Project Lantan: Poland Designs a Modular AK in 7x41mm

Cool Forgotten Weapons merch! In the early 1970s, Poland wanted to replace their Kalashnikov rifles. The Soviet Union was developing the AK-74, but the Poles wanted to make a more ambitious advance in small arms systems. They launched Project Lantan (Polish small arms programs were code named after minerals and periodic table elements). The plan was to create a modular system similar in concept to the Stoner 63 - a single universal receiver that could be fitted with different components to create variety of weapons. These could include a short carbine, infantry rifle, mag-fed light machine gun, squad automatic, or vehicular machine gun (fired by spade grips or remote solenoid). The cartridge developed for the rifle was an indigenous 7x41mm round that was longer and more efficient than . Two pr