I recently did a piece about 'tactical' AKs - 'SOPMOD AK - heresy?' -  illustrating some of the accessories - primarily rails - that were available for full sized AK variants. Notable by their absence were any such railed add-ons for the 'shorty' AK variants, in particular the very popular AKS74U.

Above: The forthcoming Land Arms M-83U interface rail. Credit: Airsoft-news.eu

I do remember thinking that this was a little strange for two reasons. First of all, the AKS74U is an ideal CQB AK, more authentic than the numerous 'Spetz' models out there, and a very nice looking SMG sized AK. Additionally, a very high quality RIS does actually exist for the real steel AKS74U, made by the US firm of Samson.

Above: The beautifully engineered Sampson 'K-Rail' Model 2, from which the Land Arms M-83U RIS interface owes not a little to in inspiration. Credit: Samson Manufacturing

So when Airsoft-news.eu announced that Land Army were  working on the M-83U RIS interface for AKS74U replicas I was very pleasantly surprised.

Now I understand that such tactical bolt-ons are not every AK fan's cup of tea - indeed they are something of a hate object by Kalashnikov purists - but one must remember that with the current Russian Army modernization even the spartan AK is starting to get a few more accessories available to it than just a bayonet. But more particularly, airsoft AK users want the same level of accessories as their Armalite carrying brethren, particularly when rails offer real practical advantages, as in the area of CQB.

Credit: Airsoft-news.eu

Tactical torches,  laser aiming devices, vertical grips and front end red dot sights all have their place in the CQB arena, and while AK purists may like to hearken back to the more utilitarian Soviet era the modern Russian Army, and Spetsnaz units in particular, have been shown to be keen to seek every tactical advantage they can in urban and anti-terrorist operations. To the point where many Western originated accessories have been photographed in use by Russian soldiers.

So, sacrilege or no, it seems apt that the compact 74U - finally -  gets in on the act.