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Email this citationCIAO DATE: 10/05
Beyond the Kalashnikov: Small Arms Production, Exports, and Stockpiles in the Russian Federation
Maxim Pyadushkin
August, 2003
Abstract
This paper analyzes various aspects of the small arms issue in the Russian Federation. There are a number of reasons why a specific study of Russian small arms issues is helpful for policy-makers and researchers interested in small arms and light weapons (SALW). Russia is one of the world's major producers and exporters of SALW. The most successful and famous military assault rifle, the Kalashnikov, originated in the former Soviet Union. While the original rifle is no longer produced in Russia, its derivatives are still in production. The Russian Federation is also a country dealing with internal problems where the availability of small arms exacerbates the situation. These include regions of conflict, such as Chechnya, or problems of crime and personal security in big cities such as Moscow. Various methods have been used to retrieve illegally held small arms from Russian society, including regional buy-back programmes.
The breakup of the Soviet Union had a significant impact on SALW production in Russia. Today, factories are not producing at full capacity and there has been a shift by some companies to increase production of hunting guns and handguns for the civilian export market. Most Russian companies are heavily reliant on exports, as procurement of new small arms by the Russian armed forces in the near future should be restrained due to sufficient present stockpiles and budgetary constraints. However, newer generation small arms continue to be developed for the Russian military. The main centres of small arms production from Soviet times have remained and are for the most part centred in the two cities of Tula and Ishevsk, with other smaller factories located near Moscow and other cities. Production data for most Russian SALW factories is presented in the body of this study.
