Why did the Russian military switch from the AK-74M to the new AK-12 as their primary rifle for their rank and file soldiers? How has the new rifle performed in combat so far based on early reports from the front lines in Ukraine? It might seem strange to switch platforms especially since the new one fires the same exact 5.45mm ammunition from the same exact magazine with similar rates of fire.Written by: Chris Cappy & Diego AceitunoEdited by: Savvy StudiosBut it’s more complicated than simply comparing weapon stats one to one, because once you pop open the hood you realize the AK-12 was originally meant to be delivered as one single part of a much larger whole. It was a component of the major overhaul of the Russian infantry modernization program, called “Ratnik,” It’s like Aristotle famously said, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts and that’s the case here the AK-12 is one single part that when combined with all the Ratnik pieces , promised to create an infantryman 10 times more capable.But was the Russian ministry of defense able to successfully roll out those upgrades? And are the rumors true about the AK-12 needing to get a complete redesign after poor soldier feedback from their experiences fighting in Ukraine? Join me as I take a deep dive into the updates on how Russia’s infantry modernization program is playing out in real time with their new rifle, the AK-12.