Military elites exploring Russian-style weaponry

Officials within the elite U.S. Special Operations Command are seeking more information from American companies capable of producing Russian-style weapons like the iconic AK-47.

SOCOM aims “to identify responsible sources within the national technology and industrial base who have the skills, experience, and knowledge required to successfully produce non-standard weapons,” according “Sources Sought” notice, a kind of market research, published last month.

Those weapons include: 7.62x39mm Assault Rifle (Such as AK-47, RPD, RPK); 7.62x54R Sniper Rifle (Such as PSL, SVD; M91); 7.62x54R Belt fed Machine Gun (Such as PKM to include all variants); 12.7x108mm Machine Gun (Such as DShK, NSV, KORD); and 14.5mm Machine Gun (Such as KPV heavy machine gun and similar).

In other words, no M16 or M4 variants, which are often contracted to U.S. based companies like Colt, Remington Arms and FNH — the latter having manufacturing facilities and operations in U.S. as well as a parent company in Belgium.

Although the agenda is research, participants may be invited to an open discussion about future endeavors, the notice says. As for where the guns come from, officials say they’d like American-made.

“A U.S.-based source would be a good use of taxpayer funds, while also delivering the weapons our partners not only need to fight extremists, but also the ones they know how to use, know how to fix and have the supplies in their regions to maintain,” Lt. Cmdr. Matt Allen, a spokesman for the command, told The Tampa Bay Times.

However, it might not be that easy with American gun makers since manufacturers overseas have cornered the market and produce Russian-designed weapons like the AK-47 at much lower cost, the newspaper reports.

Companies interested in participating as a source have until the close of business day on June 17 to submit details such as manufacturing capabilities and cost.

A similar notice seeking ammunition suitable for Russian weapons closed June 3.

The post Military elites exploring Russian-style weaponry appeared first on Guns.com.