Kalashnikov hopes to double Asia-Pacific business

MOSCOW, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- Russian arms maker Kalashnikov is exhibiting about 20 firearms at an exhibition in Thailand as aims at doubling its contract portfolio over the next year.

Weapons being displayed this week at the Defense & Security 2015 exhibition includes AK-100 series assault rifle -- including those in the NATO-standard caliber of 5.56 mm -- and Dragunov sniper rifles.

"Over the last two years the company has substantially stepped up its cooperation with Asia-Pacific nations," said Kalashnikov Chief Executive Officer Alexey Krivoruchko. "To us it is one of the potential sales markets where Kalashnikov has not had any physical presence since 2001.

"We have been able to come back and strengthen cooperation with Asia-Pacific nations. It would be inappropriate to us to reveal contract pricing details, but we can clearly state that we have achieved a considerable growth in the level of cooperation with APAC countries."

Krivoruchko said Kalashnikov had increased supplies of firearms by nearly nine times this year in absolute terms and fivefold in cash terms over 2014, and intends to double sales in this region.

The exhibition in Thailand attracts military officials from China, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines, Myanmar and other countries.