Ukraine War Effect? Kalashnikov's 2022 Production Surpasses Past 20 years' Record

Kalashnikov Concern said it produced 40% more weapons last year than in 2021, setting a new record, likely fueled by the ongoing Ukraine War.

In 2022, the company completed 45 state defense order contracts, 24 military-technical cooperation agreements, and also carried out the planned work to organize licensed production under one contract. These are the largest contracts in the history of the enterprise.

Kalashnikov also produced the first batch of the 7.62x54-mm Chukavin sniper rifle and ‘mastered’ production of 5.56 mm AK-19 assault rifle, 9 mm PPK-20 submachine gun, Saiga-9 hunting self-loading carbine and TR3 hunting self-loading carbine.

In general, the arms production division has set a record over the past 20 years - the production of military and civilian small arms exceeded the results of 2021 by 40%.

The tool production division also increased the output of finished products by 8% compared to the previous year.

The volume of products produced by the machine tool division was equal to the total production volume for the previous three years, from 2019 to 2021. This included screw-cutting lathes, special equipment, spindle assemblies, including two new items with numerical control: longitudinal turning machines and vertical milling machines. The share of works for sale increased from 31% in 2021 to 51% in 2022.

Alan Lushnikov, a former Russian deputy transport minister, acquired a 75% stake in the company in 2020. He has previously said that 79% of revenue comes from military orders and the remainder from civilian purchases.

In addition to the AK-12, a 5.45 mm weapon that is the Russian military's standard assault rifle, Kalashnikov Concern makes sniper rifles, shotguns, anti-aircraft missiles, drones, laser-guided artillery shells, assault boats, and armored vehicles.