Kalashnikov rifle factory in Venezuela completed ‘on schedule’ — MercoPress

Kalashnikov rifle factory in Venezuela completed ‘as planned’

Shugayev explained that Russia and Venezuela see the project as part of Hugo Chavez’s legacy

Dmitry Shugayev, director of the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSVTS), told Sputnik news agency on Wednesday that the construction of a Kalashnikov AK-103 assault rifle factory in Venezuela is proceeding as planned despite opposition from Washington.

“The works are being carried out in close cooperation with Venezuela. At the same time, some difficulties have arisen due to sanctions imposed by Washington, which have had an adverse impact on logistics, training of specialists and other project tasks. Despite this, the works are proceeding according to plan,” Shugayev commented.

He added that both countries consider the project an important part of the legacy of former Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (1999-2013). Shugayev said the rifles are being produced primarily for Venezuela’s security forces. “Production for orders from third countries is not ruled out, but it requires further study,” he added.

The factory is a military facility in Maracay, Aragua state, that produces AK-103 and AK-104 assault rifles under Russian license.

The plant has suffered numerous setbacks. Originally scheduled to start production in 2021, it had to be delayed due to US sanctions and delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In October 2021, Maduro sent Adan Chavez (Hugo’s brother) to Moscow to discuss the project. He returned hoping that the project would be operational by the second half of 2022.

The delivery deadlines for the Kalashnikov assault rifle factory in Venezuela have also been delayed several times due to a corruption scandal. In April 2009, the Russian company Rostec launched an investigation after a series of robberies. Former Russian Senator Sergei Popelev, who was in charge of the development of the project, was convicted of theft of about $16 million. He claimed that the factory was not built on time due to the country’s extremely high inflation.