Airsoft enthusiasts have been sharing photos of a nice looking AK-15 rifle in the internet. It looks like the design of the Kalashnikov has been thoroughly modernised with this AK-15, with some saying that it will be replacing the AK-12 in the future given that the Russian forces adopted the AK-12 recently.

The problem is that the AK-15 as shown in the photos is not real, it's a 3D concept art.

According to Alexander of the Red Army Airsoft Club, whilst many praised Kalashnikov for the design others have accused the company to have "sold out to the West" or prefer the old Kalash design better, they are debating on something that is not even in the drawing boards of weapons designers at Kalashnikov Concern.

As Alexander pointed out, the watermark gives away who made this, and it is someone from Moldova, not someone from Russia. If you follow Samardac.com, you are then directed to the website of a 32-year old Moldovan, Alexei Samardac who specialises designing military equipment with 3D tools. He makes his own concepts and can be hired as a freelance 3D designer.

How he designs his concepts are so realistic such as using the Kalashnikov logo, that it led to many concluding that his AK-15 design is an official one from Kalashnikov concern. Even his use of Vitaly Kuzmin's name would even further reinforce that the AK-15 is real given that Kuzmin is known for his photos of Soviet/Russian weapons and military equipment.

Browsing his portfolio, he has nice designs for military vehicles and weapons, including a mech suit, an armoured vehicle and even more futuristic-looking rifles. If an airsoft manufacturer is looking for some original rifle concept to produce  for the airsoft market, Samardac's AK-15 looks like it's a good candidate. The magazine looks like it's either something that will be produced by ICS or G&G Armament.

Now, if you are wondering if there is a real AK-15, The Firearm Blog (TFB) has a story of the AK-15 which was put on display by Kalashnikov, when they sponsored the European Rifle Championship in Hungary last June. It is otherwise called as the Saiga 107 and it still a prototype. According to TFB, the 107/AK-105 is designed for competition use and not for military use.