The Heavy-hitting Subsonic 12.7mm ShAK-12 Assault Rifle
The story begins in 2002 with the development of the VKS sniper rifle and the entry of the ASh-12 assault rifle, which eventually evolved into the current ShAK-12. This weapon was designed by a team led by the renowned Vladimir Viktorovich Zlobin. It completes a family of weapon systems built around the new heavy-hitting 12.7x55 cartridge.
In 2002, a design team led by Vladimir Viktorovich Zlobin developed the VKS Vykhlop project along with its ammunition. The VKS Vykhlop is a large-caliber sniper rifle created to fulfill the FSB Special Purpose Center requirements. Later, in 2011, the Assault Rifle 12 (ASh-12) was officially adopted.
The ShAK-12 is classified as an automatic assault carbine that uses the 12.7x55mm STs-130 cartridge. Although it is chambered for the same caliber as the VKS sniper rifle, the two weapons are not fully compatible. The longer overall length of the cartridges designed for the VKS leads to this incompatibility.
This bullpup special-purpose assault rifle was developed for urban close quarter operations by TsKIB SOO, the Central Design and Research Bureau of Sporting and Hunting Arms, a subsidiary of the KBP Instrument Design Bureau, at the request of the Special Purpose Center (TsSN) of the Federal Security Service (FSB).
The Customer
The FSB is Russia's primary security agency. It plays a crucial role in maintaining national security through various functions, including intelligence gathering, law enforcement, counterterrorism efforts, and border protection, to name a few. The FSB traces its roots back to the KGB, which was dissolved following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The agency underwent several transformations before becoming the FSB. Initially, two agencies were created: the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) for external intelligence and the Federal Counterintelligence Service (FSK), established in 1993 and later renamed the FSB in 1995.
The FSB's TsSN is critical to Russia’s counterterrorism and special operations capabilities. Established as part of the FSB, it includes several elite units, such as Alpha Group and Vympel, tasked with missions requiring specialized weapons to meet different mission sets. These units conduct urban and counterterrorist operations, and there has been ongoing demand for specialized weaponry to support these efforts.
The Ammunition
The ShAK-12 is designed to chamber the 12.7x55mm STs-130 cartridge. Various types of ammunition include a 278-grain (18 g) armor-piercing projectile with a steel core, a heavy subsonic projectile weighing 509 grains (33 g) with a lead core, a light ball projectile weighing 108 grains (7 g) with an aluminum core, and a duplex cartridge, a multi-bullet cartridge containing projectiles weighing 262 grains (17 g) each. Additionally, a recent patent has been filed for a triplex cartridge. Muzzle velocities of these rounds average 970 fps (295 m/s), producing kinetic energy ranging from 595 ft-lbf (807 J) to 1095 ft-lbf (1485 J).
The Gun
The ShAK-12 assault rifle operates using a short recoil mechanism and features a multi-lug rotary bolt locking system. Its bullpup design allows for a shorter overall length while maintaining an adequate barrel length. The rifle ejects spent casings to the right side. The receiver is made of stamped steel, and the fore-end and lower receiver are polymer. The short recoiling action along with the two-chamber muzzle brake/compensator and the rubber butt pad should help with absorbing recoil.
The weapon has an ambidextrous safety above the trigger guard and an ambidextrous selector switch at the rear of the receiver. It uses proprietary detachable box magazines with capacities of 10 or 20 rounds. A top-mounted Picatinny rail is also available for attaching optics and other accessories. The ShAK-12 is reported to come with two types of suppressors: a short suppressor designed for light subsonic ammunition and a longer one intended for heavy subsonic rounds.
The ShAK1-12 system is distinctive because it is compatible with a proprietary accessory: a single- or rotary multi-shot grenade launcher. The weapon weighs 13 lbs. (6 kg), but I could not find information on the barrel length.
Thoughts and Conclusion
Since its introduction in 2011, the ShAK-12 has attracted attention at various military exhibitions due to its unique design and capabilities. However, detailed information about its deployment within Russian law enforcement or military units remains scarce. This lack of transparency raises questions about its operational effectiveness and user acceptance.
The ShAK-12 is currently limited in its deployment. While it can potentially be an effective weapon for stopping light vehicles at distances up to 300 meters, its practical use within Russian forces is still being explored. However, if the concept is introduced and implemented correctly, it could have significant potential. Observing how this weapon is issued and utilized during operations would be interesting.
Sources:
Lynndon Schooler is an open-source weapons intelligence professional with a background as an infantryman in the US Army. His experience includes working as a gunsmith and production manager in firearm manufacturing, as well as serving as an armorer, consultant, and instructor in nonstandard weapons. His articles have been published in Small Arms Review and the Small Arms Defence Journal. https://www.instagram.com/lynndons
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Seems like a pretty unnecessary design.