Bofors AK-5

     Notes: Also known as the CGA-5, this standard assault rifle of Sweden was adopted in 1985 after long technical and troop trials, and type-standardized by the Swedish military as the AK-5.  The weapon is a development of the FNC, heavily modified for use in cold climates, with stronger butt and bolt group and enlarged trigger guard and handguard for use with heavy gloves.  Another difference between the AK-5 and the FNC is the addition of rail, similar to a MIL-STD-1913 rail, which allows for the mounting of most optics.  Yet another difference is the deletion of the 3-round-burst setting; the Swedish military felt that a properly-trained soldier should be able to make 3-round bursts on the automatic setting and keep themselves from firing wastefully. Over this can be fitted a carrying handle that incorporates a simple low-power 1.5x optical sight with a red-dot-type aiming point.  The handle also has a backup iron sight of a special design, easier to use than standard iron sights and incorporating inlays for night use.  Plastic 30-round magazines were designed for the AK-5, but magazines that will fit into an FNC or M-16 will also fit into a AK-5.

     There are several variants of the AK-5.  The standard weapon is a basic folding-stock assault rifle with 17.7-inch barrel tipped with a flash suppressor/muzzle brake that is sized so that standard NATO/Western rifle grenade may be used.  The stock not only folds, it is adjustable for length of pull.  The handguard allows for the mounting of a bayonet, bipod, or various 40mm grenade launchers of Western-type design.  The extractor and bolt carrier assembly of the basic FNC were also improved to grant greater reliability.  The charging handle was repositioned slightly from the base FNC to make it more ambidextrous and to allow for a wider selection of underbarrel grenade launchers to be used.  The three-round burst mechanism was also removed, the shape of the pistol grip revised, and various parts of the weapon re-done to make easier to use when wearing extreme cold climate clothing (particularly when wearing heavy gloves).  A bullpup variant of the AK-5, called the AK-5C, was also demonstrated at the same time, but as far as I know, only one prototype of the AK-5C was built and it was never seriously considered by the Swedish military.  The AK-5B version mounts the British SUSAT 3.5x sight on its sight rail, and is not equipped with iron sights of any kind.  It was primarily used as a sharpshooter/designated marksman’s weapon. 

     Later, another AK-5C was introduced as a modernized AK-5, and it later became the standard-issue version of the AK-5 in Swedish use.  (The AK-5 and AK-5B were discontinued in production and put into storage.) For the most part, it is similar to the AK-5.  However, it is much more reliable (Mean Rounds Between Stoppages of 3500+ rounds), barrel was shortened to 13.8 inches, and the weight reduced by re-engineering. And MIL-STD-1913 rails on the top of the receiver and handguard and on the bottom of the handguard. The stock is not only sliding, but folds to the right side, and on the rails are folding BUIS.  A bolt catch keeps the bolt open when the magazine is emptied, and the controls are ambidextrous.  The standard magazines issued with the AK-5C (and other AK-5s from this point) are of translucent plastic, though the AK-5C can still use any AR magazine. The pistol grip is slimmer and at a more ergonomic angle. The sides of the handguards have cutouts for pressure switches and cables for accessories.  A detachable forward grip (also useable on other properly-equipped AK-5s) was added to the AK-5C.  On the top rail was mounted the now-standard Aimpoint CS red dot sight with a 4 MOA reticle.

     Another variant of the AK-5, called the AK-5D, was designed later (primarily at the request of Swedish special operations troops) and introduced late in 2001; this version has a genuine MIL-STD-1913 rail and can mount almost any sort of optical, night vision, or laser sight you could name.  The AK-5D has four-point MIL-STD-1913 rails on its handguards. It is normally issued with a 3x sight, but can also use the standard 1.5x sight, and also has an ergonomic cheekpiece added to the stock.  (If equipped with the 1.5x sight, subtract $50 from the game cost.) Some of the early AK-5Ds were in fact upgraded AK-5Bs, but most are purpose-built weapons. The AK-5D Polis (also known as the CGA-5P or, incorrectly, the AK-5P) is a semiautomatic version of this carbine; it does not have the MIL-STD-1913 rails, but is fitted with conventional FNC-type iron sights (modified for use with the shorter barrel). The automatic feature is disabled by the use of a hex screw in a certain spot, and can be restored by removing this hex screw.  The AK-5D Polis is also colored all-black, instead of the OD green of military AK-5s.

     The AK-5C2 is a short-barreled carbine variant used mostly by special operations forces, vehicle crews, and as sort of a PDW.  It uses a short 9.8-inch barrel and a somewhat larger muzzle brake.  It has no iron sights integral to the weapon, but is equipped with a MIL-STD-1913 rail atop the receiver.  Vehicle crews and rear-area troops normally have either a laser aiming module or add-on iron sights mounted on the rail, but special ops troops could potentially have anything up there. 

     Twilight 2000 Notes: All of the rifle variants were in service during the Twilight War, except for (of course) the AK-5C.  The AK-5D is the rarest variant. 

Weapon

Ammunition

Weight

Magazines

Price

AK-5

5.56mm NATO

3.9 kg

20, 30

$797

AK-5C2

5.56mm NATO

3.3 kg

20, 30

$573

AK-5B

5.56mm NATO

4.1 kg

20, 30

$847

AK-5C

5.56mm NATO

4 kg

20, 30

$757

AK-5D

5.56mm NATO

4.14 kg

20, 30

$855

AK-5D Polis

5.56mm NATO

3.27 kg

20, 30

$567

 

Weapon

ROF

Damage

Pen

Bulk

SS

Burst

Range

AK-5

5

3

1-Nil

4/6

2

4

46

AK-5C2

5

2

1-Nil

3/4

2

4

18

AK-5B

5

3

1-Nil

4/6

2

4

46

AK-5C

5

3

1-Nil

4/5

2

4

32

AK-5D

5

3

1-Nil

4/6

2

4

46

AK-5D Polis

SA

2

1-Nil

3/4

2

Nil

18