Editing Automatkarbin 5 (section)

==History==
In the mid-1970s, despite the failure of the [[NIVA XM1970|''Nytt infanterivapen'' (New Infantry Weapon)]] program, the Swedish Armed Forces decided to continue to follow the general transition towards [[Intermediate cartridge|smaller calibre ammunition]] and directed the [[Defence Materiel Administration (Sweden)|Försvarets MaterielVerk (FMV)]] (Defence Materiel Administration) to procure a suitable replacement for the [[Ak 4]] capable of using [[5.56×45mm NATO]] ammunition, which under [[STANAG]]{{nbsp}}4172 is a standard cartridge for NATO forces as well as many non-NATO countries.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Infantry-Weapons/CGA5-Ak5-5-56-mm-assault-and-infantry-combat-rifles-Sweden.html |title=CGA5 (Ak5) 5.56 mm assault and infantry combat rifles (Sweden) - Jane's Infantry Weapons |access-date=2012-11-24 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130128031511/http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Infantry-Weapons/CGA5-Ak5-5-56-mm-assault-and-infantry-combat-rifles-Sweden.html |archive-date=2013-01-28 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/2008Intl/Arvidsson.pdf |title=NATO Infantry Weapons Standardization, Per G. Arvidsson, ChairmanWeapons & Sensors Working GroupLand Capability Group 1 – Dismounted Soldier NATO Army Armaments Group |access-date=2016-11-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121201183951/http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/2008Intl/Arvidsson.pdf |archive-date=2012-12-01 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
The weapon was required to be highly reliable in the subarctic climate of northernmost Sweden, as well as being easy to handle and maintain, while meeting a certain minimum level of accuracy.

From 1975 the FMV evaluated and tested the [[Colt M16A1]], [[Stoner 63]]A1, [[ArmaLite AR-18]], [[Steyr AUG]], [[Beretta AR70/90|Beretta M70]], [[IMI Galil]], [[FN FNC]], [[FN CAL]], [[SIG 540]], [[HK33]] and [[FFV 890C]] (a Swedish Galil variant) 5.56×45mm NATO assault rifles. The FN FNC and FFV 890C were tested from 1979 to 1980 at infantry regiment [[Kronoberg Regiment|I11]] in [[Växjö]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gotavapen.se/gota/ak/ak4_5/ak5_history.htm |title=Ak5 history |access-date=2012-11-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130110011258/http://www.gotavapen.se/gota/ak/ak4_5/ak5_history.htm |archive-date=2013-01-10 |url-status=live }}</ref>

After further testing from 1981 to 1985 the FMV eventually chose the Belgian [[FN FNC]], which received several modifications. These included a larger trigger guard and cocking handle (to allow for operation while wearing winter gloves, a necessity for temperatures reaching down to {{convert|-30|°C|°F}}), a larger handguard, a different collapsible shoulder stock, different [[iron sight]]s and gas block, a modified bolt, deletion of the 3-round burst capability, and a corrosion-resistant green (instead of black) finish. Further the detachable [[box magazine]]s were modified to be interchangeable with the [[M16 rifle]] [[STANAG magazine]]s. This rifle was finally accepted by the Swedish military as the Ak{{nbsp}}5 in 1986.

Swedish [[blank ammunition]] uses a wooden plug in place of a [[bullet]], so the [[flash suppressor]] was fitted with grooves to accept the Swedish [[blank-firing adaptor]], which besides choking the barrel to ensure enough gas pressure for reliable operation also prevents potentially dangerous pieces of wood from leaving the weapon by smashing the plug into a fine sawdust. The flash suppressor was also designed to accept rifle grenades, although none have been accepted into service.

During the troop trials there were an alarming number of complaints by soldiers about damaged teeth from being struck in the mouth by the muzzle end. This was revealed to be caused by the practice of having the weapon slung across the chest rather than the back. Rather than changing this practice (which would reduce the ability of the soldier to rapidly bring the rifle into action), a special plastic cap (later changed to a hard rubber version) was issued to cover the muzzle.<ref>SoldMtrl, Arménytt 5/1985.</ref>
[[File:Lumpen.JPG|left|thumb|Ak 5 with teeth guard and [[M203]] mounted at public exhibition event.]]