Russia to supply AK-100 series assault rifles to Thailand.

According to a new published to the Russian press agency TASS website, on February 6, 2018, Moscow and Bangkok have signed an agreement on the supply of Russia’s world-renowned Kalashnikov assault rifles. The first shipment is scheduled for this year, according to Mikhail Petukhov, Deputy Director of Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC).

Kalashnikov AK-101 5.56x45 NATO caliber assault rifle (Picture source Army Recognition)

"This year, the Kingdom of Thailand will receive Kalashnikov assault rifles in the amount sufficient to arm one or two divisions of the country’s armed forces," said Petukhov, during the Singapore Airshow 2018, the Asia's largest aerospace and defense event, which was held from 6 to 11 February 6, 2018.

The Russian official did not specify which particular Kalashnikov models the kingdom has purchased, however, a source in the system of military-technical cooperation revealed to TASS that it is the AK-100 series.

The AK-100 series assault rifles is a new generation of assault rifle designed and manufactured by the Russian Company Kalashnikov based on the AK-74M assault rifle which is the current standard assault rifle used by the Russian armed forces, an improved variant of the AK-74 assault rifle.

Design of the Russian assault rifle from the AK-100 series is very similar toe the famous AK-47 but with many new improvements. The AK-100 series includes many variants as the AK-101, export version chambered for standard NATO 5.56x45 mm ammunition, Ak-102 short barrel version of AK-101, the AK-103 full-size assault rifle chambered for 7.62x39 mm ammunition, AK-104 compact version of AK-103, and AK-105 compact version of AK-74M with short barrel.

Kalashnikov AK-105 5.45mm caliber assault rifle (Picture source Army Recognition)