Kalashnikov Mikhail Timofeevich- designer of small automatic weapons; head of the design bureau of the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant, colonel-engineer; Deputy Chief Designer of the Izhmash Production Association, Colonel-Engineer; chief designer - head of the small arms bureau of Izhmash Concern OJSC, lieutenant general.

Born on November 10, 1919 in the village of Kurya, now the Kurinsky district of the Altai Territory, in the large peasant family of Timofey Alexandrovich (1883-1930) and Alexandra Frolovna (1884-1957) Kalashnikov. In 1936, after graduating from high school in the village of Kurya, he went to Kazakhstan, where he began working as a student at the Matai railway depot, and then from October 1936 to September 1938 he worked in the city of Alma-Ata (now Almaty) as a technical secretary political department of the 3rd railway department of the Turkestan-Siberian railway. Member of the Komsomol in 1936-1947.

In September 1938, M.T. Kalashnikov was drafted into the Red Army, served in the Kiev Special Military District, and graduated from the school of tank driver mechanics. On actual military service he proved himself to be a warrior-inventor: he made a special device for the TT pistol to increase the efficiency of firing from it through slits in the tank turret, developed an inertial counter to count the number of shots from a tank gun, and created a device for measuring the life of a tank engine. For the last invention in January 1941, the commander of the Kiev Special Military District, General of the Army G.K. Zhukov, presented the Red Army soldier M.T. Kalashnikov with a personalized watch and ordered the army inventor to be sent to Moscow - to one of the parts of the Moscow Military District, on the basis of which comparative tests were carried out testing the device. By order of the head of the Main Armored Directorate of the Red Army, M.T. Kalashnikov was sent to one of the Leningrad factories, where the meter, after working out the working drawings, was to be put into production. The prototype of the device successfully passed laboratory tests in factory conditions. A report signed by the chief designer of the plant was sent to the Main Armored Directorate of the Red Army, which noted that compared to existing devices, this one is simpler in design, more reliable in operation, lighter in weight and smaller in size. This document was dated June 24, 1941.

With the beginning of the Great Patriotic War From the end of June to August 1941, tank commander Senior Sergeant M.T. Kalashnikov took part in battles with the Nazi invaders as part of the 108th Tank Division of the Bryansk Front. In August 1941, in battles near the city of Bryansk, he was seriously wounded and shell-shocked.

From August 1941 to April 1942, M.T. Kalashnikov was treated in the evacuation hospital in the city of Yelets, now in the Lipetsk region. There, in the hospital ward, he had the idea of ​​​​creating a submachine gun. Having received a six-month leave for health reasons, he arrived at the Matai station and made a test sample in the workshops of the railway depot. The second sample was manufactured at the Moscow Aviation Institute, evacuated to Alma-Ata, in the workshops of the small arms and cannon weapons department. In April 1942, M.T. Kalashnikov was sent for further service to the Central Research Range of Small Arms of the Main Artillery Directorate of the Red Army (according to the registration card of a member of the CPSU - from April 1942 to February 1949, he worked in Moscow as a designer in the invention department of the Ministry Armed Forces THE USSR).

Kalashnikov and comrades.

In June 1942, a prototype of the submachine gun was sent for review to the city of Samarkand (Uzbekistan), where at that time the Artillery Academy named after F.E. Dzerzhinsky was evacuated. And although one of the leading teachers of this academy is a major scientist in the field of ballistics and small arms, a future twice Hero Socialist Labor, Major General of Artillery A.A. Blagonravov did not recommend the M.T. Kalashnikov submachine gun for adoption, however, he highly appreciated the inventive talent of the senior sergeant.

Kalashnikov assault rifle (model 1947).

In 1944, M.T. Kalashnikov developed a model of a self-loading carbine, the design of the main components of which served as the basis for the creation of an assault rifle in 1946. In 1947, the inventor improved his machine gun and won competitive tests. After modification, the machine gun was put into service in 1949 Soviet army called “7.62 mm Kalashnikov assault rifle model 1947” (AK). In 1949, M.T. Kalashnikov was awarded the Stalin Prize, 1st degree.

Kalashnikov designer at work (1949).

