The Maker of Kalashnikov Assault Rifles Plans to Manufacture Drones

Kalashnikov Concern has acquired a controlling stake of 51 percent of ZALA Aero, a developer of unmanned aerial systems, reports DefenseNews.com.

"Based off Kalashnikov Concern and ZALA Aero company, we plan to develop and manufacture drones, mobile and earth-based management stations," said Aleksey Krivoruchko, Kalashnikov Concern CEO.

"Our main product here will be intelligence-gathering pilotless airplanes, helicopters and aerostats. The decision to purchase control stake of ZALA Aero to widen our product line has been made as a part of the strategy of Kalashnikov corporate development through the year 2020 and as a part of the process of developing new sectors of our market."

The UAVs produced will operate to secure state borders, intelligence gathering and rescue operations, as well as special operations, according to the company.

According to Russian-based OJSC "Kalashnikov Concern," it has clients in:

• The CIS and European countries ( Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Serbia, Slovakia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan);
• Latin American countries (Bolivia, Brazil, Venezuela, Cuba, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Uruguay, Ecuador);
• Asian Countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Brunei, Viet Nam, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Malaysia, Nepal, Thailand, the Philippines, Sri Lanka);
• Arab and African countries (Algeria, Angola, Bahrain, Botswana, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Nigeria, U.A.E., Saudi Arabia, Syria, Uganda, Southern Sudan)