AK-74 (Russian: 1974 or "Kalashnikov

automatic rifle model 1974") is an assault rifle developed in the early 1970s, by
Russian designer Mikhail Kalashnikov as the replacement for the earlier AKM (itself
a refined version of the AK-47). It uses a smaller 5.4539mm cartridge, replacing
the7.6239mm chambering of earlier Kalashnikov-pattern weapons.
The rifle first saw service with Soviet forces engaged in the 1979 Afghanistan
conflict.[8] The head of the Afghan bureau of the Pakistani Inter-Services
Intelligence claimed that the CIA paid $5,000 for the first AK-74 captured by the
mujahadeen during the Soviet war in Afghanistan.[9]
Presently, the rifle continues to be used by the majority of countries of the
former USSR. Additionally, licensed copies were produced in Bulgaria (AK-74, AKS74 and AKS-74U), the former East Germany (MPi-AK-74N, MPi-AKS-74N, MPi-AKS74NK) and Romania (PA md. 86).[8][10][11] Besides former Soviet republics and eastern
European countries, Mongolia, North Korean Special Forces, and Vietnamese
People's Naval infantry use AK-74s.