LCT LKR-9 AEG; ASTER II Bluetooth® ETU

Starting at the tip of the outer barrel, we can find a Vityaz-style muzzle brake, which helps reduce recoil in the real firearm. It is constructed from steel with a fantastic gun metal finish. It attaches to the barrel via 14mm CCW male threads with a spring-loaded detent built into the front sight to prevent rotation and ensure the device is positioned correctly. Whilst the LCT LKR-9 looks fantastic with its muzzle brake, it also looks amazing with a suppressor or tracer unit, which can be installed thanks to the common 14mm CCW male threading.

The front sight/gas block is appropriately styled after the real PP-19 Vityaz, and includes an adjustable front sight post and a single slot of 20mm Picatinny rail at the bottom. This is the perfect location to add a tactical flashlight, but could also be used for a bipod if you want to make an LCT LKR-9 DMR and upset some real steel fanatics!

To the rear of the front sight/gas block, we can find the handguard caps, which hold the polymer handguards tightly onto the SMG for a rock-solid feel. These handguard caps are constructed from steel, as one might expect, being made by the prestigious LCT, known for using only high-quality materials. On the lower handguard cap, we can find our first sling point, which is positioned on the left side and ideally suited to an AK-style sling when used together with the sling point on the stock.

The handguards of the LCT LKR-9 are full AK length, meaning if you have large hands, you will not feel cramped holding this AEG like you might with an AKS-74U or AK Beta Spetznaz style short AK. The lower handguard features ribs on either side for the classic modernised AK look, matching the AK-74M, AK10x series and other Russian modernised AKs whilst providing exceptional gripping qualities. This is a massive improvement over traditional wood handguards, which can become a hassle to keep hold of if they get wet.

The lower handguard also has a full-length 20mm Picatinny rail built into the bottom, and a short section on the right side, at the 3 o'clock position. This means that although the LCT LKR-9 is based on the AK design, you can, in fact, add 20mm Picatinny accessories straight out of the box, including vertical and angled foregrips for improved handling or lasers and tactical flashlights for a special forces look. The upper handguard is slick but has a slightly rough feel indicative of the fibre-reinforced polymers used in its construction.

Moving rearwards, we come to the trunnion block, to which the rear sight of the LCT LKR-9 mounts. This is the typical AK style tangent open sight with a wider rear notch for faster sight acquisition when exchanging fire at close range. This sight adjusts in the same way a standard AK rear sight does, by squeezing the textured buttons on either side of the slider, you can move, raise and lower the sight to suit your engagement range.

The sight is marked in tens of meters, which only applies to the real LCT LKR-9, but is a nice addition for authenticity. On the right side of the trunnion block, we can see the handguard/gas tube removal lever, which can be rotated upwards to remove the upper handguard.

Following the trunnion block, we come to the receiver, which is constructed from steel with a thick and hard-wearing paint finish which matches real Russian AKs of recent years perfectly. As with all AKs, real or Airsoft, this receiver will still develop the classic AK selector lever scratch, but this is an iconic part of the real-steel style.

Up top, we are also treated to a 20mm Picatinny receiver rail as part of the hinged top cover, which creates a stable platform suitable for mounting optical sights and retaining a good zero. This means you can treat yourself to Western 20mm Picatinny-mounted optical sights, leaning into the Russia meets America style!

The battery compartment of the LCT LKR-9 can be found beneath the hinged top cover and can be accessed by pressing the button at the rear of the receiver inwards, similarly to a standard AK. With the button pressed, the top cover will hinge open, and inside you can find a Deans connector to which you connect your battery. For the LCT LKR-9, we recommend a 7.4V  LiPo 1000mAh stick battery for the best combination of a comfortable fit and long-term durability.

The lower receiver of the LCT LKR-9 follows a familiar format; it looks like an AK, but smaller! The fire selector can be found on the right side and is the renowned AK-style hybrid selector/dust cover with its recognisable shape. The selector lever is constructed from steel and has a smooth gunmetal finish, which contrasts with the more matte style finish on the receiver. As with the AK rifle, the selector offers 3 fire modes: safe at the top, full-auto in the middle, and semi-auto at the bottom, authentically denoted with the correct Russian abbreviations.

The adjustable HOP-up unit of the LCT LKR-9 can be found behind the mock bolt carrier and can be accessed when the charging handle is held to the rear. This HOP-up unit is a new design, replacing the old "slider" style adjuster with a more modern TDC rotary adjuster. This allows for more precise HOP-up adjustment and less chance of left-to-right deviation thanks to the design applying pressure directly to the top of the HOP nub, with no angular force applied.

On the bottom of the receiver, we can find a smaller flared-style magazine well, where we would usually find the classic AK "rock and lock" style mag well. This is one of the enhancements which keeps the Vityaz going toe to toe with modern western designs in the area of ergonomics.

The magazine well allows for a straight-in insertion method, preventing the faff with "rock and lock" magazines, and makes reloading quick and easy when compared to a standard AK. Positioned at the centre rear of the magazine well, we can find the ambidextrous magazine catch, which can be used with the classic AK "mag flip" reload, or actuated with the thumb for either left or right-handed users.

