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Russia’s Kalashnikov says to fulfill major missile contract despite difficulties

Russia’s weapons manufacturer has a $400 million contract on delivery of Vikhr-1 laser guided anti-tank missiles to the Russian Defense Ministry

IZHEVSK, March 3. /TASS/. Russia’s weapons manufacturer Kalashnikov Group is planning to perform the contract with the Defense Ministry on manufacturing Vikhr-1 anti-tank missiles, the company’s director general said on Tuesday.

"There were some difficulties but they are now being settled. I have no doubts that now it’s over and we will complete the contract this year," Alexey Krivoruchko told journalists.

In summer 2013, the Kalashnikov Group, the manufacturer of the legendary assault rifle, signed a contract for the Vikhr-1 missiles worth 13 billion rubles (about $400 million at that exchange rate).

The contract, which was scheduled to be performed by the end of 2015, is the largest state order in recent years. The Kalashnikov manufacturer launched serial production of the missiles last summer.

The Vikhr-1 laser guided anti-tank missile was developed by the Tula design bureau. It is designed to combat armored vehicles, including those equipped with reactive armor, and also low-speed air targets.