Gunmakers of the world’s most deadly firearm has unveiled its first ever spy-in-the-sky drone and is planning on rolling it out for public sale.
The Kalashnikov Group famous for the AK-47 will officially reveal what it is describing as a noiseless unmanned reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft at next month’s MAKS international air show, near Moscow.
It has a four hour flying time and can be launched by hand, as Vladimir Putin’s biggest weapons maker takes a step back from its AK-47 – a rifle that has killed more people than any other firearm on the planet.
The drone weighs 7.5 kilograms and also boasts vertical takeoff capability.
Reportedly, three types of noiseless drone are to be released onto the market by the weapon manufacturing giant.
A zoom camera and thermal imaging module can be mounted on the unmanned aircraft.
Nikita Zakharov, deputy chief executive of ZALA AERO, part of the Kalashnikov empire, claimed: “There are no rivals to the ZALA 421-16E2 either in Russia or in the world for their functionality, simplicity and reliability of operation.
“The unmanned aerial vehicle has a noiseless flight mode, which is so important for defence and security agencies.”
The drone is expected to complete Russian government trials this year.
The AK-47 assault was invented by Mikhail Kalashnikov in the former Soviet Union in 1947.
More than 100 million Kalashnikov rifles have been sold worldwide, accounting for a fifth of the entire global stock of firearms.
A study by the World Bank revealed between 20,000 and 100,000 people are killed every year by handheld guns in conflicts around the world.
It is predicted most of these were attributable to the AK-47.
The study said: “The AK-47 was initially designed for ease of operation and repair by glove-wearing Soviet soldiers in arctic conditions.
“Its breathtaking simplicity means that it can also be operated by child soldiers in the African desert.
“Kalashnikovs are a weapon of choice for armed forces and non-state actors alike.”
Among other Kalshnikov lines are speedboats, clothes and missiles.
The Siberian-born inventor died aged 94 in 2013.
The spy drone 