The pistol grip is a classic AK-74 pattern grip complete with diamond checkering on either side to ensure the LCT LKR-9 does not slip from your grasp, even in poor weather. It is a slight deviation from the standard PP-19 Vityaz, but it fits the custom vibes that the back end of this platform conveys.

The trigger guard is the same as that found on the original AK rifle and needs no changes, thanks to its wide profile allowing for use with thick gloves, and its thin yet robust steel construction.

At the rear of the receiver, we can find a cutting-edge touch, a 1913/20mm Picatinny stock interface equipped with a slimline side folding stock. The 1913 interface is the latest and greatest stock mounting system from the real steel world, found built into MCX and MPX platforms and rapidly expanding by the day. Effectively a vertically positioned 20mm Picatinny rail, the 1913 interface provides plenty of built-in customisation so you can switch from an AR buffer tube to a visor stock, shorty stock or trianguar stock, and back again in minutes!

The stock itself is uniquely slim and light, inspired by 1913 "Kate Moss" stocks from the real steel world. A QD sling socket is present on either side of the CNC aluminium stock bar, ready for QD sling swivels, and the butt plate is made from strong high-density polymer with a built-in "footman loop" sling slot for conventional slings. The "rolled toe" at the bottom of the butt plate makes this stock fantastic to use with plate carriers or body armour, ideal for modern loadouts. 

The stock folding mechanism is made from steel and has a buttonless design, requiring it to be lifted to fold to the left side. We find this easiest with the thumb braced on the top of the 1913 interface and fingers hooked underneath the stock bar. The lack of buttons makes this stock super-easy to operate under pressure, a significant advantage for those who like to fold their stock when negotiating tight corners. 

Inside, the  LCT LKR-9 AEG is based around the version 3 gearbox with TM-compatible internals, ideal for the techy types. Gearbox internals include 18:1 ratio steel gears running on 9mm ball bearing bushings, a steel ball-bearing quick change spring guide, a POM piston with a full steel tooth rack and a powerful 22K RPM motor. The result is a super-smooth running gearbox, with little left to improve!

The LCT LKR-9 AEG builds on LCT's usual robust internals by adding the advanced Gate ASTER II Bluetooth® ETU, the latest variant of Gate's optical trigger system. The ASTER II provides a wide range of programmable fire modes, trigger sensitivity settings and adjustable parameters, all of which can be adjusted through the Gate Control Station (GCS) app via Bluetooth. Having an ASTER II on board is a hallmark of a premium build, the perfect pairing for LCT's incredible external quality.

Features

• Full metal construction - Almost entirely steel
• 6.05mm inner barrel - Great accuracy potential
• Steel PP-19 Muzzle brake included - Or, go loud, your choice!
• 14mm CCW Male threaded outer barrel - Ready for suppressors, tracers and other muzzle devices
• Rotary HOP-up unit - Unique ARCTURUS design, TM compatible and very effective
• 20mm Picatinny railed handguard - Full-length rail at 6 o'clock, short rail at 3 o'clock
• Textured AK-style pistol grip - Comfortable enough and grippy
• Stamped steel receiver with markings - Very hefty and realistic, "9x19" and Russian Cyrillic selector markings
• Ambidextrous magazine release - Centrally positioned, great for left or right-handed shooters
• Extended fire selector - Easy to switch modes using the trigger finger, thanks to the extra ledge
• 20mm Picatinny railed receiver top cover - Ready for 20mm compatible red dot sights or scopes
• 3-Position fire selector: SAFE - FULL AUTO - SEMI AUTO - Programmable fire modes via MOSFET
• 1913/20mm Picatinny stock interface - Compatible with aftermarket 1913/20mm stocks
• Slimline side folding stock pre-installed - Steel folding mech, CNC Alu stock bar & polymer butt plate
• Ambidextrous QD sling socket on the stock bar - Ready for a QD sling swivel
• Rear sling point on the toe of the stock - Ideal for conventional sling setups
• Version 3 gearbox
  • Steel ball-bearing quick-change spring guide
  • 9mm Ball-bearing bushings
  • Chrome-plated brass cylinder
  • POM Piston with steel tooth rack
  • 22K RPM Motor
  • Gate ASTER II Bluetooth® ETU
• Compatible with LCT 100rnd Mid-Cap Magazines
• Top Wired: Deans connector - Recommended battery: 7.4V 1200mAh LiPo Slim Stick Battery

Package Includes

• LCT LKR-9 AEG; ASTER II Bluetooth® ETU
  • 100rnd Magazine

Special Instructions

Please note that, due to the design of the  LCT LKR-9, scratches will develop in certain areas from normal use. This is unavoidable, and many of our  LCT LKR-9 AEGs already have these scratches from the factory due to the testing and QC process.

Examples include the AK "selector lever scratch", a similar scratch on the area beneath the handguard disassembly latch, and a scratch on the area of the hinged top cover which meets the receiver when hinged open.

These scratches are part of a realistic AK look and will develop over time, regardless of whether they are present initially or not. Please consider carefully before making your purchase.