Russia Develops New Intermediate Cartridge

The Russian defense industry developed a new intermediate cartridge together with a capture of small arms for it.

The patent was published on the website of the Federal Institute of Industrial Property of the Russian Federation.

On December 12, 2023, the Federal Service for Intellectual Property registered patent RU 2809501 C1 for the “increased penetration” ammunition developed by the Tula Cartridge Plant.

A new intermediate cartridge designed with this patent is made in caliber 6.02×41. At this point, it is still being tested and not adopted.

The creation of a new cartridge is explained by designers as a response to the challenges posed by the advent of more advanced individual protective gear for military personnel, which has significantly diminished the effectiveness of cartridges in calibers 5.45×39 and 7.62×39.”

The decision to choose a new caliber is explained by the limitations of the geometric dimensions of existing calibers, within which it is impossible to create ammunition with values of external and internal ballistics significantly better than standard ammunition.

6.02×41 Cartridge

In fact, work on the project of a promising cartridge in a new caliber was started by the Tula Cartridge Plant in cooperation with the Kalashnikov concern in 2020. In this cooperation, the first company was engaged in the development of a cartridge, while “Kalashnikov” created weapons for it.

Several studies concluded with the selection of the 6.02×41 caliber, which proved to be optimal in terms of a combination of recoil impulse and penetrating power.

Structurally, the cartridge comprises a case with a primer, a propellant charge, and a bullet featuring an armor-piercing core. It measures 55 to 63 mm in length. The casing has a bottle shape (taper 1.0-1.5°), and its free internal volume is at least 1.9 cm3.

It is reported that the increased penetration capability of the cartridge at longer distances, compared to calibers 5.45×39 and 7.62×39, is achieved through the design of the bullet and improved exterior ballistics.

The new cartridge retains the kinetic energy of a 6.7-gram bullet of about 500 J at a range of 900 meters, while the 5.45 and 7.62mm bullets hold a similar value at ranges of up to 500 meters.

A new generation of weapons

It is reported that the claimed characteristics of the new cartridge were confirmed in tests with a promising АК-22 assault rifle.

The new assault rifle was developed by the Kalashnikov concern on the basis of the already developed АК-12 design.

In addition, the concern also adapted the Chukavin semi-automatic sniper rifle to the new cartridge.