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Kalashnikov Approves New Production Location for American-Made AK-47

© AP Photo / Michel EulerKalashnikov machine guns
Kalashnikov machine guns - Sputnik International
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Sanctions-hit Tullytown, Pennsylvania-based RWC Group hopes to switch from importing Russia's legendary Kalashnikov rifles to producing them in the United States.

Presentation of the new Kalashnikov Concern's logo and development strategy plan in Moscow on December 2, 2014. - Sputnik International
Kalashnikov Concern Presents New Black and Red Company Logo
MOSCOW, January 22 (Sputnik) - Kalashnikov Concern has tacitly approved a US-based company's plans to produce rifles under the AK brand in the US, calling it a "logical step", RT reports. 

"The production of the Kalashnikov Concern has traditionally maintained its leadership positions on the American market. The introduction of sanctions has substantially increased interest in the Concern's production, and we believe that such a move on the part of the RWC [Russian Weapons Company] is completely logical under the present circumstances. We can only note that such a step once again highlights the popularity of the legendary AK assault rifle," a spokesperson for the company said.

Tullytown, Pennsylvania-based RWC Group, the official importer and distributor of Kalashnikov automatic and carbine rifles, had announced on Tuesday at the SHOT Show in Las Vegas that they would open an AK factory in the US in the second quarter of this year, which would produce AK-47s and Kalashnikov-brand shotguns. The Kalashnikov USA booth at SHOT features the slogans "Russian Heritage" and "Made in USA."

Kalashnikov Concern managed to overcome the loss of the American market by strengthening its ties with other countries. - Sputnik International
Kalashnikov Concern Nearly Closes Sales Gap Due to Sanctions: Rostec CEO
The company took the import-substitution measure in an effort to get around the anti-Russia sanctions introduced last July, which prevent it from importing any more rifles into the United States from the Izhevsk-based plant.

RWC CEO Thomas McCrossin told CNN Money that the sanctions have meant that he is not even "permitted to pick up the phone and to talk to them."

McCrossin told CNN Money that the factory would seek to compensate for the loss of supplies from Russia. He noted that while he has "a lot of inventory on my shelf bought and paid for" at present, "when the inventory goes down to zero, there are no more."

Last year, RWC became the exclusive distributor of Kalashnikov-brand rifles in the North American market, its contract allowing the company to import up to 200,000 rifles per year to the US and Canada.

Asked to comment on the American company's plans, Tatiana Kalashnikova, daughter of Mikhail Kalashnikov, the chief designer of the AK-47, noted that more than anything, it was "astonishing."

Kalashnikov Concern, formerly known as the Izhevsk-Machine Building Plant (IzhMash), was founded in 1807 and manufactures weapons and vehicles. Today, in addition to the manufacture of assault rifles, it also produces cannons, missiles, and guided artillery shells. In the 20th century, the plant also produced motorcycles, passenger cars, and various metallurgical products.

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