The world’s most famous assault rifle could be made in the UAE under plans being considered by its owner.

The UAE and Saudi Arabia are both being considered as potential locations for a Kalashnikov factory, according to the chief executive of its parent Rostec, the Russian military conglomerate.

Sergey Chemezov made the disclosure in an interview with The National on the sidelines of the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (Idex) in Abu Dhabi yesterday.

“Currently we are discussing an opportunity to open a plant to manufacture Kalashnikov weapons somewhere in the Gulf countries,” said Mr Chemezov.

“We are deciding on here or Saudi Arabia,” he added.

Famed for its reliability in conflicts from Vietnam to Afghanistan, there are thought to be more than 100 million AK-47s, as the assault rifles are also known, in circulation.

The plan to establish a base in the region comes as Kalashnikov is seeking to attract private sector investment.

Kalashnikov plans to increase the production of arms by as much as 80 per cent this year and create 1,700 jobs.

Its export orders have grown more than fourfold over the past two years, reaching US$230 million in 2016, “despite sanctions”, the group said in January.

A US ban on imports of the weapon under sanctions imposed over Russia’s interventions in Ukraine forced Kalashnikov to diversify and embark on cost cuts. The group’s chief executive Alexey Krivoruchko said that the challenge was being able to meet growing demand.

The AK-47 was developed by Mikhail Kalashnikov after the Second World War, inspired by complaints he had heard from Russian soldiers about their rifles while convalescing after a shoulder wound in 1942. It has been standard military issue in Russia since 1949.

It is believed that AK-47s have caused more deaths than artillery fire, air strikes and rocket attacks combined, according to broadcaster RT.

“I sleep well. It’s the politicians, who are to blame for failing to come to an agreement and resorting to violence,” he said in 2007.

He died in 2013 at 94.

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Idex 2017

■ Sights from the second day at Idex 2017 – in pictures

■ Thales set to sign deal with UAE Armed Forces this week

■ US military defence technology firm Harris lands UAE Armed Forces contract

■ Idex 2017 opens in Abu Dhabi – in pictures

■ Dh4.41bn worth of arms deals struck on day one of defence show

■ NIMR on track to expanding range

■ UK’s Hesco hopes to employ UAE war veterans at its Al Ain factory

■ Mena defence spending to rise this year as conflicts create demand for arms

■ UAE will count on technologies to keep terror threats at bay

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scronin@thenational.ae

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