Russia to Supply AK Rifles to Royal Thai Armed Forces

[Zarvan]

According to TASS news agency, Mikhail Petukhov, the deputy director of a Russian government organization called “Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation“, has announced about a contract signed by Russia and Thailand. The subject of the contract is the procurement of AK rifles for the Royal Thai Armed Forces.

The contract was signed during the Singapore Airshow 2018, which is a military exhibition held in Changi Exhibition Centre in Singapore. According to Petukhov, who is also the head of the Russian delegation in that exhibition, the delivery of the rifles will start later this year. The amount and models of weapons are not disclosed. The head of Russian delegation said that the amount is enough to arm one or two divisions of Royal Thai Armed Forces.

AK-101

I think these rifles must be one of the 100-series AKs which Russia markets and sells all over the world. They have been licensing the manufacturing, selling and even donating these rifles to various countries. In 2017, they exported over 100,000 of different versions of 100-series AKs.

AK-102

So the main export small arms products of Russia are 100-series AK rifles and the main current intermediate cartridge of the Royal Thai Armed Forces is the 5.56x45mm NATO. This makes me think that they must be purchasing AK-101 and/or AK-102 rifles which are full size and carbine length 5.56x45mmAK rifles.

Sources:
“Россия и Таиланд подписали контракт на поставку автоматов Калашникова”. (2018, February 06). TASS Russian News Agency. Retrieved from: http://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/4932839

Top image retrieved from: https://www3.navy.mi.th/index.php/main/detail/content_id/14232


http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2018/02/13/russia-sells-ak-rifles-to-thailand/