If Ukrainian troops switch from the AK to the HK132, they should benefit from a precision weapon and locally available ammunition (Picture: MOD) — If Ukrainian troops switch from the AK to the HK132, they should benefit from a more precise weapon and more readily available rifle ammunition (Picture: MOD)

Ukraine

Ukrainians may swap AK for HK as Western arms manufacturer chooses Eastern calibre

Ukrainian soldiers will soon be able to field Western-built weapons that can fire ammunition designed for the Warsaw Pact-type equipment they would normally use.

The armed forces of Ukraine are equipped with a mish-mash of Western and Eastern European small arms, with a corresponding mix of calibres, presenting some logistical difficulties.

But firearms manufacturer Heckler & Koch has now announced it will be manufacturing some of its own weapons in Warsaw Pact calibres, simplifying ammunition supply.

One such weapon is the HK132, which is being chambered in 7.62x39mm, a calibre found in some Kalashnikov assault rifles as well as the RPD and RPK light machine guns.

Marc Roth, HK's Task Force Leader Ukraine, told German trade journal European Security & Technology that Ukrainian soldiers were having to field a mix of weapons to match the available ammunition.

In general, weapons like the Kalashnikov AKM tend to be more tolerant of dirty, dusty or muddy conditions, are simpler to operate and can continue to function with less maintenance.

Western small arms, in contrast, are usually more precise and offer easier fitting of optics and accessories.

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Soviet/Warsaw Pact-era small arms come in three main calibres:

:: 5.45×39mm is a rimless bottlenecked cartridge, similar to the Nato 5.56x45mm cartridge, and is typically seen in rifles like the Kalashnikov AK-74 and 74M.

:: 7.62×39mm is also a rimless bottlenecked intermediate cartridge, used in the AKM, its light machine gun derivatives and the more modern AK-12.

:: 7.62×54mmR is a rimmed rifle cartridge that has been in service since 1891. It is used in weapons such as the Dragunov DVD designated marksman/sniper rifle and machine guns like the PKM. Its Nato equivalent is the 7.62x51mm cartridge.

Despite adding Warsaw Pact calibres to its line-up, Heckler & Koch insisted the weapons it develops in Nato calibres would take priority.

Swapping calibres from West to East or vice versa is nothing new, as Russian arms manufacturer Kalashnikov Concern offers the AK-12 in both 5.56x45mm and 7.62x51mm Nato.