Kalashnikov sees a gold mine in Ukraine and launches into the production of tactical drones

2023-05-27 13:03:57

Alan LushnikovCompany President Kalashnikov, has announced a change of course in its policy for this year, influenced by the course of the war in Ukraine. The famous manufacturer of the Kalashnikov rifle wants to turn to the production of tactical unmanned aerial vehicles, the popular drones that are an essential part of the strategy of Russia to attack Ukrainian territory. Until now, the air force of the Kremlin has purchased thousands of drone units from Iran at low cost of. In this context, Kalashnikov has created a division of his own unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and it is multiplying the production of drones.

Currently, the Russian company produces reconnaissance and attack helicopters, as well as ammunition, products that are in high demand due to the war. With the new division focused on unmanned aircraft, the company hopes to support the vast needs of the Russian armed force.

In April, the president Vladimir Putin He called for the production of drones to be simplified and stressed that the development of these systems would become a key area for Russia. Soon after, the Obukhov plant, which is part of the state defense company Almaz-Antey, announced this month that it would start producing between 2,000 and 3,000 Dobrynya-2 drones each month starting in July for the war in Ukraine.

Lushnikov explained that the drones produced by Kalashnikov belong to the range of tactical devices, which are not launched from airfields, but by hand or with catapults. “They are (drones) for exploration and ammunition,” said the manager, who added that Kalashnikov consolidated all of his drone design and production capabilities in the new division.

The consortium, which is under sanctions from the European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom and other countries over Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine, is the largest manufacturer of light firearms in the country. Until now, subsidiaries of the company have manufactured drones like the Lancet-3, a loitering system which is characterized by its unusual design with two pairs of X-shaped wings at the front of the fuselage and at the rear.