In 1949, M.T. Kalashnikov moved to the capital of the Udmurt Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (now the Udmurt Republic), the city of Izhevsk, and worked at the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant - from February of the same year to August 1957 as a leading designer, and from August 1957 to August 1967 as a chief design bureau (KB). Member of the CPSU since June 1953 (candidate since June 1952).

The team of designers headed by M.T. Kalashnikov unified a whole range of automatic small arms based on the AK. The following were adopted for service: 7.62 mm modernized machine gun(AKM), 7.62 mm light machine gun (RPK).

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated June 20, 1958 for the modernization of the machine gun and the creation light machine gun Head of the Design Bureau of the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov was awarded the title Hero of Socialist Labor with the presentation of the Order of Lenin and the Hammer and Sickle gold medal.

In the 1960-1970s, based on the AK-47, AKM and RPK, a number of unified models of small automatic weapons were adopted for service: AKM, chambered for 5.45×39, varieties with folding stocks (AKMS and RPKS), 7, 62-mm machine gun (PK, PKS - on a machine), 7.62-mm machine gun for a tank (PKT) and an armored personnel carrier (PKB). For the first time in world practice, a series of unified models of small arms were created, identical in operating principle and unified automation scheme. Small automatic weapons created by M.T. Kalashnikov are distinguished by high reliability, efficiency, and ease of use. For the first time in the history of creating small arms, he managed to achieve an optimal combination of a number of qualities that would ensure highly effective use and exceptional reliability of the machine gun in combat, namely: a short locking unit, a suspended bolt, preliminary release of the cartridge case after the shot, eliminating failure when removing the spent cartridge case, low sensitivity to contamination and the possibility of trouble-free use in any climatic conditions. M.T. Kalashnikov not only created the best machine gun in the world, but was the first to develop and introduce into the troops a number of unified models of automatic small arms.

In 1964, for the creation of a complex of unified machine guns PK, PKT, PKB, M.T. Kalashnikov and his assistants A.D. Kryakushin and V.V. Krupin were awarded the Lenin Prize.

From August 1967 to April 1975, M.T. Kalashnikov was deputy chief designer of the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant (from April 1975 - “Izhmash Production Association”).

In 1969, in the year of the 50th anniversary of his birth, the designer was awarded military rank“Colonel-Engineer”, and in 1971, based on the totality of research and design work and inventions, the Academic Council of the Tula Polytechnic Institute awarded him the academic degree of Doctor of Technical Sciences without defending a dissertation.

From April 1975 to May 1979, Colonel-Engineer M.T. Kalashnikov was Deputy Chief Designer of the Izhmash Production Association.

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated January 15, 1976, Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov, deputy chief designer of the Izhmash Production Association, was awarded for outstanding services in the creation of new technology Order of Lenin and the second gold medal "Hammer and Sickle".

Since May 1979, the chief designer has been the head of the small arms design bureau of the Izhmash production association (in the early 1990s, reorganized into Izhmash JSC, and later into Izhmash Concern OJSC, Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant OJSC).

Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov in 1987.

In addition to small arms for the Armed Forces, the design bureau under the leadership of M.T. Kalashnikov developed a large number of weapons for athletes and hunters, which is distinguished not only by its direct purpose and specifications, but also beauty. The Saiga self-loading hunting carbines, designed on the basis of the Kalashnikov assault rifle, have gained enormous popularity among hunting enthusiasts in our country and abroad. Among them: the smooth-bore model “Saiga”, the self-loading carbine “Saiga-410”, “Saiga-20S”. More than a dozen modifications of carbines are still produced today. By Decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated June 6, 1998 No. 657, a group of seven designers, among whom was the famous gunsmith M.T. Kalashnikov, was awarded the State Prize of the Russian Federation in the field of literature and art in 1997, in the field of design - for a collection of sports and hunting weapons.

He was elected as a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of the 3rd (1950-1954) and 7-10th (1966-1984) convocations.

