Russian defense manufacturing Kalashnikov Concern has opened a new factory to produce guided loitering munitions. The division’s primary responsibility is to manufacture systems with controlled barrier ammunition. The complexes are intended for high-precision defeat of distant adversary single and group ground targets. Aside from UAVs, the division will manufacture ground-based launchers, test vehicles, mobile command posts from complexes for modifying the firing of precision-guided missiles, and maintenance equipment for special-purpose equipment. In addition, the division will do research and development in a variety of fields.
“After the technical re-equipment planned for this year, next year, in 2024, we will be able to increase several times the number of UAVs produced in our traditional niche – loitering ammunition, reconnaissance drones,” commented Alan Lushnikov, President of Kalashnikov Concern JSC. “We cannot announce the exact number and volumes, but the increase in the production of all special equipment will be multiple.”
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JSC Kalashnikov Concern, known until 2013 as the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant (Izhévsky mashinostroítelny Zavod, IZhMASh), is a Russian defense manufacturing concern and joint-stock company headquartered in the city of Izhevsk in the Republic of Udmurtia as well as the capital city of Moscow. The concern designs and produces a wide range of civilian and military weapons including assault rifles, sniper rifles, designated marksman rifles, machine guns, squad automatic weapons, hunting rifles, shotguns, guided artillery projectiles, and a wide range of other precision weapons including remote controlled weapon stations, unmanned vehicles and military robots.
The Kalashnikov Concern produces about 95% of all small arms in Russia and supplies to more than 27 countries around the world, making it the largest firearm manufacturer in Russia. Notable products include the Kalashnikov (AK) assault rifle series, the RPK light machine gun series, the Dragunov SVD semi-automatic sniper rifle, the SKS semi-automatic carbine, the Makarov PM pistol, the Saiga-12 shotgun, and the submachine guns Vityaz-SN and PP-19 Bizon. These firearms, except for the SVD, SKS and the PM, were based on the famous AK series, due to its reliability to endure harsh conditions, low production costs, availability in nearly every geographical region, and ease of use.
