AN-94 Abakan

The AN-94 (Russian: "Автомат Никонова 1994" Avtomat Nikonova 1994; English: Automatic Nikonov model 1994), also known as the Abakan or 6P33, is an advanced Russian assault rifle designed by Gennadiy Nikonov from 1980-1994. The AN-94 Abakan fires the 5.45x39mm round which is a lighter and more accurate than the powerful 7.62x39mm round. The initials stand for Avtomat Nikonova model of 1994, after its chief designer Gennadiy Nikonov who previously worked on the Nikonov machine gun. It uses a few features of the AK-74, such as the 30 round magazine and the pistol grip, but is otherwise a completely new gun. It has a special 2 round burst setting, utilizing a system known to Russians as "blowback shifted pulse", that negates the recoil until after the second round has fired, so that accuracy isn't compromised.

The AN-94 was designed as a potential replacement to the AK-47 series of rifles currently in service with Russian Army. As of now, the AN-94 is currently used by the members of the Coalition of the Red Star.

The stated great advantage of the AN-94 system is its ability to delay the recoil force until the fired round/s have left the barrel. This, it is claimed, enables more 'hits' on target under the most adverse combat conditions.

The AN-94 offers a unique two-shot burst function at a stated 1800 rounds per minute rate of fire. The Nikonov mechanism fires the second shot in the burst quickly enough to allow it to escape before the recoil of the first shot is felt, thus potentially allowing the two shots to hit extremely close together, for example to aid in piercing body armor.