Russia is planning to regenerate the Kalashnikov, giving a new lease of life to the Soviet-era assault rifle beloved by paramilitaries and gangsters around the world.
Part of a 20 trillion-rouble (£435 billion) modernisation of Russia’s armed forces that includes the addition of new armaments, submarines and aircraft by 2020, the new-look Kalashnikov will get a detachable sight and light, Dmitry Rogozin, the deputy prime minister, told parliament.
“We are planning deep modernisation of the Kalashnikov assault rifle,” said Mr Rogozin, who oversees the defence industry.
“This will be a weapon with detachable equipment, such as an optical sight and a lamp.”
The Russian army said last September it had abandoned new purchases of the AK-74 assault rifle, the updated version of the AK-47 designed in the 1940s by Mikhail Kalashnikov. Mr Rogozin said negotiations with the Defence Ministry on future acquisitions of the modernised weapon were ongoing.
The easy-to-use and much copied rifle has been described as the world’s most dangerous weapon based on the number of deaths it has caused in wars and insurgencies, but industry critics say it no longer fully meets the requirements of modern warfare.
source : telegraph.co.uk
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