Kalashnikov Concern AM-17

Lore & Background

The AM-17 was first unveiled at the Russian Army Expo 2017 alongside the integrally suppressed AMB-17. Its development began in the late 2010s and was based on the Yevgeny Dragunov MA compact assault rifle. In November 2024, the AM-17 completed acceptance trials, with serial production expected to begin in 2025. On September 1, 2025, Kalashnikov Concern reported that the first experimental batch had been manufactured.

The AM-17 is designed for close quarters operations, primarily for combat vehicle crews, special forces, and law enforcement units of the Russian Interior Ministry, Russian National Guard, and Russian Army to replace the AKS-74U. It features an integrated upper full-length MIL-STD/1913 Picatinny rail system, a polymer side-folding and adjustable telescoping buttstock, and the upper receiver has elongated slots along its sides, providing ambidextrous controls for both the fire selector and the charging handle.

Unlike previous firearms in current use by the Russian military, the AM-17 employs two receivers that connect on a hinge instead of a single stamped receiver with a lid. The upper receiver is made from polymer and steel reinforcements, while the lower receiver along with its magazine housing is made entirely from polymer and connected by two captive take down cross-pins, reducing weight and allowing easier access to the internal operation. The gas-operated action is a short-stroke gas piston and rotary bolt which locks with three radial lugs on the bolt head, similar to historic 9×39mm compact assault rifles such as the VSK-94. The bolt carrier within the upper receiver is almost streamline by design, raising it towards the bolt group to reduce both bolt friction and felt user recoil.

Reader's Guide

The AM-17 represents a significant departure from traditional Russian compact assault rifle design, notably through its hinged two-receiver construction and extensive use of polymer. Its development, based on the earlier Dragunov MA, aimed to provide a lighter, more ergonomic replacement for the AKS-74U for close-quarters roles. The integration of a full-length Picatinny rail and ambidextrous controls reflects modern small arms trends. The AM-17's acceptance trials in late 2024 and the manufacture of a first experimental batch in September 2025 indicate progress toward serial production, though as of the available information, it remains in limited use with Russian agencies such as the FSB, FSO, Russian National Guard, and VVS for firearms testing. The AM-17M full-length variant and the AMB-17 integrally suppressed variant chambered in 9×39mm show the platform's potential for further adaptation, but both remain in prototype or early development stages.

Did You Know?

• The AM-17 uses a hinged two-receiver design instead of a single stamped receiver with a lid.
• The AMB-17 variant is chambered in 9×39mm and is integrally suppressed.