I am excited to announce that TFB will be interviewing Mr. Alexey Krivoruchko, the CEO of Kalashnikov Concern. This interview was made possible by the excellent public relations team at Rostec, the massive Russian State Corporation that either fully or partly owns many defense manufacturers, including a 51% stake in Kalashnikov (the other 49% is privately owned).

Rostec’s PR team will arrange translation of the questions and answers and have generously agreed to allow me to field questions from you all. Frankly, I had not expected them to agree to this because of the geopolitical situation and so I am overjoyed at the opportunity.

Along with questions directed to Kalashnikov’s CEO, questions can also be asked about Rostec’s other subsidiaries and their products. The Rostec team will endeavour to contact the right people to get answers for the questions. Is there something you want to know about modern RPG launchers, such as the RPG-28? What about Russian grenade launchers? Now is the time to ask.

Note, the worlds largest arms expo, IDEX 2015, is just a few days away, and so questions that are overly complex may not be able to be answered.

If you have questions, post them in the comments below. Make sure you specify if the question is for Mr. Krivoruchko or for Rostec. Before asking a question, read the questions other readers have asked to make sure your question has not already been posted. Upvote questions you are interested in. The more upvoted a question is, the greater chance I will ask it.

This is NOT an AMA (“Ask Me Anything”). I will be choosing the questions. While I may, or may not, ask about the effect of sanctions on business, this is not an opportunity to discuss or debate Russian, US or NATO foreign policy. This is for technical questions about the Russian firearm and defense industry and it’s products. Mr. Krivoruchko and other employees who answer the questions are NOT government employees, military staff or politicians. They work for a for-profit corporations that happen to be owned either fully, or in part, by the Russian government. Asking them political questions would be like asking the CEO of Ruger what he thinks of foreign policy … no CEO would answer that.

Below is some information to help you come up with questions …

Kalashnikov Concern

Kalashnikov Concern is now part of a larger organization called the Kalashnikov Group. The Kalashnikov Concern subsidiary manufactures military rifles, the IZHMASH subsidiary (brand?) manufactures consumer versions of Kalashnikov Concern’s military rifles (such as, I think, the Saiga rifles) and Baikal manufactures sporting firearms. Molot, who manufacture the VEPR, is owned by one of these organizations. I will definitely be asking Mr Krivoruchko questions about who owns want.

Saiga-12 in Law Enforcement SBS configuration.

AK-12: The next generation AK

Products manufactured by Kalashnikov Concern include (courtesy of Wikipedia) …

• AK-74, AN-94, AK-101, AK-103, AK-107, AK-12 series assault rifles
• Р-446 VIKING
• Saiga-12, Saiga-20, Saiga-410 semi-automatic shotguns
• Saiga self-loading carbine
• SV-98 bolt action sniper rifle
• SVD/SVDS semi-automatic sniper rifle
• Bizon submachine gun
• Vityaz-SN 9×19mm Parabellum submachine gun
• Makarov PM
• Airsoft AK74M (IZh-124)
• Yunker Series, semi-automatic air gun Kalashnikov assault rifle dummy

BIO: CEO OF KALASHNIKOV CONCERN – ALEXEY KRIVORUCHKO

Mr. Alexey Krivoruchko is the Director General for OJSC Kalashnikov Concern. In addition, Mr. Krivoruchko has been serving as General Director of AeroExpress LTD (2010 – current). Alexey Krivoruchko served as Deputy CEO for sales and technical service, Executive Director of Sales, Vice President of sales and marketing, Senior Vice President of sales and marketing for AvtoVAZ OJSC, in the city of Tolyatti (2006-2009). He also held a position of the Chief Expert, Consultant, Department of regional and offset programs in ROSOBORONEKSPORT Federal State-Owned Enterprise (2006). Prior to that, Mr. Krivoruchko served as advisor to the Deputy CEO of logistical support for Aeroflot-Russian Airlines JSC in 2004-2005 and Deputy CEO, then Director General of Rostov Civil Aviation Plant № 412 OJSC (1999-2001).

Alexey Krivoruchko graduated from the Institute of Management, Economics, Law and Informatics with a degree in Law. He is also a graduate from the Russian Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Russian Federation with a degree in Public Administration.

Rostec

Rostec is huge. According to Wikipedia in 2012 it was made up of 663 organizations. Aside from defense it is also involved in civilian aviation, healthcare, electronics and telecommunications and many other industries.

ADS rifle in 5.56mm (Photo (C) Vitaly V. Kuzmin

Here are a few companies that are part of Rostec and their products …

KBM: Who make the ADS amphibious assault rifle

• TSNIITOCHMASH Corporation: Who are developing the Ratnik combat gear – an infantry combat system that works in any conditions from the Arctic to the tropics (think Russia’s Future Soldier program).

• Techmash Corporation: Makers of the RPG-28 shoulder fired anti-tank rocket launcher designed to defeat modern and future tanks with advanced reactive and composite armour as well as fortified infantry. They also make the 6G-27 Balkan 40mm grenade launcher.

• NPO Precision Complexes: Make man-portable air-defence systems such as the MANPADS Verba that can be integrated into automated fire control systems.

Ask your questions below …