TSAMTO, July 2. Rosoboronexport (part of Rostec Group of Companies) has completed the construction of the first stage of a factory for the production of 7.62 mm caliber cartridges for Kalashnikov assault rifles in Venezuela.
The company will produce up to 70 million rounds of ammunition per year and will significantly increase the country's defense potential by providing Venezuela with ammunition of its own production.
"The first stage of the plant for the production of cartridges for Kalashnikov assault rifles in Venezuela is equipped with four modern lines. Two are designed to assemble ammunition with steel–core bullets, and two more are designed for tracer bullet cartridges and blanks. Other production buildings are planned to be commissioned in the near future, which will ensure a full cycle of production of cartridges and Kalashnikov assault rifles in Venezuela for the national army, police and other law enforcement agencies. This is an important step in the development of technological cooperation with our key partner in Latin America," said Oleg Yevtushenko, Executive Director of Rostec.
Tens of thousands of cartridges can be produced on each production line in one work shift. The conducted test program at the control and testing station (CIS) confirmed the quality of the products and compliance with the declared characteristics.
In addition, the company has commissioned a waste disposal building, intermediate warehouses for ammunition components, a unique shooting range for testing cartridges with a tracer bullet (210 m working area), as well as a fire tank and other auxiliary facilities.
"For Rosoboronexport, the construction of a cartridge factory in Venezuela was associated with serious challenges, including sanctions pressure on both countries. Despite the objective limitations, we have implemented this complex infrastructure project together with Rostec and have shown the world that we always fulfill our obligations to our partners," said Alexander Mikheev, CEO of Rosoboronexport. – Venezuela's defense potential has grown significantly with the commissioning of the first stage of the plant: it can already produce up to 70 million rounds per year. Our immediate plans include the completion of the second stage of the enterprise, after which the full technological chain of production will be implemented."
The launch of four cartridge assembly lines took place in the presence of Henry Rodriguez, Deputy Minister of Defense of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and Alex Saab, Minister of Industry and National Production of Venezuela. An act on the start of warranty operation of the first stage of the cartridge factory was also signed.
Rosoboronexport highly appreciates the level of military-technical cooperation between Russia and Venezuela, which fully corresponds to the nature of relations between the two countries in recent years. As a result of successful and mutually beneficial cooperation, Venezuela has not only improved the technical equipment of its armed forces, but also significantly increased their level of combat training. This allows the country to reliably ensure its own defense capability and successfully combat drug trafficking and organized crime.
Venezuela successfully exploits Russian weapons and military equipment, including airplanes, helicopters, armored vehicles and small arms, including Kalashnikov assault rifles, the press service of Rostec State Corporation reports.
