The Army Contracting Command-New Jersey (CCNJ) posted a notice "seeking potential sources to supply AK-74-type Kalashnikov Assault Rifles and Support Parts" on the U.S. government's SAM.gov contracting website yesterday. CCNJ said this posting was made on behalf of the Program Manager for Soldier Lethality (PMSL) and the Combat Capabilities Development Command-Armaments Center (CCDC-AC), but offered no further details about why either entity might be interested in this potential purchase and what the guns might be used for more specifically. The War Zone has reached out to the Army for more information.
The contracting notice also does not say how many of the Soviet-designed AK-74s the Army might be looking to buy in total, but does offer specifics in terms of what the Army is looking for in terms of the weapons themselves. "For the purposes of this effort, the AK-74-type Kalashnikov Assault Rifle is defined as follows: One (1) AK-74-type Kalashnikov Assault Rifle with fixed stock and approx. 16 inch barrel."
A standard array of accessories to go along with each gun — four magazines, one cleaning kit, one oil bottle, one shoulder sling, and one user's manual — is also desired. However, the Army says it will "recognize that the availability of these accessories is dependent on the condition and source of the rifles and may not be included."
CCNJ's notice is somewhat confusing in terms of what alternative guns it says the Army might be willing to accept in lieu of actual Soviet/Russian-produced AK-74s.