Moscow – Mikhail Kalashnikov celebrated his 90th birthday on Tuesday as he was honored for designing the AK-47. Kalashnikov was awarded Russia’s highest honor, the Hero of the Russian Federation Medal. Kalashnikov said he would continue working as a military designer for the Russian Federation.Kalashnikov began working on a design for a better rifle in a hospital after being wounded in combat in 1941 during the Nazi invasion. He finished his design in 1947, which is part of the rifle’s name Automat Kalashnikov 47 (automat meaning automatic rifle).
The rifle became standard issue in the Soviet army as well as one of the Soviet Union’s major exports. More than 100 million rifles have been sold world wide. However, about 80 percent of the rifles circulating the world are illegal copies which add up to $2 billion in lost sales. The most popular weapon for terrorist, the iconic image of the AK-47 (a.k.a. the Kalashnikov) is used in the flags of Mozambique and Hizbullah.
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Father of Kalashnikov assault rifles celebrates 90th birthday
Father of the AK-47 receives Russia's top honor
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