Kalashnikov Concern (Izhevsk Machine building Plant until 2013 Russian: Ижевский машиностроительный Завод) or IZHMASH (ИЖМАШ) is the largest arms manufacturer in Russia.
Headquartered in both Izhevsk(Udmurtia, Russia) and Moscow that produces a wide range civilian and military weapons including assault and sniper rifles, guided artillery projectiles and a wide range of other precision weapons. The majority of civilian products includes hunting shotguns, sporting rifles, various machines and tools.
|
Native name |
Russian: АО Концерн Калашников |
|---|---|
|
Type |
Corporate group (Concern) |
| Industry | Defense |
| Predecessor | Izhmash |
| Founded | 1807 |
| Founder | Tsar Alexander I |
| Headquarters | Izhevsk, Udmurtia, Russia |
|
Area served |
worldwide |
|
Key people |
Alexey Krivoruchko (CEO) Mikhail Kalashnikov |
| Products | Firearms, Missiles, Automobiles |
| Owner | Rostec (51%) Private investors (49%) |
| Parent | Rostec |
| Subsidiaries | High Precision Systems (Vysokotochnye Kompleksy) Euroyachting Rybinsk Shipyard ZALA Aero |
| Website | kalashnikov.com |
The Concern produces about 95% of all small arms in Russia and supplying to more than 27 countries around the world. The Concern contains three brands: "Kalashnikov" (combat and civilian weapons)", "Baikal" (hunting and civilian guns), and "Izhmash" (sporting rifles). The Concern is developing new business lines that include remote weapon stations, unmanned aerial vehicles and multi-functional special-purpose boats.
In May 2014 a deal to transfer 49% of the company’s shares to private investors (Andrey Bokarev and Alexey Krivoruchko) was completed, a majority – 51% – remained within the state-owned corporation Rostec. At the same time, by agreement of shareholders, the control over the management of the Concern always stays with the private shareholders. Therefore, although the state has remained a controlling stake owner, the management structure of Kalashnikov today is of a private company.
Motorcycles and automobiles
The first IZh motorcycle was 1928's IZh 1, a 1200cc across-the-frame V-twin with shaft drive, designed by the Sovietengineer Pyotr Vladimirovich Mokharov (1888–1934). They "owed a little" to contemporary DKWs. In the 1970s and 1980s, these motorcycles were sold in Britain under the Cossack and Neval brands. The company is the largest Soviet motorcycle maker.
IZh first proposed an automobile in 1958, with a prototype four-wheel drive for rural use, the NAMI 048 Ogonyok. It used a GAZ chassis and a 750 cc (46 cu in) flat-twin engine based on the Ural M72.It was not produced in quantity.
The first IZh automobiles were approved for manufacture in 1965. The company started on 12 December 1966 with assembling copies of Moskvitch models 408 (as the IZh 408) with parts shipped in. By he end of the year, 300 had been completed, with the number reaching 4,000 by December 1967. In December 1967, the Moskvitch 412replaced the 408 on the assembly line (as the IZh 412). This was joined by the 434 sedan delivery in 1968, and later by the AZLK-2138 and 2140, until the IZh-2126 Oda (liftback and wagon, the second body style marked as Fabula). The Oda bore a very close resemblance to the Moskvitch AZLK-2141 Aleko, but had a completely different rear-wheel drive design.
Styling began to diverge from the AZLK originals beginning in 1970, when IZh kept two round headlamps instead of adopting Moskvitch's rectangular ones, and got a different grille. In 1971, the IZh-built 412 was redesignated 412IE. The IZh-built 412s had a reputation for being better quality than the Moskvitch originals.
In 1970, IZh designed a prototype five-door hatchback (with the same high liftover) and a delivery on the 412 platform. The delivery in 1972 became the IZh 2715; it was powered by a 1,478 cc (90.2 cu in) inline four, had twin rear doors and a box-like cargo area (akin to a cube van ) and could carry a 350 kg (770 lb) load. It and a pickup (what hot rodders would call a pickoupe), announced as the 27151 in 1974, were very popular, both officially in production until 1997, with the final examples built as late as 2001. Pickups were occasionally bought as far away as South America and South Africa, but were forbidden to private owners in the Soviet Union. The 2715 delivery was used by the Soviet post office. A windowed version with rear bed seats, the 27156, appeared in 1987. Top speed was 109 km/h (68 mph) and "roadholding on wet and slippery roads rather minimal". The hatchback reached the market in 1975 as the 2125 Kombi, and it gave IZh another winning model.
IZh produced its one millionth unit in 1977.
AZLK 412-based IZh models, which were completely IZh own designs were 2715, 27151, 2125 and 21251. 2125 was built until 1982, when it was facelifted along with IZh 412 IE, 2715 and 27121. The newer version of 2125 was named 21251. All of the IZh own models were based on AZLK 412 and the bodyshell(with the exception of the rear part, which were different on 2715/27151 and 2125/21251) along with mechanical parts were direct copies of AZLK 412.
Currently, IZh produces one Kia model and two Lada models.
Between 1973 and 1979 IZh was one of the makes marketed by SATRA in the United Kingdom under the Cossack Motorcycles brand; the Planeta and Jupiter models.
