Russian-Built Plant in Venezuela to Produce Millions of 7.62 mm Rounds Annually

Rosoboronexport, part of Russia’s Rostec State Corporation, has completed the first phase of a cartridge manufacturing plant in Venezuela that will produce up to 70 million 7.62 mm rounds annually for Kalashnikov assault rifles.

The new facility, which includes four assembly lines, aims to reduce Venezuela’s reliance on imported ammunition by providing locally made steel-core, tracer, and blank cartridges for use by the country’s armed forces, police, and other security agencies.

“The plant is equipped with two lines for assembling steel-core bullets, and two more for tracer and blank rounds,” said Oleg Yevtushenko, Executive Director of Rostec.

The plant’s current configuration enables tens of thousands of cartridges to be produced per shift. A successful testing program at the on-site Control and Testing Station confirmed the quality and compliance of the ammunition with technical standards.

Additional infrastructure has also been completed, including a waste destruction facility, intermediate storage buildings, a 210-meter indoor shooting range for tracer rounds, a fire reservoir, and other auxiliary structures.

Rosoboronexport Director General Alexander Mikheev highlighted the challenges of building the plant under international sanctions: “Despite objective restrictions, we, together with Rostec, implemented this complex infrastructure project and showed the world that we always fulfill our obligations to our partners.”

Venezuelan Deputy Defense Minister Henry Rodriguez and Minister of Industry and National Production Alex Saab attended the official launch ceremony. An act confirming the start of the warranty operation of the plant’s first stage was signed during the event.

The second phase of the plant is expected to be commissioned soon, which will complete the full-cycle production capability, including Kalashnikov rifle manufacturing.