After the collapse of the USSR, the merits of the now legendary gunsmith designer were highly appreciated in Russian Federation. By Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of October 28, 1994 No. 2022, colonel-engineer M.T. Kalashnikov was awarded the military rank of “Major General”, and eight days later by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of November 5, 1994 No. 2061 for outstanding services in the field of creating an automatic rifle weapons and significant contribution to the defense of the Fatherland, he was awarded the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 2nd degree (No. 1). By Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of October 7, 1998 No. 1202, for his outstanding contribution to the defense of the Fatherland, he was awarded the country's highest award - the revived Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called (No. 2).

In 1999, M.T. Kalashnikov was awarded the military rank of “lieutenant general.”

By Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 1258 of November 10, 2009, for outstanding services in strengthening the country's defense capability, the chief designer - head of the small arms bureau of Izhmash Concern OJSC, Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov, was awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation with a special distinction - the Gold medal Star".

The honored veteran, the legendary designer of small arms, who crossed the 94-year mark, lived in Izhevsk, which became his hometown of gunsmiths, and continued his fruitful work at OJSC Concern Izhmash OJSC Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant.

Awards and titles of M. T. Kalashnikov

Awarded the Russian orders of St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called (10/7/1998, No. 2), “For Services to the Fatherland” 2nd degree (11/5/1994, No. 1), “For Military Merit” (11/2/2004), 3 Soviet Orders of Lenin (06/20/1958, 11/10/1969, 01/16/1976), orders October revolution(03/25/1974), Patriotic War 1st degree (03/11/1985), Red Banner of Labor (07/1/1957), Friendship of Peoples (08/30/1982), Red Star (08/17/1949), Honorary personalized weapon from the President of the Russian Federation ( 1997), medals, as well as orders and medals foreign countries, including the Belarusian Order of Honor (11.24.1999), the Kazakh Order of Friendship, 1st degree (2003), the highest award of Venezuela - the Order of the Star of Carabobo, 1st degree (2006).

Laureate of the Lenin Prize (1964), Stalin Prize 1st degree (1949), State Prize Russian Federation (1997), Prize of the President of the Russian Federation (2003).

Honored Worker of Industry of the USSR (1989), Honored Worker of Science and Technology of the Udmurt Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (1979), Honorary Academician of the Russian Academy of Missile and Artillery Sciences (1993), Honorary Professor of Izhevsk State technical university(1994), Honorary Member of the Russian Academy of Engineering (1994), Honorary Academician of the Engineering Academy of the Udmurt Republic (1995), Honorary Member International Academy Sciences, Industry, Education and Arts USA (1996), Academician of the International Academy of Informatization (1997), Honorary Academician of the Academy of Informatization of the Republic of Tatarstan (1997). Awarded the title “Legend Man” and the “Golden Pegasus” award from public organization“Russian National Olympus” (2000), silver figurine of Fortune with a golden sword (2001), awarded the medal “Symbol of Science” (2007). Member of the Russian Writers' Union. For his literary work, Kalashnikov received a laureate diploma from the All-Russian Literary Prize "Stalingrad" (1997).

Honorary citizen of Izhevsk (1988), the Udmurt Republic (1995), Altai Territory (09/2/1997) and the village of Kurya, Altai Territory.

Documents that testify to M.T. Kalashnikov’s first steps as a designer were declassified only in 2004. These documents are now stored in the Izhevsk Museum and Exhibition Complex of Small Arms named after M.T. Kalashnikov.

Memory of Kalashnikov

In the homeland of M.T. Kalashnikov - in the village of Kurya - a bronze bust was erected to him in 1980. The name of the designer is immortalized on a stele for gunsmith designers on the territory of the Degtyarev plant in the city of Kovrov. At the beginning of November 2004, a museum and exhibition complex dedicated to the legendary gunsmith designer opened in Izhevsk. The event was timed to coincide with the 85th anniversary of M.T. Kalashnikov. The central place in the exhibition was occupied by a monument to the designer. M.T. Kalashnikov assault rifles and machine guns are in service with the armies of more than fifty countries around the world. His machine gun is depicted on the coat of arms and flag of Mozambique, on the coat of arms of Zimbabwe, and in 1984-1997 it was depicted on the coat of arms of Burkina Faso. In Mozambique, in honor of the Soviet machine gun, born boys began to be given the name “Kalash”.

