Pistol Mitralieră model 1963/1965

In the early 1960s, the Romanian Army used mostly PPSh-41, Oriţa submachine guns and imported AK-47 rifles. With the development of the stamped Type 4 AKM receiver, and the Soviet Union's call to each of the Warsaw Pact's nations to produce their own assault rifles chambered in 7.62mm, be they AK-47 pattern or not, the Romanian State Arsenal developed an AKM clone featuring a forward-pointing front handgrip molded into the lower handguard, called the Pistol Mitralieră model 1963 (literally 'machine pistol' model 1963). The underfolding stock version is designated the Pistol Mitralieră model 1965, and features a rear-pointing front handgrip, allowing the underfolding stock to be completely retracted.

The PM md. 63/65 is almost identical to the AKM/AKMS, and thus is simple, inexpensive to manufacture, and easy to clean and maintain. The bore and chamber, as well as the gas piston and the interior of the gas cylinder, are generally chromium-plated. This plating dramatically increases the life of these parts by resisting corrosion and wear. Most md. 63/65 rifles lack a muzzle brake, but instead use a muzzle nut, as muzzle brakes entered production only in the late 1970s. The underfolding version is unique among the AKMS as it uses the thicker milled AKS type stock and arms, even locking only on the left side and being angled downwards just like the AKS. Some have speculated that the stocks may have even been surplus Romania purchased from Russia. The md 65's rear trunnion is also different compared to the standard AKMS's version, differing in that it only has the two locking holes on the left side, has only two pairs of rivets near the back of the trunnion and a bar connecting the two sides of the trunnion at the front. The navy is the only remaining large scale operator of the md. 65 because of the weight of the metal underfolding stock.

The fire selector markings are as follows, from top to bottom: Domestic—S, FA, FF. Export—S, A, R.

A reconstructed 'Gardă' PM md. 63, with a US-made receiver.

The most-produced civilian export variation of this rifle is that of the 'Gardă' designation, produced for the Romanian Patriotic Guards. These rifles have a letter 'G' engraved on the left side of the rear sight block. The civil guard versions are modified by the removal of the sear and the modification of the disconnector to be semi-automatic only. Tens of thousands of these have been imported into the United States and sold as 'parts kits' (the receiver is destroyed by torch-cutting per BATF regulations – without the receiver, the kit is no longer legally considered a firearm). They are colloquially known among firearms enthusiasts as "Romy G's".

The Pistol Mitralieră model 1980 is a short barreled AK variant, and the first side-folding stock version produced in Romania. It featured a shorter gas block and usually used 20 round magazines. The front sight post is combined with the gas-block to provide an overall short length. The side folder is straight and folds to the left. There are two types of muzzle brakes used: a cylindrical one, and more commonly a slightly conical one. It is also known as the AIMR.

PM md. 90 carbine

The Pistol Mitralieră model 1990 is the 7.62mm response to the 5.45mm Pușcă Automată model 1986. It is internally identical to a PM md. 63/65, and outwardly differs in that it has a wire folding stock identical to the PA md. 86 stock, and that all of the rifles are fitted with slant brakes. It was extensively used in the Romanian Revolution of 1989 along with the md. 63 and md. 65

The RPK version of the md. 63 is called the md. 64. It is essentially identical to the Soviet RPK.

•  Afghanistan[7]
•  Azerbaijan
•  Bangladesh – Small numbers in use in the Bangladesh Army.[8]
•  Burundi[9]
•  Bosnia and Herzegovina: Used by the preceding Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, captured in large numbers.
•  Central African Republic[10]
•  Croatia[3]
•  Georgia[11]
•  India: 100 000 were bought in 1995[12]
•  Iraq – Used by military and police.[13]
•  Liberia[14]
•  Libya[15]
•  Macedonia[16]
•  Mali[17]
•  Morocco[18]
•  Nicaragua[19]
•  Niger[20]
•  Nigeria: Used by Nigerian Peacekeepers in Darfur.[21]
•  Palestine
• Socialist Republic of Romania/ Romania: Used by Navy personnel, border guards, tank crews, reserve troops.[22][23][24]
•  Saudi Arabia[25]
•  Sierra Leone[26]
•  Somalia[27]
•  South Sudan[28]
•  Uganda[29]
•  United States 100 AIMs used by US Army OPFOR in the 1980s.[30]

• 
  A Romanian soldier armed with a PM md. 63/65 in 1989.
• 
  Saudi Security Forces with PM md. 90.
• 
  Afghan Police officers fire their PM md. 63 assault rifles.
• 
  Liberian soldiers armed with MP md. 63
• 
  Moroccan Special Forces member with MP md. 63
• 
  Burundian peacekeeper in Somalia armed with MP md. 63
• 
  U.S. Army Soldier from the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team return fire on insurgents from a rooftop in Buhriz, Iraq

• Pușcă Automată model 1986
• List of assault rifles

• Romanian Export Kalashnikov versions at Romanian Kalashnikov Rifles
• Kalashnikov guns website (confuses the md. 63 designation for the md. 65)
• WASR-10.com - Information on the Export Version of the md. 63/65
• SC Fabrica de Arme Cugir SA - Arms Factory - md. 63 Assault Rifle
• SC Fabrica de Arme Cugir SA - Arms Factory - md. 65 Assault Rifle
• SC Fabrica de Arme Cugir SA - Arms Factory - md. 90 Assault Rifle
• SC Fabrica de Arme Cugir SA - Arms Factory - md. 90 Carbine

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