First unveiled in October 1996, the K-3 5.45 mm assault rifle is based on the Kalashnikov action, reconfigured into a bullpup layout.[3] The origins of the design remained a mystery, but there were reports that the K-3 was based on a single prototype produced under the Soviet Union during the late 1980s or early 1990s.[3] By October 1996, over 40 examples of the K-3 had been manufactured in Armenia, although series production had yet entered mass production.[1]
Conceived by the Military Industrial Department of the Armenian Ministry of Defence, the K-3 has been produced in a basic iron-sight form, with the option of mounting a standard PSO-1 ×4 telescopic sight, also produced in Armenia.[1]
K-3 is said to inherit all of the AK-74's advantages in terms of durability and firepower. Yet K-3 supersedes AK-74 in terms of minimisation of recoil, accuracy, ergonomics, balancing and mobility.
Due to the position of its ejection port, the K-3 can only be fired right-handed.[1]
The muzzle of the barrel has an attachment that allows firing of rifle grenades. The new version of K-3 allows firing of grenades without the need for any separate attachments - the grenade can be fired by simply placing it on the barrel. Most of the furniture is nylon-based hard plastic, as is the 30-round curved box magazine, based on that of the AK-74 rifle series.[1]
