Bofors CGA-5 (AK-5)

Notes: This standard assault rifle of Sweden was adopted in 1985 after long technical and troop trials, and type-standardized by the Swedish military as the AK-5. The weapon is a development of the FNC, heavily modified for use in cold climates, with stronger butt and bolt group and enlarged trigger guard and handguard for use with heavy gloves. Another difference between the CGA-5 and the FNC is the addition of rail, similar to a MIL-STD-1913 rail, which allows for the mounting of most optics. Over this can be fitted a carrying handle that incorporates a simple low-power 1.5x optical sight with a red-dot-type aiming point. The handle also has a backup iron sight of a special design, easier to use than standard iron sights and incorporating inlays for night use. Plastic 30-round magazines were designed for the CGA-5, but magazines that will fit into an FNC or M-16 will also fit into a CGA-5.

There are several variants of the CGA-5. The standard weapon is a basic folding-stock assault rifle with 17.7-inch barrel tipped with a flash suppressor/muzzle brake that is sized so that standard NATO/Western rifle grenade may be used. The stock not only folds, it is adjustable for length of pull. The handguard allows for the mounting of a bayonet, bipod, or various 40mm grenade launchers of Western-type design. The extractor and bolt carrier assembly of the basic FNC were also improved to grant greater reliability. The charging handle was repositioned slightly from the base FNC to make it more ambidextrous and to allow for a wider selection of underbarrel grenade launchers to be used. The three-round burst mechanism was also removed, the shape of the pistol grip revised, and various parts of the weapon re-done to make easier to use when wearing extreme cold climate clothing (particularly when wearing heavy gloves). A bullpup variant of the CGA-5, called the CGA-5C, was also demonstrated at the same time, but as far as I know, only one prototype of the CGA-5C was built and it was never seriously considered by the Swedish military. The CGA-5B version (called by the Swedes the AK-5B) mounts the British SUSAT 3.5x sight on its sight rail, and is not equipped with iron sights of any kind. It is primarily used as a sharpshooter/designated marksman’s weapon.

Another variant of the CGA-5, called the CGA-5D, was designed later (primarily at the request of Swedish special operations troops) and introduced late in 2001; this version has a genuine MIL-STD-1913 rail and can mount almost any sort of optical, night vision, or laser sight you could name. It is normally issued with a 3x sight, but can also use the standard 1.5x sight, and also has an ergonomic cheekpiece added to the stock. (If equipped with the 1.5x sight, subtract $50 from the game cost.) Some of the early CGA-5Ds were in fact upgraded CGA-5Bs, but most are purpose-built weapons.

The CGA-5C2 (known as the AK-5D to Swedish forces) is a short-barreled carbine variant used mostly by special operations forces, vehicle crews, and as sort of a PDW. It uses a short 9.8-inch barrel and a somewhat larger muzzle brake. It has no iron sights integral to the weapon, but is equipped with a MIL-STD-1913 rail atop the receiver. Vehicle crews and rear-area troops normally have either a laser aiming module or add-on iron sights mounted on the rail, but special ops troops could potentially have anything up there. The CGA-5C2 (AK-5D) Polis is a semiautomatic version of this carbine; it does not have the MIL-STD-1913 rail, but is fitted with conventional FNC-type iron sights (modified for use with the shorter barrel).

Twilight 2000 Notes: All of the rifle variants were in service during the Twilight War, except for (of course) the CGA-5C. The CGA-5D is the rarest variant.