Author of books:

“Notes of a gunsmith designer” (1992);
“From someone else’s threshold to the Spassky Gate” (1997);
“I walked the same road with you” (1999);
“Kalashnikov: the trajectory of fate” (2004);
“In the whirlwind of my life” (2008);
“Everything you need is simple” (2009).

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Gunsmith's Day (To the 95th anniversary of the birth of Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov)

Lieutenant General M. T. Kalashnikov

For reference:

Kalashnikov Mikhail Timofeevich - an outstanding Soviet and Russian designer of automatic small arms, chief designer - head of the small arms bureau of Izhmash Concern OJSC, lieutenant general. In service with the Soviet and Russian army weapon M.T. Kalashnikov has been a member for more than 60 years.

M.T. Kalashnikov was born on November 10, 1919 in the village of Kurya, Barnaul district, Altai province (now Kurinsky district, Altai region) into a large peasant family of Timofey Alexandrovich and Alexandra Frolovna Kalashnikov. He was the seventeenth child in a family in which out of nineteen children born, only eight survived. In 1930, Timofey Kalashnikov, declared a kulak, was expelled from the Altai Territory to Siberia, to the village of Nizhnyaya Mokhovaya (Tomsk Region). In the same year, Timofey Alexandrovich died in exile, unable to withstand the shock that happened. Mother, Alexandra Frolovna, remarried Kosach Efrem Nikitich. Despite the difficult living conditions, she and her stepfather tried to give their children an education. However, there was no school of its own in Nizhnyaya Mokhovaya, and Mikhail had to go to school in the neighboring village of Voronikha, traveling a long distance of 15 km every day.

At school, M. Kalashnikov was drawn to knowledge, and even then he tried to invent a “perpetual motion machine.” In addition to his passion for physics, geometry, and various mechanisms, he played in amateur performances, wrote poems and epigrams for his school friends.

After graduating from 7 classes high school, Mikhail returned back to Altai to earn money. He was unable to get a job in his native village and after some time returned home to Nizhnyaya Mokhovaya, where he studied for another year at school.

In 1936, having corrected the date of birth in the documents, Kalashnikov received a passport and returned to Kurya. There he got a job at a machine and tractor station and joined the Komsomol.

In 1937, Mikhail moved to Kazakhstan and became an apprentice at the railway depot of the Matai station of the Turkestan-Siberian Railway. Communication with machinists, turners and mechanics at the depot strengthened his interest in technology and aroused his desire to do something himself. After some time, he was transferred to Alma-Ata (now Almaty) as the technical secretary of the political department of the 3rd railway department of the Turkestan-Siberian Railway.

In September 1938 M.T. Kalashnikov was drafted into the Red Army. After graduating from the divisional school for junior commanders and mastering the specialty of a tank driver, he continued further service in a tank regiment stationed in the city of Stryi, Western Ukraine, Kyiv Special Military District. The commander of the company in which Kalashnikov served saw the makings of a designer in him. Mikhail Timofeevich recalled: “They carved out “windows” for us in the daily routine, gave us an additional opportunity to work magic in the workshop, so that we could translate our ideas into practical deeds.” The young tanker made a special device for the TT pistol to increase the efficiency of firing through slits in the tank turret, developed an inertial counter to record the actual number of shots from a tank gun, and created a device for measuring the service life of a tank engine.

Tankman Mikhail Kalashnikov during shooting practice. 1940

The last invention turned out to be very important, and at the end of 1940, junior sergeant Kalashnikov was called to report to the district commander, army general. After the conversation, having become familiar with the design of the device, Zhukov sent the inventor to the Kiev Tank Technical School to manufacture two prototypes of the device and conduct their comprehensive tests on combat vehicles. Upon completion of testing the device, the district commander awarded Kalashnikov a personalized watch and ordered his secondment to Moscow - to one of military units, on the basis of which further comparative tests of the device were carried out.

