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Description
The AK-74 is an updated 5.45x39mm version of the AK-47 rifle that was adopted by the Soviet Union since 1974, replacing the 7.62x39mm AKM rifle. The AK-74, and its modernized variant, the AK-74M , are the standard service rifles of the Soviet Union and the Russian Federation from 1974 to the present day; though some Soviet/Russian special forces units and front line soldiers have used 7.62x39mm AK rifles in post-1974 conflicts, they represent only a minority exception, and the vast majority of Soviet/Russian infantry forces use standard 5.45x39mm rifles since 1974 (although as of 2018 it is to be steadily phased out for the AK-12 ).

The AK-74 and its variants primarily saw service in the Soviet Union and later the former Soviet republics. Some Soviet Bloc countries also made eforts towards adopting the 5.45x39mm cartridge following the Soviet Union. While some like East Germany manufactured AK-74s under license, other countries like Poland and Romania instead developed indigenous 5.45x39mm Kalashnikov rifles like the kbk wz. 88 Tantal and the PA md. 86 ; these latter rifles resemble the Soviet AK-74, but had more in common with their own locally-designed AK variants than with the Soviet AK-74, and should not be confused with the AK-74.

Another visually similar rifle of note is the Norinco Type 84S , a Chinese 5.56x45mm AK variant. They are commonly used in Western movies and TV shows to impersonate the AK-74, and can be easily confused with genuine Soviet/Russian AK-74s.

Description
The AK-74 is an updated 5.45x39mm version of the AK-47 rifle that was adopted by the Soviet Union since 1974, replacing the 7.62x39mm AKM rifle. The AK-74, and its modernized variant, the AK-74M , are the standard service rifles of the Soviet Union and the Russian Federation from 1974 to the present day; though some Soviet/Russian special forces units and front line soldiers have used 7.62x39mm AK rifles in post-1974 conflicts, they represent only a minority exception, and the vast majority of Soviet/Russian infantry forces use standard 5.45x39mm rifles since 1974 (although as of 2018 it is to be steadily phased out for the AK-12 ).

The AK-74 and its variants primarily saw service in the Soviet Union and later the former Soviet republics. Some Soviet Bloc countries also made eforts towards adopting the 5.45x39mm cartridge following the Soviet Union. While some like East Germany manufactured AK-74s under license, other countries like Poland and Romania instead developed indigenous 5.45x39mm Kalashnikov rifles like the kbk wz. 88 Tantal and the PA md. 86 ; these latter rifles resemble the Soviet AK-74, but had more in common with their own locally-designed AK variants than with the Soviet AK-74, and should not be confused with the AK-74.

Another visually similar rifle of note is the Norinco Type 84S , a Chinese 5.56x45mm AK variant. They are commonly used in Western movies and TV shows to impersonate the AK-74, and can be easily confused with genuine Soviet/Russian AK-74s.