AO-46
The AO-46 was a gas-operated 5.45×39mm caliber, compact carbine/assault rifle prototype. It features a folding stock and the trigger is located just in front of the magazine, which doubles as a pistol grip. In order to minimize the length of the gun, gas for automatic operation was collected not out of the barrel, but directly from the flash suppressor in the muzzle.
AO-46
Nickel nitride · CC0
- Name
- AO-46
- Field
- personal defense weapon · assault rifle
- Period
- 1964
- Region
- Soviet Union
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
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Documentary summary
The AO-46 was a gas-operated 5.45×39mm caliber, compact carbine/assault rifle prototype. It features a folding stock and the trigger is located just in front of the magazine, which doubles as a pistol grip. In order to minimize the length of the gun, gas for automatic operation was collected not out of the barrel, but directly from the flash suppressor in the muzzle.
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wikidata · Q4054036
In this article
Overview
Overview
Despite having the latter feature, the combination of a relatively powerful cartridge and short barrel produced a flash comparable to that of a sawed-off shotgun. The weapon was an unsolicited design by Peter Andreevich Tkachev working at TsNIITochMash. Although not accepted for service, this design, in combination with report of the US use of the XM-177 in Vietnam led the GRAU to start the competition known as Project Modern, which led to the adoption of AKS-74U for service. Although the Soviet doctrine did not have an equivalent concept, the AO-46 design corresponds to the Western concept of personal defense weapon (PDW).
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — AO-46 • Origin — Soviet Union • Type — Carbine/Assault Rifle Personal defense weapon • Is Ranged — YES • Designer — Peter Andreevich Tkachev • Design Date — 1969 • Weight — 2.0 kg (4.4 lb) • Length — 655 mm (25.7 in) stock extended / 458 mm (18.0 in) stock folded • Part Length — 245 mm (9.7 in) • Cartridge — 5.45×39mm • Caliber — 5.45 mm • Action — Gas-operated, Select-fire • Rate — 700 rpm • Velocity — 715 m/s • Max Range — 400 m • Feed — 15-round box magazine • Sights — Iron sights
Chronology
Dated record
Chronology
The full dated record · 2 entries
1964
AO-46 first recorded.
1964
AO-46 is recorded from 1964.
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Broader subject
1- assault rifleTerminology
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AO-46 is classified as a personal defense weapon or assault rifle. Associated with Soviet Union. Recorded from 1964. Connected to 3 other published records in the VALÉORINE Encyclopedia.
Within the Encyclopedia
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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