K-3
Garni-Ler · Assault Rifle · Prototype · 1996
Also known as: Garni-Ler K-3, K3
Overview
The K-3 is a select-fire assault rifle chambered in 5.45x39mm, produced by Garni-Ler since 1996. Safety features include manual safety selector, reflecting modern design standards that prioritize safe handling and operation. As a recognized participant in the global firearms industry, Garni-Ler applies modern manufacturing technology and quality control processes to deliver products that compete effectively in a market where reliability and performance are non-negotiable requirements for both civilian and professional end users.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3400 g (119.9 oz) |
| Overall Length | 700 mm (27.56") |
| Barrel Length | 415 mm (16.34") |
| Action Type | Gas Operated Rotating Bolt |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 30 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 900 m/s (2953 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 1389 J (1024 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 400 m (437 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 1000 m (1094 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 600 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Polymer |
| Finish | Matte Black |
Calibers
- 5.45x39mm · primary — also known as 5.45x39mm Soviet, 5.45mm Soviet
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic, Burst 3, Full Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety Selector
- Features: Bullpup Configuration, Gas Operated System, Rotating Bolt, Ak 74 Magazine Compatible, Iron Sights, Pso 1 Scope Rail, Flash Suppressor, Rifle Grenade Launcher Capability, Right Hand Ejection Only
Service history
Operators
- Armenian Armed Forces
Production
Estimated total produced: 40 · Production years: 1996-2000s
Only approximately 40 pre-production units were built before the program was effectively cancelled. The rifle never entered mass production.
Origin
Country of origin: Armenia
Designer: Military Industrial Department, Armenian Ministry of Defence
Notes
The K-3 is based on the AK-74 action mechanism reconfigured into a bullpup layout. Due to the position of its ejection port, the rifle can only be fired right-handed. It accepts standard AK-74 30-round magazines and can also use 45-round magazines. The muzzle has an attachment allowing the firing of 3K-3 fragmentation rifle grenades, and a newer version reportedly fires grenades without any separate attachment. An adjustable diopter rear sight and front post are standard, with an optional PSO-1 4x telescopic sight. Despite its promising design, the K-3 never progressed beyond the prototype stage in significant numbers, with only approximately 40 pre-production units reportedly manufactured.
Background
The K-3 represents Armenia's ambitious but ultimately unsuccessful attempt to develop an indigenous assault rifle during a period of intense regional insecurity following the Nagorno-Karabakh War. Unveiled at an Armenian defense exhibition in October 1996, the bullpup design was remarkably innovative for a small post-Soviet nation with limited defense manufacturing infrastructure. By reconfiguring the familiar and readily maintainable Kalashnikov action into a compact bullpup package, Armenian designers sought to create a weapon that combined Soviet-era reliability with modern ergonomics. The use of standard AK-74 magazines ensured compatibility with existing ammunition stocks and logistics chains. However, the extremely limited production run of roughly 40 units tells the story of a defense industry constrained by economic realities. The K-3 remains one of the most obscure assault rifle designs of the post-Cold War era, known primarily to small arms researchers and military historians.