Moscow, Riyadh Continuing Talks on Licenced Production of AK-103 Rifles in Saudi Arabia

DUBAI (Sputnik) - In February, Alexander Mikheev, the head of the Russian state arms exporter Rosoboronexport, said the two countries would soon launch the joint licensed production of the assault rifles. Russian President Putin and Saudi King Salman met on 14 October and discussed the two countries technical military cooperation.

Russia and Saudi Arabia are currently discussing the licensed production of Kalashnikov AK-103 assault rifles, as the leaders of both countries previously discussed in a meeting, a representative from Russia's Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation revealed.

"[The two sides] are currently discussing the issue of licenced production of the Kalashnikov AK-103 assault rifles in Saudi Arabia. The topic was discussed in the recent meeting between the two heads of the two governments," Maria Vorobyeva, the agency's representative, said.

AK-103 is a Russian-made assault rifle designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov that has been in service since 2001. The weapon can be fitted with night vision and telescopic sights, a knife-bayonet or a grenade launcher.