More Chances for Kalashnikov Assault Rifle to be Integrated in Ratnik Combat Gear

The Kalashnikov assault rifle has more chances to be brought into service in Russian army as part of combat gear Ratnik than its rivalling submachine gun model AEK-971, deputy chairman of the Military-Industrial Commission board Oleg Bochkarev said Friday.

“State trials of the Ratnik combat gear are finalised. As for these two assault rifles AK-12 and AEK-971, Kalashnikov certainly has more chances. It is easier to handle, has fewer parts, but they are close in their features,” Bochkarev said. He added that AEK-971 was produced at Degtyarev Kovrov electromechanical plant.

A winner of a tender on a new assault rifle for Russian army will be named by the end of this year, said Sergey Chemezov, chief of Russian state-run technologies corporation Rostec, which incorporates weapons-producing concern Kalashnikov. Bochkarev believes that the choice will be made in the first half of next year.

Combat gear Ratnik is positioned as “an outfit of a soldier of the future.” The contract with Russian Defence Ministry destined for three years is already signed, chief of the Central Scientific-Research Institute of Precise Mechanical Engineering Dmitry Semizorov said in late October. Main supplies are expected to be made next year, he said. Ratnik export variant will be put on display at an arms show in Abu Dhabi in February 2015.