| OTs-12 | |
| Type: | Assault rifle Carbine |
| Designer: | V. N. Telesh and U. V. Lebedev |
| Number: | 350 |
| Length: | 730 mm 490 mm (folded) |
| Origin: | Russia |
| Is Ranged: | Yes |
| Design Date: | Early 1990s |
| Manufacturer: | TsKIIB SOO (Central Design Bureau of Sporting and Hunting Weapons) |
| Production Date: | 1993 |
| Weight: | 2.5 kg (empty) |
| Part Length: | 206.5 mm |
| Cartridge: | 9×39mm |
| Rate: | 800 rounds/min |
| Range: | about |
| Feed: | 20-round detachable box magazine 25-round magazine (experimental) |
| Sights: | Iron sights |
The OTs-12 Tiss [1] is a Russian fully automatic compact assault rifle. It is chambered for the subsonic 9×39mm round.[2]
The Tiss is meant to equip OMON and SOBR units in CQB-based operations.[2]
The rifle was developed in the early 1990s in TsKIB SOO of Tula designers VN Telesh and Yu.V.Lebedev. It is basically an AKS-74U re-chambered for 9×39mm, it was designed as alternative to the AKS-74U.[3] The TsKIB COO of Tula made several hundred of OTs-12s, which were transferred to the Interior Ministry security forces.
Despite the good evaluation, the Tula Arms Plant did not put the rifle into mass-production.[3] They instead opted for a bullpup configuration known as OTs-14 Groza, which became its successor.
In 2018, a replica of the Tiss was reported to be designed by Daniel Fisher of KNS Precision.[4]
The main design changes from the AKS-74U are in the bolt, barrel, muzzle-brake, and magazine.[5] Early versions were made with a long barrel.[2]
The 20-round box magazine was designed so that it would be compatible with standard current-issue ammo pouches, but a larger 25-round magazine was in early production until its cancellation.
The subsonic round showed superior penetration of cover at short and medium ranges (200–300 m) when compared to the 5.45×39mm.[5]
Criticism was placed on the Tiss since a user cannot clean the gas outlet.[2]