The new AK-47: Will the world's most famous weapon change its face?

The Russian arms giant has announced that it has developed a new version of the world's best-selling gun. While the Russian army is satisfied and reports of successful experiments, the experts remain skeptical: "This is a very successful new design, but in order to conquer the military world it needs a more significant innovation"

"It's a pity I did not develop a sewing machine," said General Mikhail AK-47, who developed the world's most famous rifle more than 60 years ago and died at the age of 94 in his home in the Ural Mountains. No less than 100 million rifles have been produced since Mikhail developed the AK-47, a rifle that former President Medvedev said: "This national brand, AK-47, makes every Russian feel proud." This pride, by the way, is considered the weapon that killed the most people ever - with an average of 250,000 a year.

Now the company is announcing a new model of weapons, the AK-12, one of the new versions of the original AK-47, which reportedly meets all the definitions of "completed" weapons. Work on it began in 2011 with the ambition to create a new generation of weapons that would suit all the needs of the modern battlefield. According to reports, the development was made at the request of the Russian army to purchase new and cheaper weapons.

According to reports, the new weapon is actually a combination of all previous versions of the popular weapon, while the manufacturer emphasizes that it maintains the qualities of the original weapon. The new weapon is designed to provide maximum accuracy in problematic terrain and can be fitted with various means of vision, as well as a 40mm grenade launcher.

Along with advanced development, experts say they do not see a genuine replacement for the original Kalashnikov rifle. "This is a very successful new design, but in order to conquer the military world, it needs a more significant innovation," says Victor Marcowski, a Russian weapons expert. The Russian army, on the other hand, reported successful experiments with the new weapon and its senior officials even expressed their satisfaction with it.

Russian weapons are especially popular not only in the Russian army, but also in terrorist organizations throughout the world and in the Middle East in particular. So will we soon see the original Kalash change its face also in the terrorist organizations in our region? Let's wait and see.