Automat Kalashnikov, abr. AK is an automatic carbine, the most common[source?] small arms in the world. Can shoot both in bursts and single shots. It is distinguished by low accuracy and compactness, but undemanding to operating conditions, the shooter's skill level, fairly high reliability and ease of maintenance. It was adopted by the Soviet Army in 1949.
Submachine guns and machine guns of the Kalashnikov system are in service in 55 countries.
The official name of the Kalashnikov assault rifle of the 1947 model is AK. It was under this name that it was accepted into service in the USSR in 1949. The name AK-47, despite the fact that it is more widespread, is not official[2].