"Anatoli Isaikin, the Director General of the state arms exporter Rosoboronexport, met recently with the creator of the Kalashnikov rifles, the head of the Izhmash Company, Mikhail Kalashnikov. The meeting’s objective was to look into developing a new generation of AK-100 series rifles."

I don't know if they mean these AK-100 variants or something else. Either way it is not good news for the world. The AK-47 is clearly the best submachine gun in the world for what it does, which is to be simple, cheap and reliable. A kid who's never been to school can learn to use and take care of it in about 45 minutes. I don't know why anyone would want "improved" models, unless it's to make them lighter.

They are so cheap and available that they are truly disposable. Everyone manufactures and distributes them, the Russians may even be behind the US in how many are sold or given away and the Chinese in how many are manufactured. The Israelis have captured a load of them, too. As with the US supply, they get cleaned up and sold on the international market, many winding up in the hands of children in Africa.

Whereas the comparable US weapons are not particularly valued. Temperamental, expensive, with a pretty high failure rate. Great when they work.

The Kalishnikovs are nice weapons, and the weapon of choice for many, many missions where they might get dirty and knocked around. And I can't help but think we don't need more AKs.

Arf