Millions of cartridges for Kalashnikov: Why Russia a new ammunition plant in Venezuela

To extend: Russian State Military Export Company "Rossobornexport" has announced the start of construction in the Venezuela Ammunition plant, which will produce widespread 7. 62 mm caliber cartridges. It is expected that up to 70 million cartridges a year will leave from the plant conveyor. Thus, the ammunition company in Venezuela will provide stable supplies of 7. 62 mm ammunition to the western hemisphere - contrary to international sanctions.

Focus translated the article of journalist Peter Suchu about a new Russian military enterprise in Venezuela. Earlier this month, a ceremony was held, officially marked by the beginning of construction, which was attended by Deputy Defense Minister Venezuela Henry Rodriguez and Minister of Industry and National Production Alex Saab.

During the Cold War, the Soviet Union supplied a huge number of weapons and military equipment to friendly communist and pro -communist governments around the world, and supplied insurgent forces to support Marxist revolutions. In the 21st century, Moscow may no longer seek communism, but it continues to influence foreign partners, applying another approach to supporting friendly regimes.

Although the Kremlin can no longer afford to simply "distribute all for nothing", it seeks to attract foreign buyers of its military equipment. In addition, it is increasingly creating foreign partnerships, in which Russian development weapons are licensed. This is the situation with the Kalashnikov small arms, which is produced in Venezuela.

For the first time, the South American state concluded an agreement on the construction of a factory for the production of a license version of AK-130 in 2006. Despite the delays in the implementation of the program caused by UN sanctions and corruption scandals, the plant was completed and started production last year. Located in Marakay, Aragua, Venezuelan plant had to produce 25,000 machines a year. The Venezuelan AK-103 will become the first Kalashnikov assault rifles in South America.

But this small arms, infamous in the Soviet Union, is already licensed in almost two dozen countries in Europe, Asia and even Africa. The Egyptian version of the Maadi Arm machine became the first automatic machine of the AK series imported into the United States in the 1980s. A new ammunition ammunition company in Venezuela will also provide stable deliveries for 7.

62 mm ammunition to the Western Hemisphere, despite the sanctions that tried to block Russian exports of these ammunition to other countries. International deliveries of large ammunition parties usually require a "end user certificate", and this project can help eliminate some bureaucratic delay. It can also increase the defense capability of one of Russia's closest partners in Latin America.

"Construction of a cartridge plant in Venezuela was a serious challenge for" Roboronexport "in connection with sanction pressure on both countries," Alexander Mikheev, CEO of Rozoboronexport, told the Russian State Information Agency of TASS. [We fulfill] the obligations to our partners. The plant will produce several variants of ammunition. "The first stage of Kalashnikov's cartridge enterprise in Venezuela has four modern conveyors.

Two of them produce ammunition with a ball with a steel core, two more - trace and craft of ammunition," explained Oleg Yevtushenko Executive Director. Venezuelas for the National Army, Police and other power structures. " Venezuela is already one of the largest in South America, small arms and military equipment of Russian production.

The Kremlin praised this partnership as a sign of strengthening the relations between states and the assistance of Venezuela in its efforts to "combat drug trafficking and organized crime. " It can also help the Promaries Government to maintain control of the country as it faces increasing pressure from the democratic movement. Peter Suchyu is a journalist from Michigan.