• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Kalashnikov, Inventor Of AK-47, Hospitalized

May 27, 2013

Mikhail Kalashnikov, the 93-year-old inventor of the world's most-used assault rifle -- AK-47, has been hospitalized.

Doctors at a regional clinic in Izhevsk, the capital of Russia's republic of Udmurtia, declined on May 27 to offer additional details, saying only that the patient’s condition is "normal."

Kalashnikov has been living in Udmurtia for many years.

Kalashnikov has won numerous Soviet and Russian awards for the AK-47, which has been one of the most popular weapons in the world since it was first introduced in 1947.

The durability and low-maintenance requirements of AK-47s have made them favorites among guerrilla fighters around the world.

Kalashnikov spent several days in hospital in December for what was officially explained as a routine medical check-up.

Based on reporting by RIA-Novosti and Interfax

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/kalashnikov-hospital-ak47/24998446.html

Copyright (c) 2013. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.