IZHEVSK, Udmurtia. Nov 19 (Interfax-AVN) - Festivities timed to the 55th anniversary of the Kalashnikov assault rifle's creation will take place in Izhevsk on Friday, the press service of the local Izhmash consortium told Interfax-Military News Agency.
"AK, the most popular type of small arms in the history of mankind, is in the inventory of armies and secret services of more than half of all nations. It gained popularity through easy design, faultless strength and no-failure operation," the press service said.
Taking into account licensed production in China, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Germany, Egypt, Libya and other countries, a total of over 70 million Kalashnikov assault rifles have been manufactured, Viktor Kalashnikov, head of Izhmash's special equipment design bureau, earlier told Interfax-AVN.
The history of production of AK-47 and its modifications is connected with the Izhevsk machine-building plant (now a part of Izhmash) which organizes the jubilee festivities. Exhibitions of small-arms samples and the research and technical conference "Legacy of AK-47 Constructive Basis in Creation of Present-day Arms Samples" will take place in the framework of the celebrations. Legendary arms designer Mikhail Kalashnikov will open the conference.
Demonstrative firing will take place on the same day. Its participants will have the chance to test in action sports and hunting rifles, as well as combat weapons, including AK-74-M, AK- 101, AK-103, AK-105, AK-107 and AN-94 assault rifles of all caliber, all types of sniper rifles produced by Izhmash and other weapons.
The festivities will involve officials of the Russian president's administration, government, Defense Ministry, Interior Ministry, Russian Conventional Arms Agency, Rosoboronexport state owned arms trader and Russia's armories.