Legendary Russian arms designer Mikhail Kalashnikov dies at
94
http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2013_12_23/Legendary-Russian-arms-designer-Mikhail-Kalashnikov-dies-at-94-1595/
The creator of the iconic AK-47 assault rifle, Lieutenant
General Mikhail Kalashnikov, has died in the intensive care unit at the Central General Hospital
in Russia's
Udmurtia region. He was 94 years old.
Born in 1919, Mikhail Kalashnikov was the seventeenth child
of well-off peasants. When he was eleven his parents had their land
confiscated, like many other wealthy people in Stalin’s time and the whole
family was exiled to Siberia. Since 1949
Mikhail Kalashnikov lived and worked in the capital of the Udmurtia republic Izhevsk. He received a
doctorate in technical sciences and was a member of 16 academies. Over the
course of his career he evolved his basic AK-47 rifle design into a whole family
of weapons.
The AKM, or Kalashnikov modernized assault rifle, appeared
in 1963. It was lighter and cheaper to manufacture than AK-47. From the AKM
Kalashnikov developed the RPK light machine gun and the PK – Kalashnikov
machine gun. The common characteristics of all his weapons are their simple
design and ease of maintenance in all operating conditions.
Mikhail Kalashnikov received numerous awards for his work
and was named a “Hero of the Russian
Federation in 2009 with then-President
Dmitry Medvedev presenting him with a medal for creating “the brand every
Russian is proud of”.
Approximately 100 million AK-47 assault rifles were produced
by 2009 and about half of them are counterfeit, manufactured at a rate of
nearly a million per year. Izhmash, the official AK-47 manufacturer in Russia, only
patented the weapon's design in 1997, and in 2006 accounted for only 10% of the
world's production. Kalashnikov himself claimed he was always motivated by
service to his country rather than money and made no direct profit from weapon
production.
Putin offers his condolences to Kalashnikov’s family members
and friends
Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered his condolences
to Mikhail Kalashnikov’sfriends and familyafter the death of the outstanding
small arms designer, Putin’s press service announced.
Kalashnikov's name will be alive for next few decades
Alexandr Goltz, russian military analyst and deputy chief
editor of Russia's
political magazine Weekly, comments:
Alexander, how significant was Mikhail Kalashnikov’s
contribution to the weapon industry?
He was a great man and, of course, his name is something
like Colt or Maxim, in the design of the machine gun. I’m absolutely sure that
his name will live on for the next few decades and it is one of the most famous
names for Russia,
like Sputnik or Cosmonaut or something like that.
Well, hopefully, maybe even centuries…
God knows how long this gun will be available but, of
course, it is a huge achievement in Russian design. We can compare Kalashnikov
with Korolev who was the designer of Russian missiles or a few famous designers
who's names will be alive for very long period of time, no doubt.
Now do you think that the creation of the AK-47 contributed
to more bloodshed in the world?
Look, of course, it has but we cannot blame Kalashnikov for
that. If not him the somebody else would inveent this (kind of) weapon. It is
important today I think, on the day of his death, to commemorate his generosity
as a designer.
It is very interesting to point out. Here is a quote from Mr
Kalashnikov: “I invented it for the protection of the motherland and I have no
regrets and bear no responsibilities for how politicians have used it.”
It is absolutely true. Can we blame Colt for that?
Kalashnikov's system of automatic small arms has been
considered unrivaled in the world for the past 50 years. “I will be the first
to shake the hand of the person who creates a better rifle,” he said this
now-iconic phrase 30 years ago.
Mikhail Kalashnikov was the first in the world to design a
whole range of uniform samples of automatic small arms identical in terms of
automatics, internal design and principles of operation. They were broadly
introduced in the armed forces.
The Kalashnikov submachine gun is used in more than a
hundred countries. It has been included in the list of outstanding inventions
of the 20th century. A new enterprise, the Kalashnikov concern, is now bearing
Mikhail Kalashnikov’s name. It has united the Izhmash plant and the Izhevsk mechanical plant
under one brand.
During his life, Mikhail Kalashnikov wrote several
autobiographies. He continued working at the plant as chief designer until an
advanced age.
Mikhail Kalashnikov was the only person to be simultaneously
awarded the titles of Hero of Russia and two-times Hero of Socialist Labor.
He designed his most famous assault rifle in 1947. Since
then over 70 million units of all its modifications have been manufactured.
Today the AK is used by security agencies in over 100 countries.
Alexander Volkov, president of the Udmurt
Republic, described the deceased small
arms designer, Mikhail Kalashnikov, as a bright patriot of Russia.
“It is hard and hurtful to realize that Mikhail Kalashnikov
is no longer with us. One of the brightest, most talented and consistent
patriots of Russia
has passed away. He devoted all his life to serving his Motherland,” Alexander
Volkov said in his condolences to the relatives and family of the dead on
Monday.
The memory of the legendary small arms designer, Mikhail
Kalashnikov, will always live in our hearts, Vladimir Komoyedov, head of the
Russian State Duma Defence Committee, told reporters on Monday. The deputy
presented profound condolences to Kalashnikov’s relatives and family.
“I think that his name will not only remain in our minds. It
will also remain on emblems that depict his famous invention - the Kalashnikov
submachine gun. Let him rest in peace. It seems to me that he will be
remembered forever,” the deputy said.
Komoyedov does not think that the Kalashnikov concern will
fall apart. “I do not think that it was created to fall apart. I believe it was
created to function. I am sure that it is going to live under its current
name,” the deputy said in conclusion.
The legendary rifle designer was brought to the intensive
therapy ward at the republican diagnostic center on November 17. The patient
was diagnosed with gastric hemorrhage that was stopped by surgery, Udmurtia
health minister Vladimir Muzlov said. No visitors were permitted to see
Kalashnikov in the ward. After the surgery he underwent an intensive therapy
course as well as rehabilitation and recovery procedures.
Voice of Russia,
TASS