#KalashnikovConcern

Kalashnikov Concern has released the competition version of the PL-14/PL-15 Lebedev pistol. The new pistol is called SP1. It has some new features added to make it attractive for the competition shooters. The company markets it for use in Production or Production Optics divisions. Let’s take a closer look.

The Russian .345 TK cartridge was released at the beginning of the current year. It was designed to be chambered in pistol caliber carbines for the Russian civilian market. And today we’ll talk about the first firearm made to shoot this cartridge. At the ARMY 2019 exhibition, Kalashnikov Concern introduced the TR9 PARADOX carbine which is essentially a Saiga-9 chambered in .345 TK and sporting a half-rifled barrel.

A couple of months ago we reported about the prototype of a civilian AK-12 rifle that was being tested by competition shooters in Russia. That rifle had a model designation Saiga-AK12. Several days ago, Kalashnikov Concern announced that 2,000 deactivated AK-12 rifles will be sold to the civilians. And the latest news is that the civilian versions of both AK-12 and AK-15 rifles will soon hit the shelves of Russian gun stores under a new model designation of AK TR3.

Kalashnikov Concern have confirmed that their new light machine gun the RPK-16 has been adopted by Russia’s National Guard, the Rosgvardia. Back in September, the National Guard of Russia announced their purchase of a small number of the new AK-200 series of rifles from Kalashnikov Concern.

Kalashnikov Media has published a video showing the prototype of the Kalashnikov Concern’s upcoming straight pull rifle. The gun is called TB2-LAW and it represents a crossbreed of the company’s Maral and Los rifles. The rifle is built with the LE needs in mind, however, it can be sold to the local civilian market, too.

According to Russian news sources, the Russian Ministry of Defense has agreed a contract with Kalashnikov Concern to purchase the first 150,000 new AK-12 and AK-15 rifles. The adoption of the AK-12 and AK-15 was first announced back in January 2018. 

News Agencies from both India and Russia have confirmed that India will adopt the 7.62x39mm AK-203, with production to be established at a plant in India. Production of as many as 750,000 rifles is planned. In recent weeks we’ve seen a lot of progress in India’s struggle to modernise its Army’s small arms. Not only have India recently confirmed a deal with SIG Sauer for over 70,000 7.62x51mm SIG716s but they have also purchased 6,000 sniper rifle from Barrett and Beretta. They are also reported to be nearing a deal for 95,000 5.56 Carbines from Caracal.

A year ago we reported that the Russian Federation’s army had adopted the 5.45x39mm RPK-16 Light Machine Gun. Reports from Russia’s MoD’s official newspaper, Krasnaya Zvezda (or Red Star), confirm that the RPK-16 has begun operational testing with Russian forces.

Russia’s Rosoboronexport, which is part of the Rostec State Corporation, is launching a Global marketing campaign to promote their new AK200 series manufactured by the Kalashnikov Concern.

India is reportedly poised to purchase a large number of 5.56x45mm carbines from the United Arab Emirates small arms manufacturer Caracal. A deal to buy almost 95,000 Caracal CAR816 rifles is said to have been agreed.

Just like the Svarog rifle that we talked about a couple of weeks ago, Saiga-9 Yarovit PCC is also named after a Slavic deity. This 9mm carbine is built by Kalashnikov Concern‘s custom shop called LOT (ЛОТ (Лаборатория Оружейного Тюнинга) – an abbreviation that stands for “firearms tuning laboratory). Let’s see what divine features Yarovit has.

Kalashnikov Concern has released a new competition ready rifle called Saiga-MK Svarog (Сварог – name of a Slavic deity). The rifle is the first project of the company’s custom shop which they call “firearm tuning laboratory”.

Russia has responded to the suggestion that US manufacturers made copies of their small arms designs for use by Special Operations Command and the US’ allies. With US-Russian relations at a low, recent press attention surrounding the US’ desire for American-made Russian small arms has stoked tensions.

Kalashnikov Concern has announced that production of their 9x19mm PL-15 pistol has been given the green light. The Russian Military sees the pistol as promising, however, they have not yet expressed public interest. The Russian Military currently uses the Makarov and the newer, also Kalashnikov Concern-designed, MP-443 Grach.

Russia’s National Guard, the Rosgvardia, has placed orders with Kalashnikov Concern for several hundred of the company’s new AK-200 rifles and AK-205 carbines. The AK-200 and AK-205 are 5.45x39mm variants of the new improved AK-200 series of rifles.