9A-91, A-91 and A-91M Assault Rifle Russian Weapons

9A-91 Assault Rifle, A-91 Assault Rifle, A-91M Assault Rifle

This was designed in response for a compact assault rifle for use at close ranges. Originally in competition with the Vikhr, both weapons were eventually selected; the Vikhr for very short ranges and the 9A-91 Assault Rifle and A-91 Assault Rifle for slightly longer range operations. The 9A-91 Assault Rifle began small-scale production at Tula in 1994, more to allow combat and operational testing than anything else. Prototypes were designed in 7.62mm Kalashnikov, 5.45mm Kalashnikov, 5.56mm NATO, and 9mm SP-5/SP-6/PAB-9, but only the 9mm version survived the development process and went into production. It was originally meant to be sort of a PDW and for special operations use, but instead was primarily issued to the MVD (Interior Ministry, sort of a Russian equivalent of the FBI) and Police SRT-type units.

9A-91 Assault Rifle

The 9A-91 Assault Rifle is gas-operated with a rotating bolt and a long-stroke gas piston; in this aspect it is similar, but not the same as, the AK-series’ operation. Construction is largely of steel, with a stamped steel receiver and machined working parts. The pistol grip and handguard are of polymer, with a strut-type steel stock that folds over the top of the weapon. The fire selector is a thumb switch above the left side of the trigger guard. Flip-up aperture sights are provided calibrated for up to 200 meters on the longrange sight, though the short barrel, the ammunition, and the short sight base makes accurate shots at that range virtually impossible.

9A-91 Assault Rifle

The 9A-91 Assault Rifle is also capable of mounting virtually all Russian optics, and can also mount an underbarrel GP-25 grenade launcher. The 9A-91 Assault Rifle is designed for use with rifle grenades or bayonets. The 7.19-inch barrel is tipped with a spoon-type muzzle brake (which unfortunately also greatly increases the muzzle blast); this is mounted on threads which allow the use of a screw-ontype suppressor.

9A-91 Assault Rifle with attached silencer and red-dot sight

The A-91 Assault Rifle (also called the A-91M) was introduced a few months later than the 9A-91. Though it uses the same basic operation and features of the 9A-91 Assault Rifle, the A-91 Assault Rifle is a bullpup weapon with a polymer housing with steel reinforcement instead of being allsteel. The A-91 also has an integral GP-25 grenade launcher beneath the barrel of the weapon (though pre-production models used a clip-on GP-25 mounted above the barrel). The handguard also includes a foregrip, which may be used to stabilize the weapon when firing or as a pistol grip when firing the grenade launcher.

A-91 Assault Rifle

Ejection carries the spent shells forward slightly to above the rear pistol grip and ejects them forward, which sort of allows left-handed shooting. Unfortunately, the fire selector is of the AKtype, and mounted at almost the end of the buttstock on the left side; this makes the selector lever particularly difficult to use when the weapon is shouldered. The rear sights are located on a top-mounted carrying handle/sight base, with a front post sight. The carrying handle also has a Russian equivalent of a Weaver rail, allowing the use of Russian optics as well as many Western optics.

A-91M Assault Rifle

While one of the chamberings of the A-91 is 5.56mm NATO, proprietary magazines are used. The A-91 cannot use a bayonet or rifle grenades. The 7.6-inch barrel is tipped with a slot-type muzzle brake, mounted on threads which may also accept a screw-on type suppressor. This muzzle brake is unfortunately also known to increase muzzle blast more than most muzzle brakes. (The GP-25 portion is covered under Russian Grenade Launchers).

A-91M Assault Rifle

This weapon signaled a possible return in Russia to the 7.62mm Kalashnikov round; reports starting in the late 1990s indicate that Russian soldiers, especially those involved in special operations, were not happy with the 5.45mm Kalashnikov round, citing lack of stopping power and penetration. They also wanted a more-compact, more manageable weapon, particularly when deploying in helicopters. The A-91M was developed in response to this requirement, but there is no indication that it has been produced in quantity, nor any sure reports of it being issued to any particular unit.

It has only actually been seen at various defense expositions and international arms shows. The GP-95 grenade launcher was specifically designed for use with this weapon, and is in fact an integral part of the rifle. The weapon is gas-operated with an almost totally enclosed receiver, and the weapon is designed to be equally usable by left and right-handed firers, despite its bullpup construction, as the cases are ejected towards the front of the weapon. Full development was halted by the advent of the Twilight War, but small numbers of the A-91M appear to have been produced and issued. As such, this weapon was only issued to Spetsnaz, Alpha Teams, and KGB personnel, and even then only in small numbers.