RATMIL AKM-63
Notes: This
Romanian variant of the AKM is not only one of the most unique-looking AKM
variants; it is also one of the lightest.
This is achieved by extensive use of plastics, light alloys, and light
woods. The AKM-63 features a
foregrip (though later models dispensed with this to make manufacturing easier
and to allow the attachment of a grenade launcher).
India purchased about 100,000 of the AKM-63 due to the problems with
acquiring 5.56mm ammunition for its new INSAS assault rifle and difficulties
with finding someone who would replace their aging FN-FALs and L-1A1s; these
AKM-63s are in the process of being replaced by the now-available INSAS and new
purchases of Tavor-series rifles from Israel.
The AKM-80 is
the carbine variant of the AKM-63; the primary changes are the chopped barrel
and lighter sort of folding stock.
It is also able to accept a 20 round magazine in addition to the normal 30-round
magazine. The barrel is so short
that it can be difficult to control, and the lack of a flash suppressor does not
help with the massive muzzle blast.
Compared to the AKM-63, the AKM-80 is rare, but the AKM-63 was produced in such
large numbers that this is not saying much.
The AKM-80 cannot mount a bayonet, nor can it mount a grenade launcher.
Twilight 2000 Notes: A
very large portion of the Romanian Army was still armed with the AKM-63 or
AKM-80 at the start of the Twilight War.
In addition, a large amount of replacement handguards were also
manufactured to replace the ones with foregrips and allow a larger use of GP-25
and AG-40 grenade launchers. India
started to receive AKM-63s in 1994, but the shipments abruptly ceased in early
1995 after the Indians had received a mere 8,000 of them.
The AKM-80 was a fairly common weapon among vehicle crews and certain
command personnel; though Romania did not have much in the way of a special
operations capability, the AKM-80 was also used by those special ops soldiers
she did have.
The AIMS also
known as the AKM-65, is a variant of the AKM which is slightly heavier than the
AKM-63 due to differences in the folding stock.
It was also designed to reduce costs, using the less-expensive folding
stock version, a 45-degree gas block, and a rear trunnion using less rivets.
Shooting wise, it is identical to the AKM-63 (in game terms).
Merc 2000 Notes:
by 2002, the Romanians had managed to dump virtually all of their AKM-63s on the
international military and civilian markets in favor of newer weapons.
Aside from India, the best place to find an AKM-63 was in Africa or
Southeast Asia.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
AKM-63 |
7.62mm Kalashnikov |
3.1 kg |
30 |
$827 |
AKM-80 |
7.62mm Kalashnikov |
2.8 kg |
20, 30 |
$783 |
AIMS |
7.62mm Kalashnikov |
3.2 kg |
30 |
$827 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
AKM-63/AIMS |
5 |
4 |
2-Nil |
4/5 |
4 |
9 |
46 |
AKM-80 |
5 |
3 |
2-Nil |
3/5 |
3 |
7 |
29 |
RATMIL AK-86
Notes: This is
the Romanian counterpart of the AK-74; it is not really a Romanian
variant of the AK-74, since RATMIL
used the AKM as a base and then converted it to fire 5.45mm Kalashnikov.
Like the RATMIL version of the AKM, the standard version is lighter than
its Russian counterpart due to the use of polymer furniture; however, early
production models used wooden furniture and had a foregrip, like the AKM-63.
(These early production versions are rarely seen in Romanian service
anymore, but many collectors are interested in them.)
The early production model also lacked any sort of flash suppressor or
muzzle brake, but current production models have a RATMIL-designed flash
suppressor. When found with a
grenade launcher, it is normally fitted with the AG-40 instead of the GP-25.
The fire selector allows for safe, semiautomatic, automatic, and 3-round
burst. The other difference is the
different stock style, with a skeletonized stock on the AK-86 and a very light
metal stock on the AKS-86 (also known as the AIMS-74; though the AIMS-74
designation was not given to the 5.56mm NATO version) and AKS-97; these versions
also used less experience (in real life) and use a 45-degree gas block, a
less-expensive folding stock, and a rear trunnion with less rivets.
A modified training version of both types is also available, firing .22
Long Rifle ammunition, and RATMIL began selling a model firing 5.56mm ammunition
in 1996, in anticipation of Romanian entry into NATO.
The training rifle differs in having a solid hardwood stock and sights
calibrated for shorter ranges; the 5.56mm NATO model also has different sights
suited to the ammunition. Both can
still mount a bayonet or a grenade launcher.
The last
version, the AKS-97, is designed for use by special operations, bodyguards, and
for CQB. It is essentially the
AK-86 with shorter barrel. It can
still mount an underbarrel grenade launcher, but cannot use a bayonet.
Rumors say that the Romanians are working on a “tricked out” version of
the AK-97 with a MIL-STD-1913 rail atop the receiver and four-position rails on
the handguards, but this has not been confirmed.
Twilight 2000
Notes: Most Romanian soldiers not armed with the AKM-63/80 were armed with the
AK-86 or its carbine variant. Most
of the training rifles have been converted back to 5.45mm.
The 5.56mm version was never produced.
The AK-97 is available, but only in small numbers.
Merc 2000 Notes: This
weapon was almost also very common on the world market, but not as popular as
the AKM-63/80. The 5.56mm version
has seen some sales, but is out of production by 2002; the AK-97 version in
5.56mm was particularly disliked due to high muzzle blast and a flash suppressor
that was ill-suited to the round.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
AK-86 (Early
Production) |
5.45mm Kalashnikov |
3.21 kg |
30, 40 |
$656 |
AK-86 |
5.45mm Kalashnikov |
3.1 kg |
30, 40 |
$671 |
AKS-86 |
5.45mm Kalashnikov |
3.1 kg |
30, 40 |
$691 |
AK-86 |
5.56mm NATO |
3.1 kg |
20, 30, 40 |
$747 |
AKS-86 |
5.56mm NATO |
3.1 kg |
20, 30, 40 |
$767 |
AK-86 Trainer |
.22 Long Rifle |
3.57 kg |
20 |
$227 |
AK-97 |
5.45mm Kalashnikov |
2.8 kg |
30, 40 |
$645 |
AK-97 |
5.56mm NATO |
2.8 kg |
20, 30, 40 |
$722 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
AK-86 (Early) |
3/5 |
3 |
1-Nil |
5 |
2 |
4/6 |
45 |
AK-86 (5.45mm) |
3/5 |
3 |
1-Nil |
5 |
2 |
4/6 |
45 |
AKS-86 (5.45mm) |
3/5 |
3 |
1-Nil |
4/5 |
2 |
4/6 |
45 |
AK-86 (5.56mm) |
3/5 |
3 |
1-Nil |
5 |
2 |
4/6 |
41 |
AKS-86 (5.56mm) |
3/5 |
3 |
1-Nil |
4/5 |
2 |
4/6 |
41 |
AK-86 Trainer |
3/5 |
-1 |
Nil |
5 |
1 |
1/2 |
34 |
AK-97 (5.45mm) |
3/5 |
2 |
1-Nil |
3/5 |
2 |
4/6 |
28 |
AK-97 (5.56mm) |
3/5 |
2 |
1-Nil |
3/5 |
3 |
4/6 |
25 |