After comparative tests, by order of the head of the Main Armored Directorate of the Red Army, Lieutenant General Ya. N. Fedorenko, in the spring of 1941, Kalashnikov was sent to Leningrad to plant No. 174 named after. K. E. Voroshilov, to finalize the design of the device and put it into mass production. A prototype of the device successfully passed laboratory tests in the factory, and on June 24, 1941, a report was sent to the Main Armored Directorate, signed by the chief designer of the plant S.A. Ginzburg, which stated: “Based on the simplicity of the design of the device proposed by Comrade Kalashnikov and on positive results laboratory tests, plant in July. g. will work out the working drawings and produce a sample for final, comprehensive testing with the aim of introducing it into special vehicles.” However, it was not possible to conduct comprehensive tests, and the war began.

Tank commander Senior Sergeant Kalashnikov met the Great Patriotic War in August 1941 as part of the 108th Tank Division of the Bryansk Front. In September of the same year, in battles with the Nazi invaders near Bryansk, his tank company came under artillery fire. Kalashnikov's tank was hit, and he himself was seriously wounded in the shoulder and seriously concussed. For two weeks he and his comrades escaped the encirclement, after which he was sent to the front-line hospital in Trubchevsk, and then to evacuation hospital No. 1133 in Yelets. While in the hospital, Mikhail Timofeevich began working on a project for a submachine gun to equip the Red Army. By creatively using technical literature available in the hospital library, by the time of discharge he had completed working drawings of a new weapon. Having received a six-month leave for health reasons before returning to the front, Kalashnikov returned to Kurya, and then to the Matai station, in the railway workshops of which, with the permission of the head of the depot, he made a prototype of a submachine gun.

With a ready-made sample of his weapon, Kalashnikov headed to Alma-Ata, where at that time the Moscow Aviation Institute was evacuated. Sergo Ordzhonikidze. In the training workshops of the small arms and cannon weapons department of this institute, he refined the design of his submachine gun and assembled a more advanced model of it.

In June 1942, a sample of the Kalashnikov submachine gun was sent for review to the Artillery Academy named after F.E. Dzerzhinsky, which was evacuated to Samarkand. The first of the gunsmith specialists to evaluate the prototype of the new submachine gun was the head of this academy, the largest scientist in the field of ballistics and small arms, future twice Hero of Socialist Labor, Major General of Artillery A. A. Blagonravov. Despite the identified design flaws in the presented weapon, he noted the talent of the novice developer and recommended sending Senior Sergeant Kalashnikov to technical training. Later, the Kalashnikov submachine gun was examined by specialists of the Main Artillery Directorate of the Red Army, who, having appreciated the successful design of the presented weapon, nevertheless rejected its introduction into production due to the technological complexity of manufacturing. They decided to involve the most talented young weapons designer in design work, sending him in July 1942 for further service at the Research Range of Small Arms and Mortar Weapons of the Main Artillery Directorate of the Red Army (NIPSMVO).

Senior Sergeant M. Kalashnikov during work at the NIPSMVO test site

At NIPSMVO, in addition to refining the design of his prototype submachine gun, Mikhail Timofeevich in 1944 developed a light machine gun and a self-loading carbine, the main components of which served as the basis for the creation of a future machine gun.

In 1945, Kalashnikov took part in a competition for the development of automatic weapons chambered for the 7.62´39 intermediate cartridge of the 1943 model. The design of his assault rifle was approved by the competition commission, which decided to manufacture prototypes in 1946 and conduct subsequent comparative field tests .

Many famous gunsmith designers, including V. A. Degtyarev and G. S. Shpagin, became Kalashnikov’s rivals in field tests. The Shpagin assault rifle was the first to leave the tests, then the Degtyarev assault rifle began to malfunction. At the end of the tests, only 3 assault rifles remained, which were recommended for further development, and among them was the M. T. Kalashnikov sample.

By the end of 1946, Kalashnikov improved his assault rifle, and its prototypes (with permanent wooden and folding metal butts) were sent to the test site to continue comparative tests, which took place in May - June 1947. In addition to the Kalashnikov assault rifle, people took part in these tests assault rifles by A. A. Dementyev and A. A. Bulkin, also made in versions with wooden and metal folding stocks. Despite the fact that the winners at this stage of testing were the Bulkin and Dementiev assault rifles, Kalashnikov managed to remain among the competitors, since his assault rifle had a bolt design that ensured the reliable operation of the moving parts of the automation, practically eliminating delays in firing due to contamination of the weapon.

