Kalashnik-off: army rejects legendary rifle

The Russian Defense Ministry has decided not to procure the AK-74 assault rifle, saying it is outdated. The producer, Izhmash, says a new version of the firearm is almost ready to be shown to the public.

The AK-74 is one of a family of firearms designed by weapons engineer Mikhail Kalashnikov. The rifle and its variants have been standard issue for many Soviet and later Russian troops since 1974, the year which gave the weapon its name.

However, after almost four decades in service, the assault rifle has become outdated, reports Izvestia newspaper. The Defense Ministry did not buy a single AK-74 in 2011 and has no plans to do so in the future.

The military say they have a plentiful stock of the firearms, with millions of pieces stored. Now, they want the Izmash plant to come up with a new personal weapon, which would be as reliable as the AK-74, but with a better range and accuracy.

"We have some sample weapons at hand and hope that the military will like them. In the meantime, we will focus on the export and production of sporting firearms," a spokesman for the AK-74 producer told the newspaper, adding that a successor to the famous assault rifle is due to be unveiled before the year`s end.

Another option would be for Izhmash to produce upgrade kits for the AK-74. Its advanced version, the AK-74M, has an option for an optical sight, which greatly improves the weapon`s accuracy. However, neither the producer nor the Defense Ministry see this variant as the most desirable.

The newspaper says employees of Izhmash are doing their best to keep the developments secret from Mikhail Kalashnikov. The legendary designer is in his early 90s, but is still working at the plant. His colleagues fear that news of the army`s rejection of his creation may harm the old man`s health.

Kalashnikov assault rifles are world`s most popular firearm, with the total number of them produced legally and illegally in the tens of millions. They are known for reliability, ease of use and high stopping power.

sections: Society