AK-47
Military abbreviation · Weapon and Military Equipment
| Stands for | Avtomat Kalashnikova (Kalashnikov automatic rifle), model 1947 |
|---|---|
| Categories | Military |
AK-47 stands for Avtomat Kalashnikova (Kalashnikov automatic rifle), model 1947, a weapon and military equipment abbreviation.
Soviet assault rifle designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov, adopted in 1949 and firing the 7.62x39mm cartridge. AK-pattern rifles are the most widely produced firearms in history, prized for reliability and simplicity.
Example: Rebels armed with AK-47s and RPGs controlled the checkpoint.
Usage notes
Estimates of AK-pattern rifles produced worldwide run to tens of millions, often cited as about 100 million. Variants include the AKM and the 5.45mm AK-74. The rifle appears on the flag of Mozambique. Many weapons called "AK-47" in news reports are actually later variants or copies.
Related abbreviations
More weapon and military equipment abbreviations
- AAM – Air-to-air missile
- AAV – Assault Amphibious Vehicle
- ACOG – Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight
- ACV – Amphibious Combat Vehicle
- AH – Attack helicopter
- ALCM – Air-launched cruise missile
- AMRAAM – Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile
- APC – Armored personnel carrier
- APFSDS – Armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot
- AR-15 – ArmaLite Rifle, model 15
- ATACMS – Army Tactical Missile System
- ATGM – Anti-tank guided missile