Russia, the United States and Italy lead the world in small arms sales, says a survey. Russian Kalashnikov submachine gun is popular around the globe.
The Graduate Institute of International Studies located in Geneva, Switzerland, took a survey to probe into the small arms market. Russian business Internet edition Vzglyad took it up to refine results for the Russian market.
According to Vzglyad, the largest share in Russian exports of small arms belongs to the Kalashnikov gun and its modifications. There are some 70 million AK-47s in the world. The simple but reliable submachine gun, designed as early as in late 1940s by the famous Mikhail Kalashnikov, is produced in 14 countries and used by 82 countries.
Recently, Venezuela ordered a 100,000 supply of Russian AK-103 following a U.S. ban on arms imports to this country. 30,000 Kalashnikovs have reached destination now.
Yet, there is an intellectual property issue related to the weapon. Many produce it without any license robbing Russia of huge revenues.
SOURCE:
Venezuela Buys 100,000 Kalashnikovs
www.vz.ru
http://hei.unige.ch/sas/
www.peoples.ru