AK License Sales Post-Cold War

[Feanor]

A few years back Russia signed a deal with Venezuela stipulating the delivery of 100 000 AK-107 assault rifles, and setting up production lines for both the ammo and the assault rifle in Venezuela, under license. The deal, at the time, was part of a larger package that involved all sort of equipment (from SVDs, to MANPADS, to ZU-23-2s, to fighter jets).

Recently Russia has entered talks with Cuba to provide them with an ammunition factory for the 7.62x39mm round, to produce the ammo under license. This would make them the second producer of this ammo in Latin America.

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The interesting thing is that AK derivatives and clones are readily available, sold and produced by many countries, and there is nothing terribly complex about establishing a production line of this sort for themselves. Which makes one wonder about why now are license production sales for them making a come back? These aren't political Cold-War alliances any more. At this point it's about money. Thoughts?

 

[Twinblade]

At one point in time, Indian OFB tried to make an AK clone of its own, but was spotted by none other than a very furious Kalashnikov himself. The product development was stopped and 100k Bulgarian (or was it czheck?) AK's ordered for about $8.3 mil. For large orders, high quality AK clones are still available in less than $100 a piece. I see no sense in why license production should pick up.

 

[the road runner]

Which makes one wonder about why now are license production sales for them making a come back? These aren't political Cold-War alliances any more. At this point it's about money. Thoughts?

The UN places sanctions on countries, so i was wondering maybe this is a new Russian policy to ensure if a country has sanctions on them ,they can still produce ammo/weapons?

just a thought.

 

[Feanor]

Russia has delivered weapons in violations of sanctions to Sudan in the past. Maybe you're right but I don't see why Russia would have particular love for them. At the end of the day licenses can be handed over for free, were there a desire for political support. I wonder if there are other deals that simply slipped by under my radar.

 

[PCShogun]

The UN places sanctions on countries, so i was wondering maybe this is a new Russian policy to ensure if a country has sanctions on them ,they can still produce ammo/weapons?

just a thought.

Road Runners thoughts make sense, it is one way to become sanction-proof. The AK-47 is the most copied, and illegally copied, weapon in the world. It could simply be about money. Russia has allowed pretty much everyone to manufacture this weapon and derivatives. Venezuela has a plant for guns and ammo already and makes AKM's and about 50 million rounds a year.

With Russia no longer making the weapon, it makes sense that countries that still use the venerable AK be able to make it for themselves while Russia moves on to a more advanced design. They can only sell so many semi auto AK's to the U.S.A before the assault weapon ban gets voted back

 

[Feanor]

Russia still manufactures the AK series weapons.

 

[CheeZe]

Am fairly certain they still use the AK-74 as the main service rifle for the Army and that they're still making it. In what numbers, I don't know.

And wasn't the 107 a design from the 90s? Why sell the newer designs rather than the older stock? Unless the 107 is meant to be an export product only?

 

[PCShogun]

Am fairly certain they still use the AK-74 as the main service rifle for the Army and that they're still making it. In what numbers, I don't know.

And wasn't the 107 a design from the 90s? Why sell the newer designs rather than the older stock? Unless the 107 is meant to be an export product only?

Sorry, I was not clear, I should have specified the AK-47, which uses the 7.62*39mm round.

 

[Feanor]

Interestingly enough both deals were for 7.62 ammo, as VZ bought AK-107s.

 

[T.C.P]

Interestingly enough both deals were for 7.62 ammo, as VZ bought AK-107s.

I thought it was Ak-103s.
We license produced huge numbers of the Type-56(Chinese AK copy).

 

[Feanor]

I thought it was Ak-103s.
We license produced huge numbers of the Type-56(Chinese AK copy).

Whoops. Yes you are correct AK-103.