MOSCOW. Nov 10 (Interfax-AVN) - Russian small arms designers and manufacturers are ready to offer customers future weapon systems, Vladimir Paleshchuk, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Military Technical Cooperation Committee, told Interfax-Military News Agency on Wednesday.
"Russia has developed promising small arms. Enterprises such as the Klimov-based Tochmash Research and Development Institute are ready to introduce them to the market," Paleshchuk said at the ARMS 2004 arms show and the International Hunter Fair in Moscow.
According to Paleshchuk, new small arms are in demand in light of the increasing importance of anti-terrorist operations.
"Recent events demonstrate that small arms are securing a greater importance in the overall range of weapon systems. It results from the fact that small arms are best-suited for anti-terrorist operations," Paleshchuk said.
According to him, recent conflicts have seen a wide use of conventional Land Forces weapons.
"Despite powerful air and naval support, Land Forces weapons have still played the decisive role," Paleshchuk said.
New hunting and sports rifles, as well as various pieces of equipment and special materiel will be displayed at the ARMS 2004 arms show and International Hunter Fair 2004.
Both shows will be held at the All-Russian Exposition Center in Moscow from Wednesday until Saturday. They will see participation of over 100 Russian and foreign companies, including 20 companies from Germany, Italy, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Belarus, Ukraine, Serbia and Montenegro, and UAE, Nikolay Marichev, press-secretary of the show and the fair, told Interfax-AVN.