The AK-12 project began in 2011 by the IZHMASH factory which became part of the Kalashnikov Concern as a private venture, in an attempt to participate in the "Ratnik" trials which were held by the Russian Army. It was further developed by Kalashnikov Concern, and throughout its development and evaluation stage it has received multiple modifications to meet the Russian military's standard and to address the Russian Army's concerns regarding the cost and issues in the fully automatic fire of the earlier prototype models. It went through several revisions in order to improve upon the "range of defects" that were discovered on the earlier prototype models derived from the AK-200. These were later abandoned in favor for the proven and improved AK-400, which was finalized as the AK-12 and AK-15. Now, Kalashnikov has delved into the civilian market releasing the AK19. The 5.56 mm AK-19 is a new assault rifle for the foreign market using NATO standard 5.56x45 mm cartridges, popular around the globe. This model is the pinnacle of AK system development, different from the previous generations by its elaborate ergonomics, all-day usability and increased accuracy and precision.