Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 20
By Fatih Karimov – Trend:
The Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan confirmed that Tehran has purchased AK-103, a modern generation of Kalashnikov assault rifles from Russia, Tasnim news agency reported Aug. 20.
Over the past 10 years, production of light weapons decreased in Iran with priority given to aerospace and naval projects, he said, adding Tehran decided to purchase the AK-103 rifles considering the regional crises.
Dehghan further said that certain infrastructures for production of the rifle are developed inside the country.
“We can produce light weapons in the country in order to meet all needs of the armed forces,” he added.
The AK-103 is chambered for the 7.62x39mm M43 round and it weights (unloaded magazine) 3.4 kilograms.
The rifle’s length is 943 millimeters and it uses 30-round magazines.