Translated material
Jeep "Kalashnikov"
Preparations have begun for the anniversary of the famous brand
In May, preparations began for two “weapons” anniversaries at once - the 200th anniversary of Izhmash and the 60th anniversary of the famous Kalashnikov assault rifle produced at this enterprise. Both dates are coming exactly one year from now. It is from June 1807, when master Andrei Deryabin laid the first stone in the foundation of the “arms office” of the Izhevsk plant, that the history of one of the main arms forges in the country dates back. With Izhevsk weapons, the Russian soldier went through all the wars of the 19th and 20th centuries. Izhevsk supplied weapons to the army of Mikhail Kutuzov. These were flintlock guns. Then they were converted into percussion capsules. After the Crimean War, which was unsuccessful for Russia, the plant switched to producing breech-loading weapons of the Krick system - the famous “krynki”. The next step was the 6-line and 4-line Berdan rifles, which were divided into rifle, infantry, dragoon and Cossack rifles.Since the end of the 19th century, Izhmash has been casting its own steel, such that gun barrels from it could be bent into a spiral and tied into knots. Samples of such trunks are today in the factory museum. For them, Izhevsk residents received a large gold medal at the World Exhibition in Paris in 1900. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the plant produced famous rifles - Mosin dragoon, Simonov automatic, Tokarev self-loading. During the Great Patriotic War, Izhevsk residents produced enough weapons per day to equip an entire division. In addition to rifles and carbines, aircraft guns and anti-tank guns were sent to the front.
Today Izhmash, which employs more than 20 thousand people, produces hundreds of types of weapons worth billions of rubles. First of all, small arms - Nikonov assault rifle (AN-94), Dragunov sniper rifle (SVD), Bison-2 submachine gun. The plant also produces aircraft guns and guided artillery systems “Krasnopol” and “Kitolov”. The range of hunting weapons is represented by carbines "Saiga" of several modifications, "Tiger", "Kite", "Elk", "Sable", "Leopard", "Bear", sports - rifles "Biathlon", "Ural", "Record" , "SM-2". There are also products for diversification of production - motorcycles, machine tools, tools, power equipment.
But, of course, the most famous products of Izhmash are Kalashnikov assault rifles and machine guns. This brand, like vodka or a bear, has become a symbol of Russia. Six decades ago, Staff Sergeant Mikhail Kalashnikov invented the AK-47. The young designer left behind the famous gunsmiths Degtyarev, Simonov, Sudaev, Shpagin. AK is the most popular weapon in human history. The machine is simple, reliable and, as experts say, fantastically reliable. And Mikhail Timofeevich himself never tires of repeating: “I will be the first to shake hands with the one who invents a more reliable weapon.” Today, the Russian army is armed with the fourth generation of Kalashnikov assault rifles - the so-called hundredth series (from AK-101 to AK-105), developed in the early 90s of the last century for the most common cartridges in the world - domestic 7.62 caliber and 5.45, as well as NATO 5.56.
According to experts, more than one hundred million Kalashnikov assault rifles and machine guns have been manufactured worldwide. For comparison: the circulation of the famous Stoner M-16 assault rifle did not exceed 12 million guns. In the 50-70s of the last century, licensed production of Kalashnikov assault rifles was carried out in 18 countries. Today, no one can say for sure in how many states “copies” of the famous weapons are stamped. What is known is that they cannot be compared with the original. But it is known that the technical solutions of the Russian designer are used in more than two dozen models of small arms, which are produced in many countries around the world.
The AK is in service with more than 50 armies around the world, and the coats of arms and flags of several countries are decorated with its image. For example, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Burkina Faso. In some countries, children are named after the machine gun. The Kremlin Armory houses a unique collection of small arms of the Kalashnikov system - 18 machine guns, eight machine guns and three bayonets. Mikhail Kalashnikov is the only weapons designer in the world, in whose honor a lifetime museum and exhibition complex was opened in the capital of Udmurtia, the city of Izhevsk. In 1995, a jewelry diamond weighing 50.74 carats, mined by ALROSA, was given the name “Constructor Mikhail Kalashnikov.”
The famous designer is twice Hero of Socialist Labor, laureate of State Prizes and the Presidential Prize of Russia, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Lieutenant General, he was awarded the honorary title “Man of the 20th Century”. And recently another talent of the designer was discovered - writing. Back in April 1940, a cadet at the tank driver-mechanics school, Mikhail Kalashnikov, sent his poems to the editor of the newspaper of the Kyiv Special Military District “Red Army”. They were written in the spirit of those years: “The enemies experienced the assertiveness of our armor.” Kalashnikov did not become famous as a poet, but he was still accepted into the Writers' Union for his books of memoirs.
Now Mikhail Timofeevich is the chief designer - head of the small arms design bureau of Izhmash Concern OJSC, president of the Union of Russian Armourers, for the last 12 years - consultant to the general director of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise Rosoboronexport. As part of the state mediator’s delegation, the designer traveled to international exhibitions more than fifty times and, as they say at Rosoboronexport, “effectively influenced the negotiation process with potential customers.” This is probably partly why over the past five years the annual volume of supplies of small arms, close combat weapons and ammunition has increased 1.6 times and today amounts to about $200 million.
Events dedicated to anniversaries are planned by a special organizing committee for the whole year. General Director of FSUE Rosoboronexport Sergei Chemezov and Mikhail Kalashnikov, on the one hand, General Director of Izhmash Concern OJSC Vitaly Shurygin and Deputy Permanent Representative of the Udmurt Republic to the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Lebedev, on the other, signed a protocol of intent in connection with two upcoming anniversaries .
One event has already taken place. At the Moscow office of Rosoboronexport, Mikhail Kalashnikov was solemnly presented with a cash prize and a Niva car. The 87-year-old designer sat behind the wheel as usual, taking into the salon the General Director of Rosoboronexport Sergei Chemezov, who for this occasion put on the uniform of a Colonel General for the first time, and the heads of AvtoVAZ Igor Esipovsky and Vladimir Artyakov (who came from Rosoboronexport). The unusual crew performed a “lap of honor” to the “Farewell of the Slav” march.
Looking at the Niva given to him with a machine gun painted on the door, the legendary weapons designer recalled an old story. Stalin was shown the new Pobeda that came off the assembly line. The leader of the peoples walked around her, examined her critically and said: “This is not a victory yet.” Kalashnikov, pointing his finger at the Niva, repeated Stalin’s phrase, which caused laughter from those gathered for the celebration. Sergei Chemezov immediately corrected the situation, saying that AvtoVAZ would quite possibly create a military jeep and call it Kalashnikov.