“Kalashnikov Concern, which is part of the state corporation Rostec, will increase its staff by at least 30 percent by creating 1,700 new jobs in 2017 amid a surge in export orders," RIA Novosti reported, citing the company's press service.
The list of new employees will include adjusters, grinders, toolmakers, millers, press operators, machine operators and others.
In an interview with Radio Sputnik, Igor Korotchenko, a military expert and editor-in-chief of National Defense journal, said that Kalashnikov now had good chances of increasing its sales in the West.
“Kalashnikov Concern is now implementing a number of major contracts with the Defense Ministry and has good prospects of selling its products abroad, above all the 100 series assault rifles,” Korotchenko said.
He added that several types of Kalashnikov rifles were also in high demand among police units abroad.
“If the Americans lift their sanctions against Russia, this would give an additional boost to Kalashnikov’s effort to enter the US arms market,” Korotchenko said.
“Russian weapons are extremely reliable and efficient, that’s why Kalashnikov has good chances of expanding to foreign markets and this would certainly be the way to go.”
Igor Korotchenko said that Russian weapons had proved their efficiency in combat.
The Kalashnikov Concern was created in 2013 in the merger of two Soviet-era plants, Izhmash and Izhevsk Mechanical Plant, becoming Russia’s largest producer of rifles and other weaponry.
The company sells civilian firearms and combat weapons in over 25 countries, including in Europe, Africa and Asia.
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