Moscow. November 24. INTERFAX-AVN - The marines of the Baltic Fleet have received new AK-12 Kalashnikov assault rifles, the press service of the Baltic Fleet reported on Wednesday.
"Military personnel of the Baltic Fleet Marine Corps unit are being re-equipped with new AK-12 submachine guns. The new small arms replaced the AK-74M submachine guns previously in service with the Marines," the press service said.
They noted that the new Kalashnikov assault rifles were received by the amphibious assault and reconnaissance units of the Marine Corps.
"The AK-12 batch was delivered to the Black Berets as part of the fleet rearmament program. Currently, the servicemen have started shooting and bringing weapons to normal combat at the Khmelevka training ground," the fleet headquarters said.
The AK-12 5.45 mm caliber was developed by the Kalashnikov Concern as part of the Ratnik program as an element of a promising equipment complex for Russian military personnel, at the end of 2018 it was adopted by the Ground Forces, Marines and airborne units. Compared to previous generations, it has improved ergonomics, increased accuracy and accuracy of shooting.
Earlier, it was officially reported about the creation of a new motorized rifle division in the Kaliningrad region. The Russian military stated that the division was being formed in response to the growth of NATO activity near the Russian borders.
The army corps stationed in the Kaliningrad region received a batch of 23 modernized T-72B3M tanks, the Baltic Fleet of the Russian Federation reported in October.
In recent years, Russia has strengthened the military infrastructure in the Kaliningrad region.
In 2016, it was officially reported that the 11th Army Corps was formed as part of the Baltic Fleet in the Kaliningrad Region.
In May 2018, it was officially reported that the missile brigade in the city of Chernyakhovsk had been re-equipped from Tochki-U to Iskander-M tactical complexes.
In the Kaliningrad region, the Russian military has modern coastal missile systems "Bal" and "Bastion", as well as long-range air defense systems S-400 "Triumph" (Almaz-Antey concern).
In July 2019, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that the Russian military had completed the construction of a new arsenal near Kaliningrad for storing missiles, torpedoes and artillery ammunition, as well as a new airfield for the Baltic Fleet naval aviation.
On May 18, the Commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy Nikolai Evmenov announced that the Russian Baltic Fleet will receive new diesel submarines against the background of NATO's strengthening in the region.