Whilst many of us have already purchased or thinking of purchasing the new AK-12 (and AK-15) AEGs being sold by airsoft manufacturers, some may just want to hold-off and wait for an airsoft manufacturer to get into the act and come up with the new Kalashnikov AK-19 assault rifle that is being previewed at the Army-2020 Forum that is taking place at the Patriot Park in Russia next week.

According to Kalashnikov Media the AK-19 is a variant of the AK-12 but will fire the 5.56x45mm NATO round instead of the 5.45×39 mm that is used by the AK-12 whilst the AK-15 uses the 7.62×39mm round. The 5.45×39 mm is the standard cartridge used by the Russian military.

The AK-19 is still under development and our initial impression is that it looks like a more “Magpulized” Kalashnikov rifle. It has a polymer stock that folds to the left and is adjustable in length. The muzzle has a birdcage-style flash hider which will then can accept quick detach suppressors.

The magazine retains the design elements of the AK-12, which is a polymer magazine but with a heeled floorplate and has witness windows to indicate how many rounds are remaining in the magazine. The barrel length is 415 millimeters and it weighs 3.35kg.

We’ll find out more in the following days if we can get more media reports on this during the Army 2020 Forum.