As an additional testament to the long-lasting legacy and impact, the baseline AK-47 inspired a myriad of variants and offshoots, such as the AKM, the 5.45x39mm AK-74, the AK-12, the Saiga 12 ...

The efforts to fully replace the older Kalashnikov assault rifle began in 2018, but as seen in the Kremlin’s ongoing war in Ukraine, it will likely take years for the transition to be completed.