MOSCOW, March 13. /TASS/. The Kalashnikov Concern is going to display a lineup of new helmets at the Expotechnostrazh exhibition, which are made using ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene, the company said on Monday.
Kalashnikov’s display of products will focus on the Lebedev modular pistol, which the company has started to produce and ship to customers, a company representative said.
"Kalashnikov’s exhibits will also include new products for individual armor protection, such as a lineup of titanium and composite helmets based on ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene and ceramic armor plates," he said.
The company will also feature its assault rifles from the 100 and 200 series, the PPK-20 submachine gun and the Chukavin sniper rifle. Civilian-purpose small arms will include the 18.5 KS-K special carbine with an 18.5 KS-K box magazine, the 12х76 MR-155 Taktika self-operating rifle, the 145 Elk hunting carbine, or MR-145 Taktika and the 12х76 MR-135 Taktika self-operating rifle.
The Defense Ministry’s publication the Krasnaya Zvezda reported in 2021 that Russia had developed a unique armor material from ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene and ultralight composite materials derived from it. Their quality is significantly superior to the quality of foreign armor materials. The UHMWPE can stop shrapnel flying at a speed of 670 m/s, while similar Israeli material called UD and US aramid organic plastic that’s based on Kevlar stop shrapnel that fly at a speed of no more than 630 m/s and 480 m/s, respectively.
The Expotechnostrazh-2023 exhibition of security technology takes place at the Expoforum exhibition center in St. Petersburg from March 15-17.