"Even Putin Was Fooled by Defective Chinese-Made Goods": The Truth Behind the Russian Military's AK-12 Rifle

A high-ranking official at a major Russian military equipment manufacturer has been put on trial on charges of using Chinese-made parts in rifle production while falsely claiming they were domestically produced.

According to the Russian newspaper Kommersant on October 12, local time, "A former high-ranking procurement executive at the Russian defense firm Kalashnikov Concern is on trial for allegedly supplying Chinese-made AK-12 rifle parts disguised as domestic components."

According to the report, in 2023, amid the ongoing invasion of Ukraine, Kalashnikov legally required semi-finished products from external suppliers as part of modernizing its 5.45mm AK-12 rifles.

Semi-finished products refer to raw materials or intermediately processed goods that are not yet completed.

During this process, Russian businessman Alexei Morozov signed a contract with Kalashnikov and took charge of manufacturing the parts.

While the initial trial production batch passed incoming inspection, it was later confirmed that subsequent parts delivered were produced in China using Russian technical blueprints.

Russian prosecutors confirmed that most of the parts brought in by Kalashnikov through Morozov's company for use in manufacturing AK-12 rifles were made in China.

Those parts were procured and brought into Russia classified as screws and nuts.

Circumstances have emerged showing that the products were procured and brought in while concealing the actual intended use of the weapon-related components.

Morozov and others had contractually promised production and delivery within Russia, but officials were arrested on charges of entering into separate manufacturing and procurement plans with two Chinese companies.

Local investigative authorities determined that the semi-finished parts manufactured in China failed to meet contractual quality requirements, rendering them products for which payment could not be issued.

The damage suffered by Kalashnikov due to this contract is estimated at approximately 601.2 million won.

Reported by Jung Da-eun | Video by Seo Byung-wook | Graphics by Yang Hye-min | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.