Breaking news
Russia starts trial tests of the new AK-12 Kalashnikov assault rifle from Izhmash Company 0411122.
a | |||
Defense News - Russia |
|||
|
|||
Sunday, November 4, 2012, 07:39 AM | |||
Russia starts trial tests of the new AK-12 Kalashnikov assault rifle from Izhmash Company. | |||
Russia’s central arms testing body started trials on Friday, November
2, 2012, of the AK-12,
the latest incarnation of the 65-year-old Kalashnikov assault rifle, its
maker Izhmash said. The new weapon will be tested for its effectiveness
when exposed to freezing cold, desert heat, humidity, dust and impacts. |
|||
The new Russian-made AK-12 assault rifle retains the overall layout and features of the AK-74, in service with the Russian Army since the 1970s, but has minor modifications and ergonomic changes. |
|||
Izhmash’s
chief designer, Vladimir Zlobin, had previously said state trials of the
weapon would begin in 2013 and be complete by July that year. Serial production
of the weapon is due to start by the end of 2013. |
|||
A
range of other weapons will be produced based on the AK-12,
including a machine-pistol, assault rifle, handguns and special forces
weapons. Izhmash is currently experiencing difficult times. In October, Izhmash employees, including the legendary Mikhail Kalashnikov, who designed the original AK-47, sent a letter to the Kremlin complaining about falling production volumes and low wages. They claimed bad management has led to the loss of a number of export contracts and resulted in the failure to fulfill a government order. “Irreversible changes may take place at the enterprise, leading to its disappearance, and to the vanishing of brands such as Kalashnikov, Dragunov and Nikonov,” the letter said. Production fell 50 percent in September, leading to wage cuts and dismissals. Controlled by Russian state-run corporation Russian Technologies (Rostekhnologii), Izhmash produces over 70 types of weaponry, including firearms, aircraft guns, precision artillery rounds, as well as a variety of sporting and hunting weapons. |
|||