The AK-74 is a 5.45 mm assault rifle aapted in the early 1970s in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov from the earlier AKM. It was introduced in 1974 and first saw service with Soviet forces engaged in the Afghanistan conflict. The weapon’s name is an abbreviation for Avtomat Kalashnikova Model 1974 (Russian: Автомат Калашникова образца 1974 года or "Automatic Rifle Kalashnikov Model of 1974"). Currently the weapon is in use by the majority of countries of the former USSR. Additionally, unlicensed versions were produced in Bulgaria (AK-74 and AKS-74U), China (Type 88), the former East Germany (MPi-AK-74N, MPi-AKS-74N, MPi-AKS-74NK), Poland (wz. 1988 Tantal, wz. 1989 Onyks) and Romania (AKS-74).