Kalashnikov Concern announced that it rolled out the first batch of experimental production AM-17 carbines chambered in 5.45x39 mm.
The rollout of prime batch AM-17 carbines came shortly after the unveiling of the AK-15 Type 3 assault rifle towards the end of August 2025. Kalashnikov Concern shared the image of the rifles off the line on its Telegram channel.
AM-17 is the 5.45 mm configuration in Kalashnikov’s new AM line -which is a development of the Dragunov MA design- intended as a successor to the AKS-74U in roles such as crew personal defence, law enforcement, and special operations.
While AM-17 has the prime characteristics of its predecessor, like the ammunition type and compactness, the operating system is far from that of the AK mechanism.
Whereas the AK mechanism consists of a single-piece receiver and long-stroke piston operation, AM-17’s mechanism consists of a two-piece receiver and short-stroke piston operation with a rotating bolt. Short-stroke piston has advantages in weight and recoil, which are important parameters for urban combat scenarios that AM-17 is intended for.
In addition to mechanism differences, AM-17 has piccatiny rails from the get-go, whereas AKS-74U requires pre-customisation work to mount optics or suppressors, which also add weight.
In terms of barrel length, despite having an identical size, AM-17 sports a slightly longer barrel at 230 mm compared to AKS-74U’s 206 mm barrel.
Extensive use of polymers as opposed to the AKS-74U has also resulted in a decrease in weight by 0.2 kg, resulting in a weight of 2.5 kg.
