AIM

   The Romanian AIM assault rifle is a license-produced version of the Soviet AKM with some minor upgrades. It is a standard infantry rifle in service with Romanian Army. This weapon was widely exported.

   It is a gas operated, selective fire weapon, chambered for Soviet 7.62 x 39 mm ammunition. It is worth mentioning that this assault rifle has inferior accuracy to most Western designs. However it inherited unsurpassed reliability, ruggedness, simplicity of operation and maintenance of the AKM. This weapon do not jams or misfires in worst conditions possible. Also it has reliable extraction even with dirty chamber and cases. This weapon can be field stripped in one minute without using any tools. Unfortunately the Romanian AIM has poor ergonomics and is badly balanced.

   The safety / fire mode selector lever has single fire and full-auto modes. In "safe" position it locks the bolt group and the trigger and also serves as a dust cover.

   The Romanian AIM can be easily distinguished by it's additional vertical grip. It makes weapon more controllable during fully automatic firing. This assault rifle was produced with a wooden stock, however late models were fitted with a side-folding metal stock.

   The AIM has a sighting range of 1 000 meters, however it's effective range is only about 300 - 400 m. This assault rifle is fed from the standard AK 30-round magazines. It is compatible with a bayonet and 40-mm underbarrel grenade launcher.

Variants

   AIMS, version with a folding metal stock. It was intended for airborne troops. It is a license-produced version of the Soviet AKMS. The AIMS is also available in carbine version, with a shorter barrel. Later carbine versions were fitted with a side-folding metal stock.