MOSCOW. April 21 (Interfax) - Kalashnikov Concern plans to use the 2023 government subsidy to procure new equipment, including for the production of drones, the Kalashnikov press service said on Friday.
"The main focus in utilizing the government subsidy for 2023 with regard to new equipment purchases will be on expanding production capacities and competencies in unmanned aerial vehicles, tool production and machine tool building," the press service said in a statement.
With support from the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade, Kalashnikov has started the re-equipping the existing production facilities, it said.
"The project's implementation will not only help increase the output but will also create new jobs and, consequently, will improve working conditions at the plant," Kalashnikov Group President Alan Lushnikov said, as quoted in the statement.
On December 27, 2022, he said Kalashnikov would ramp up military drone production in 2023.
On December 10, Lushnikov said Kalashnikov Group was not planning to expand the line of large attack drones and would focus on the development of the KUB and Lantset loitering munitions.
The KUB and Lantset unmanned aerial vehicles made by Kalashnikov have proven their value during the Russian special military operation in Ukraine, "however, the assessments should be made by the customer that is using them," he said.
Strike drones made by Kalashnikov have been tested during hostilities in Syria, Rostec head Sergei Chemezov said in December 2020.