Russian Army has too many AK-74 rifles!
The Russian Army has the kind of problem most of us wish we had: too many AK-74 rifles. Russia's Chief of the General Staff Nikolai Makarov said that they were not going to purchase any more AKs until 2014 because "its supply exceeds demand by a factor of 10."
This is going to hit Izhmash hard. The company has been having financial problems since 2009.
DefesneNews also reports that Gen. Kalashnikov is not being told about the decision because he is in poor health ...
It added that the decision is not being disclosed to the rifle's world-renowned designer, who is 91, out of fears for his health.
"We do not want to tell him and then have it on our conscience. He might not recover," the paper quoted an unnamed friend of Kalashnikov as saying.
Kalashnikov is well known to take threats to his former employer to heart, at 91 he does not need the stress.
[ Many thanks to Lance for emailing me the link. ]
The Russian Army is down-sizing and need for replacement weapons limited. 130,000 are to be cut, reducing the whole armed force to 1 million.
By the end of 2009, 23 of the 24 divisions had been disbanded and their elements were used to create 4 tank brigades, 35 motorized rifle brigades (10 of which pre-existing) and one “fortifications” brigade.
The number of military units and formations in the Ground Forces will be reduced from 1,890 to 172 within three years.[15] The original four-link command and control system (military district – army – division – regiment) has been replaced by a three-link system (military district – operational command – brigade).[16]
The centralization and downsizing of the military education system is closely related to planned reductions to the officer corps. Serdyukov announced that the 65 military institutions of higher learning (15 academies, four universities, 46 colleges – including Suvorov and Nakhimov schools – and institutes) will be reduced by 2012 to just ten “systemic institutions”:
Enough said???
Just the gun to go wild hog hunting in Texas with!
maybe they could use those surplus ak’s as incentives, like you get one free or half-off with the purchase of a new or slightly used yugo, lada, skoda, toaster, bar of soap, kitty litter, baby food, piano or accordion lessons. should also be a big hit as a door prizes given away at caviar or vodka tasting parties, you know, for the elite. or strategicly “dumped” in palin’s back yard. the possibilities are quite endless
You can buy and make a Russian AK-74. But President Obama says selling ROK buyback M-1 Grands is too destructive! :X
Hopefully that means more imported Izhmash rifles and shotguns, and consequently lowered prices on Saigas
But with this all over the news, don’t you think Comrade Kalashnikov will find out anyway?
KTBabs, he is a very old man in bad health. I am sure they can keep the news from him.
Fact is the Russian have too many AK-74s and AKMs from the Soviet era and the fact is there no need to make more AKs than the millions they already have. Im sure Izmash will do fine if it can find a cheaper way to sell AK-103s over cheap AKMs the Russian government sell per year.
If you can make parts kits for making semi auto AK-74 clones.
Well, I say dump the surplus on the U.S. market, Ruskies!
Wait a minute, how do you end up with an army with 10 times as many rifles as they need? If that is really the case then Russia will not be buying another rifle for what, 20-30 years?
Joel, I think they were probably told by politicians to buy rifles they did not want in order to keep the factory running. I think they have probably run out of space to store the rifles.
Too many AKs?
I’ll take one.
So they’re not telling the General, just everyone else on the planet? That should go well.
Dear Russian Army,
I am writing to you in response to your letter where you say you have too many AK-74 rifles.
Your friends in America would love to assist you with this difficult challenge. Together we can reduce your inventory, put a little money in your pocket, and put smiles on the faces of thousands of gun lovers here in the States.
All you need to do is load up your excess AK-74s in that lovely cosmoline you’ve used since your Revolution, fill up a few of your impressive Antov cargo planes and stop by our place.
Our money is still pretty good (better than the Euro anyway!) and we still have those blue jeans you grew fond of when the wall was up.
Anyhow, lets see if we can make a deal.
Yours truly,
American Gun Owner
Freiheit, LOL, I like that.
It would be too good to be true for the Russians to kindly introduce their outstanding AK74′s to the American civilian gun owner market. I believe they would have no issues, its just our infinitely wise institutions in American that will not allow it. What a shame…
Well this means that Izhmash can triple production destined for the USA then. Good.
nah, Russians are probably going to adopt a (modified) Kalashnikov design…
Well Gen. Kalashikov is a great man in the firearm world. Hope he gets better.
Too many rifles sounds too good to be true.
And Azerbaijan is going to build new AK-74s!? Why didn’t they just purchase Russia’s surplus at a bargain?
Anyway, I’ve done my part–I bought a Saiga 5.45. Support your local Russian Weapons Manufacturing Concern, buy a Saiga!