According to Russian news agency TASS, the Kalashnikov Concern officials have informed them that the AK-12 has successfully passed all the government tests and trials and it is planned to be adopted by the Russian armed forces. The key phrase is “planned to”, which means it is not quite official yet. The Kalashnikov Concern also released a video showing some design details of their newest firearms like the AK-12, AK-15, RPK-16 etc.

As you can see in the video, this is not the original AK-12 which was initially introduced. The gun that will possibly be adopted is rather a heavily modified AK-74. It is chambered in 5.45x39mm (as expected) and comes with a number of improvements. The new magazine has “windows” for visual reference of the remaining amount of ammunition. The magazine is also said to be modified to be used as a monopod. I assume they mean the angled shape of the baseplate area of the magazines, which should make the gun more stable when rested on the magazine.

The quick-detach muzzle brake also has a slightly different shape than that of the AK-74. I think the crown shaped front portion of the muzzle device is to aid the flash suppression. Note that the front sight is now located on the gas block. The gas block also must be an adjustable one judging by its protrusion.

They also moved the rear sight back, just like it is on Galil rifles. Also, the dust cover fixation mechanism is pretty interesting. It is hooked at the rear portion and fixed in place by the gas tube locking lever axis. Pretty Kalashnikov-style simple solution! That should make a much more rigid dust cover which in turn will make a good optics mounting surface.

AK-15 is basically the same gun but chambered in 7.62x39mm. The RPK-16 is the new light machine gun which features a removable barrel and a new 96-round drum magazine.

Other, more common improvements are the ergonomic pistol grips, adjustable stocks, Krebs-style safety selector levers and Picatinny rails all over the new guns.