In the United States plans to start assembling Kalashnikovs.
The main Directorate of special forces U.S. Department of defense (SOCOM) is studying the possibility of domestic production of Russian small arms including Kalashnikov assault rifles and SVD sniper rifles.
According to The Washington Post, requests for production of “non-standard” weapons and ammunition were placed SOCOM in April and may 2016. As explained by the representatives of SOCOM, under the “non-standard” means weapons, not used USA and NATO countries, but employed by the armed forces of their “foreign partners”.
Along with the production of the American versions of the AK-47 and SVD, SOCOM is also considering the production of light and heavy machine guns for Russian models, and air guns of caliber 14.5 mm.
According to The Washington Post, USA provides American weapons to various armed groups — for example, some of the opposition movement in Syria. These weapons are more modern, but often less reliable. For the delivery and maintenance of the weapons the United States has to use intermediaries.
According to the official representative of the SOCOM commander, U.S. Navy Matt Allen, copies of Russian weapons in the United States will reduce these costs and strengthen control over supply. In addition, the allies will get familiar with the weapons they know how to use and which are able to repair.
