and the Miliisi, as well as other Interior Ministry's security forces.
- AK-82 TP M Version with modern furniture and metallurgical improvements in the production methods. It features a lighter bolt and bolt carrier as well as features standard non-detachable sight rail on the left side of the receiver. A three-round burst mode was added to the fire-selection options and operates with ratcheting device attached to the trigger group. Produced 1994-2017
- AK-82 TP M L Although the KP-84 became rather successful in filling a role where the Military had no previous weapon, the overall performance was not satisfying some elements of the military that wanted more rifle like shorter alternative to both AK-82 TP and for the Never AK-96, which mechanical features prevented creating of successful shorted model. In AK-82 TPML the Ak-58 72 TPL's 317mm barrel length was reintroduced and the weapon was labeled as shortened assault rifle rather than sub-machine gun as its predecessor.
- AK-96 in late 1980's Evo participated as observer in the SNTL's Rifle advancement program and while the SNTL opted for revolutionary caseless ammunition, Evo decided to improve the automatic fire's accuracy by introducing recoil reducing counter-mass operation, where additional gas-block drives a mass forward to the muzzle while firing, creating balancing forces that reduces the recoils effect on shooters accuracy. The operating mechanism worked otherwise similar to AK-58, but several details were changed, such as moving the operation handle to the left side (as in many Capitalist block rifles). The Rifle featured integral carrying handle and 1.5 x magnifying optical sight as well as folding tubular stock with telescopic features to adjust the length. Although impressive in paper and theoretical conditions, the AK-96 was soon found over complicated for mass production, as its expenses were 3 times more than those of AK-82 TPM. The optical sights often broke during conscript training and their fixed nature demanded whole weapons to be send for repair shops, and the recoil balancing action further complicated the maintenance in environment that had for decades been accustomed for robust and simple AK-58/82 rifles. After production of the initial 100 000 gun batch, the production ceded after lots of controversy.
- AK-17 TP After the Failure of AK-96, the Saraste Machinery work begun a improvement program for the existing AK-82 design to produce more economical, robust and versatile weapon. Experiences from the 2001's 3rd Great war promoted more adjustable platform, and when AK-17 was finally accepted in service in 2017, it had gone trough several conceptual variants. AK-17 features new barrel assembly and fixed gas block cover, that is free-floating outside the hand-guard. Pistol grip, hand guard and stock are all of new design, and more ergonomic, the stock retains the adjustability of the AK-96's tubular stock, but offers integrated cheek rest and reintroduces the storage room for maintenance equipment. The scope attaching rails have been moved top of the reciever and additional rails for the hand guard. The rear sights have been simplified and integrated to the railings. An shorter 317mm barrel version AK-17 TPL was also introduced after the success of the AK-82 TPML.
Spesifications
- Caliber: 5.45mmx39mm
- Length: 920mm/672mm (AK-82 TP), 923mm/712mm (Ak-96), 744mm/496mm (KP-84), 840mm/592mm AK-82 TPML
- Barrel lenght: 415mm (rifle variants), 317mm (AK-82 TMPL and AK-17 TPL), 207mm (KP-84)
- Weight without magazine: 3.1 kg (AK-82 TP), 2.7 kg (KP-84), 3.8 kg (AK-96)
- Magazine weight (30 rds): 0.23 kg
- Muzzle velocity: 880 m/s (rifles), 725 m/s KP-84
- Rate of fire: 700 rds/min theorethical, 120 rds/min practical
- Effective firing Range: 700m rifles, 200m KP-84
