On June 26, 2019, Alexander Mikheev, Director General of Rosoboronexport (part of the Rostec State Corporation), took part in a meeting with the Director and the employees of Kalashnikov Concern’s Izhmash Museum held at the Army 2019 International Military and Technical Forum. In a solemn ceremony, a copy of the contract for the supply of a batch of AK-103 assault rifles of the AK-100 series to Cuba, signed personally by Mikhail Kalashnikov in Havana, was handed over to the Museum.
“Today, Rosoboronexport is handing over a copy of the contract document as a museum piece for the first time in history. This occurs in the year when we are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of the great small arms designer. Mikhail Timofeyevich worked for Rosoboronexport for many years as chief adviser to the Director General on small arms and personally brought the company hundreds of contracts with foreign customers for the supply of weapons of his own design,” Alexander Mikheev said.
Lieutenant General Mikhail Kalashnikov, Doctor of Technical Sciences, twice Hero of Socialist Labor, and Hero of Russia, invented about 30 different weapons. Many of them became most popular in their market segments. The legendary AK-47 assault rifle turns 72 this year. Kalashnikov assault rifles are now used by the armed forces of almost 100 countries around the world, and this number is steadily growing. The AK-100 and AK-200 series, AK-12 and AK-15 assault rifles have been developed and are being promoted abroad, new weapons are under development.
“More than a million Kalashnikov assault rifles of various designs have been delivered abroad by Rosoboronexport. Of all Russian-made small arms, Kalashnikov assault rifles enjoy the greatest demand among foreign customers. In addition, the production of Kalashnikov rifles has been established in several countries with our assistance. In 2019, an Indo-Russian joint venture started manufacturing AK-203 assault rifles of the newest 200 series in India,” Alexander Mikheev added.
Fairuza Burganova, the curator of the Izhmash Museum, initiated the placement of this unusual item in the Museum exhibition, which will add another facet to the bright biography of the famous designer – his role in and contribution to the military-technical cooperation between the Russian Federation and foreign States.
