India has expressed interest in Kalashnikovs for the rearmament of the army. Currently prototypes of the AK 100 series have already aimed to test the defence Ministry of India.
Deputy Director of “Rosoboronexport” Sergei Goreslavsky said that Russia is actively working on the organization in India of the license production of Kalashnikov assault rifles. If after completion of the test will be launched licensed production, “Rosoboronexport” will get a very big contract.
As told BAFS “the Economy today” Mikhail Degtyarev, chief editor of the magazine “Kalashnikov. Weapons, ammunition, equipment”, a tender for weapons for the Indian army was announced in 2011. The conditions of today’s contest is unknown, but based on past experience, it can be assumed that the competitors “Kalashnikov” there can be several of the world’s largest arms companies.
The Belgian company FN Herstal proposed an assault rifle FN SCAR, Italy from the very beginning was present in the tender with the Beretta ARX 160, also among the serious contenders can be called Americans with the Bushmaster ACR, the German Heckler & Koch 416 with HK, and many others.
“The so-called “hundredth series” represents the most perfect modification of the Kalashnikov assault rifle, which has in its portfolio a few samples of weapons of different calibers and dimensions, they are relatively universal from the point of view of applications, the possibility of acquisition of additional accessories. If a positive test result the Hindus is possible to launch the production of the AK 100 series. If this happens, it will truly be the victory of our gunsmiths and a very good opportunity in a huge market”, – said Mikhail Degtyarev.
Russia is negotiating the establishment of enterprise, which can produce at least 50 thousand weapons per year, with the possibility of expanding production capacity. The volume of investments is estimated in the sum about 100 million dollars excluding the cost of communications.
Currently, the Indian army is the INSAS machine – modification of the “Kalashnikov” of own production, including elements of the base of the Kalashnikov assault rifle and Israeli AK variants: Galil.
Recall that the negotiations between India and the “Kalashnikov” on the organization of production are underway already since the beginning of 2015. Predominantly, India is interested in weapons of 5.56 and 7.62 mm.
Currently, India remains one of the largest exporters of Russian weapons. In particular, already prepared a contract for the supply of s-400, are in the final stages of development of the BrahMos joint production, work is continuing on the fifth generation fighter T-50.
