Russia, Italy In Talks To Co-Produce Small Arms

Russia’s small-arms holding Kalashnikov Concern is in negotiations with Italy's Beretta on the establishment of joint ventures in Russia, a senior government official was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti.

The on-going talks on the joint venture is to manufacture hunting and sporting weapons.

This could possibly lead to cooperation in military small arms at a later date, Rogozin was quoted as saying in the report at the international Weapons and Hunting 2013 exhibition in Moscow.

“If all goes well … we should expect co-production of tactical, that is, combat weapons,” he added.

Russia is also “interested in optics, and possible localized manufacturer in Russia, including plain optics, night and TV systems, for civil uses and also for our state defense orders.

Several Russian firearms and weapons enterprises including the Izhmash, manufacturer of the legendary Kalashnikov assault rifle, and Izhmekh arms factories, were integrated into a new holding renamed Kalashnikov Corporation in mid-August.

Both Izhmash and Izhmekh have been recently experiencing financial difficulties and a sharp drop in production, though Izhmash reported strong sales of its sporting guns in Europe and the United States last year, the report added.