The Republican Guard tends to usually be better equipped than the standard Syrian Army. The Republican Guard has been documented and photographed using the American made M-16 5.56x45mm rifle. The Soviet made AKM 7.62x39mm rifle is also used with a folding stock which makes it the AKMS variant. The AK-74 and the AKS-74U Carbine is used along with the more modern AK-74M which both are chambered for 5.45x39mm. The AK-74M rifles are believed to have entered Syria in the mid to late 1990s following a deal with Russia.The AK-74M is also sometimes seen with an NSPU night vision optic sight or a GP-25 Grenade Launcher in some cases.