AK-104

The AK-104 is the compact 7.62x39 mm member of the AK-100 series. It gives users the same general modernization package as the AK-103 but in a shorter carbine format. Modern Firearms groups it with the AK-102 and AK-105, reflecting the AK-100 family division between full-length rifles and compact derivatives. The concept is straightforward: keep the heavy-hitting 7.62 mm cartridge while making the weapon handier for close terrain and vehicle use.

The AK-104 uses the Kalashnikov gas-operated rotating-bolt action in a compact package. Rosoboronexport emphasizes its short-barrel configuration and suitability for demanding tactical environments. Compared with a full-length AK-103, the AK-104 is easier to carry in vehicles, urban spaces, and close-protection roles. The trade-off is predictable: the shorter barrel reduces velocity and increases blast, but the weapon remains powerful at the ranges where compact carbines are normally used.

Operationally, the AK-104 is suited to security units, vehicle crews, special-purpose users, and export customers who want a compact rifle in the standard 7.62 mm AK cartridge. It is less universal than the full-length AK-103 but more practical in confined spaces. Its service significance is the way it packages a traditional cartridge into a modern carbine, preserving ammunition continuity while meeting a different handling requirement.