Russia’s Kalashnikov Concern, makers of AK-47 assault rifles, is in advanced discussions with Indian companies to manufacture certain weapons in India and is open to sharing technology with local partners. Known as one of the best assault rifles of the 20th century, AK-47s are now being reportedly used more by non- state agents than national defence personnel. For many years now, Russia has officially stopped supplying these fine automatic rifles to the country.

Alexey Krivoruchko, the chief executive of  Kalashnikov Concern said previous discussions did not yield any results as the interested parties could not obtain the licence to manufacture small arms from the government. He said that excluding cost of utilities and manufacturing facilities, the partners together will have to cough up around $100 million (about Rs 650 crore) to begin production. The quantum of investment will depend on the contribution in the form of land, manufacturing facilities, equipment and so on made by the local partner and on the target level of indigenization to be achieved.

Did You Know???

• Mikhail Kalashnikov, who was a tank commander during World War II, began his career as a weapons designer after a shoulder injury during the Battle of Bryansk.
• The AK stands for “automatic Kalashnikov” — after the inventor. Forty-seven is a reference to the year that it was invented.
• While more than 20 countries currently produce the AK-47, China is the world’s largest producer of them. Russia no longer makes the weapon — but has large stockpiles.
• The first Kalashnikov rifle was produced in 1947, bringing its creator the Stalin Prize and the Order of the Red Star. The AK-47 has been the standard issue assault rifle of the Soviet and then Russian army since 1949.
• Durability, low production cost, availability and ease of use are the features, which assured AK-47 global success.
• The AK-47 has made it into the Guinness Book of Records as the most widely spread weapon in the world, with 100 million Kalashnikov rifles currently in use.
• It is believed that AK-47s have caused more deaths than artillery fire, airstrikes and rocket attacks combined.
• The most effective range of an AK-47 is 300 meters, and it is pretty accurate upto this distance.