JSC Kalashnikov Concern (Russian: Конце́рн Кала́шников, romanized: Kontsérn Kaláshnikov, IPA: [kɐnˈt͡sɛrn kɐˈɫaʂnʲɪkəf]; Udmurt: Сюлмаськон Калашников), known until 2013 as the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant (Russian: Иже́вский машинострои́тельный Заво́д (ИЖМАШ), romanized: Izhévsky mashinostroítelny Zavod (IZhMASh); Udmurt: Ижкар машиналэсьтонъя завод (ИЖМАШ)),[4][5] is a Russian defense manufacturing concern and joint-stock company headquartered in the city of Izhevsk in the Republic of Udmurtia as well as the capital city of Moscow.

Notable products include the Kalashnikov (AK) assault rifle series, the RPK light machine gun series, the Dragunov SVD semi-automatic sniper rifle, the SKS semi-automatic carbine, the Makarov PM pistol, the Saiga-12 shotgun, and the submachine guns Vityaz-SN and PP-19 Bizon.

These firearms, except for the SVD, SKS and the PM, were based on the famous AK series, due to its reliability to endure harsh conditions, low production costs, availability in nearly every geographical region, and ease of use.

The concern is developing new business lines that include remote weapon stations, unmanned aerial and ground vehicles, and multi-functional special-purpose boats.

Due to the proximity of the ironworks, the armory was supposed to be built on the bank of the Izh River, which immediately solved the problem of raw material supply.

During the Napoleonic Wars, especially during the French invasion of Russia, firearms were quickly produced for the Russian army, even though the arsenal had not been finished yet.

This allowed the armory to produce more breech-loading weapons for the Russian Imperial Army, notably the "Krnk" and "Berdan" type rifles.

The Berdan rifle was the most widely produced firearm at the plant during the time as well, indirectly allowing Russia to approach the European industrial empires' level of armaments.

[12][citation needed] During the First World War, IGSF supplied the Imperial Russian Army with over 1.4 million new rifles and approximately 188,000 remelted shoulder weapons.

The IGSF required more highly trained personnel in order to accommodate new production and to work on newer machines.

In 1938, the conveyor belt was implemented into the assembly of gun barrels and other parts, greatly increasing the production rate of firearms for the Soviet Army.

In the bureau's lifetime, about 300 models of small-arms, air ordnance, sport, hunting weapons, and other types of equipment were developed, most of which was in series production at the plant.

[citation needed] A total of 11,450,000 rifles and carbines were produced in the plant, exceeding all the combined German firearm manufacturers' outputs of 10.3 million.

[12] After World War II, the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant later recovered the production of its civilian arms and transportation.

These sporting weapons helped the Soviet Union's team to win shooting competitions in European championships and the Summer Olympic Games numerous times.

[9] After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Izhmash struggled with a decline in demand and competition with overseas firearm manufacturers.

Izhmash also created two new sniper rifles, the SV-98 and the SV-99, which had a more enhanced fire precision than the regular SVD, for special units of the Russian Armed Forces.

According to Rostec, one of the objectives was to retain its research, industrial and human resources and turn Izhmash into a leading global small arms manufacturer.

[18][19] On 9 February 2017, Rostec's management board gave permission to transfer Kalashnikov Concern to private investors.

[20] The Concern reported in May 2023 that it had achieved a 10-year record in weapons deliveries during the first quarter of the year[21] and that it has established a drone production unit.

[28] In the next month, the Concern reportedly started supplies of the civilian electrically-powered and VTOL Legionnaire drone which is used for cargo delivery, terrain sensing and video monitoring.

[33] On 3 October 2024, the company reported that it is ramping up the production of aircraft guns because of a multiple growth of order volumes.

[35] On 28 January 2025, the Kalashnikov reported that it had achieved a 10-year record high revenue from export contracts for both military and civilian small arms in 2024.

[39] JSC "Kalashnikov Concern" has four subsidiaries:[38] Vladimir Grodetsky, who headed Izhmash NPO since 1996 as general director left the bureau in 2011.

[40] On 30 January 2014, Rostec's supervisory board approved the appointment of Alexei Krivoruchko, its new shareholder, as CEO of the Kalashnikov Concern, replacing Konstantin Busygin.

[41] Although the arsenal was under construction in 1807, production of weapons immediately started: mainly long guns, pistols, and backswords.

Firearms were produced at a rapid pace for the Russian Army during the Napoleonic Wars, mainly in the French invasion of Russia, even though construction of the armory had not been finished yet.

This allowed the armory to produce more breech-loading weapons for the Russian Imperial Army, notably the "Krnk" and "Berdan" type rifles.

The Berdan rifle was the most produced firearm of the plant at the time as well, allowing Russia to approach the European industrial empires' level of armaments.

The revolver has a unique "gas-seal" system that provides a boost to muzzle velocity as well as make the weapon suppressed.