To complete the competitive tests, all participants had to modify their weapons in order to bring the accuracy of combat and the practical rate of fire into compliance with the standards of tactical and technical requirements, achieve a reduction in the weight and size characteristics of the assault rifles, increase the reliability of their operation and improve survivability. Kalashnikov was recommended to redesign the receiver and trigger mechanism, Dementyev - to modify the design of the bolt, increasing wear resistance, achieving reliable operation of the automation and increasing the efficiency of the muzzle brake. Bulkin was required to improve the reliability of the mobile automation system, redesign the casing while simultaneously reducing its length, and introduce changes to the design of the reflector.

To refine his assault rifle, Kalashnikov was sent to the city of Kovrov, Vladimir Region. In the course of finalizing the design of the machine gun, the team of the chief designer of Kovrov Plant No. 2 used all the best ideas of competitors, completely redesigned the bolt frame, making it a single unit together with the gas piston rod. The drawings of the receiver, gas tube with receiver guard, fore-end, butt, pistol grip and magazine were worked out in a new way.

Also in 1947, a new version of the Kalashnikov assault rifle again entered testing. And, despite the fact that when best characteristics reliability, it showed the worst results in terms of fire accuracy, the machine gun still surpassed its competitors and was recommended for adoption by the Soviet army with the subsequent refinement of its characteristics in the process military tests.

At the beginning of 1948, on the orders of Chief Marshal of Artillery N.N. Voronov, the young designer was sent to the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant to participate in the creation of technical documentation and organize the production of a pilot batch of machine guns for military testing. Until the end of 1948, a pilot batch of 1,500 machine guns was produced. successfully passed military tests. After final revision in January 1949, the assault rifle was adopted by the Soviet Army under the name “7.62 mm Kalashnikov assault rifle model 1947 (AK).” In February of the same year, M. T. Kalashnikov was awarded for its development awarded the order Red Star and awarded the Stalin Prize 1st degree.

M.T. Kalashnikov reports to officers of the invention department of the Main Artillery Directorate of the USSR Ministry of the Armed Forces about the new layout of the machine gun. 1949

AK assault rifle, adopted for service in 1949.

M.T. Kalashnikov with his wife and children. 1959

During these years, the plant's design team, headed by Kalashnikov, created the first unified system of automatic small arms based on the AK. The following were adopted for service: a 7.62-mm modernized assault rifle (AKM), a 7.62-mm light machine gun (RPK), which replaced the Degtyarev light machine gun and the Simonov self-loading carbine in the troops. Later, their modifications were supplied to the army - AKMS and RPKS with folding stocks and night vision sights - AKMN, AKMSN and RPKSN (1963).

A modernized example of an AKM assault rifle with a wooden
and folding metal (bottom) butts

RPK light machine gun on a bipod with a disk and a box magazine (below)

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of June 20, 1958, for the modernization of the machine gun and the creation of a light machine gun, the head of the design bureau of the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant M.T. Kalashnikov was awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor with the Order of Lenin and the Hammer and Sickle gold medal.

In the early 60s. last century, the Kalashnikov design bureau created the design of a single machine gun chambered for a 7.62´54 mm rifle cartridge. The Soviet Army adopted 7.62-mm Kalashnikov machine guns - PK (1961), PKS (1961), a tank version - PKT, for installation on armored personnel carriers - PKB (1962) and their modernized versions PKTM and PKMB , as well as PKM and its easel version PKMS (1969).

PKMT tank machine gun with electric trigger

For the first time in world practice, a series of unified models of small arms were created, identical in operating principle and unified automation scheme.

The automatic small arms developed by Kalashnikov were distinguished by their high reliability, efficiency, and ease of use. For the first time in the history of the creation of small arms, he managed to achieve an optimal combination of a number of qualities that ensured highly effective use and exceptional reliability of the machine gun in combat, namely: a short locking unit, a suspended bolt, preliminary release of the cartridge case after the shot, eliminating failure when removing the spent cartridge case, low sensitivity to contamination and the possibility of trouble-free use in any climatic conditions.

Kalashnikov not only created the best assault rifle in the world, but also for the first time developed and introduced into the troops a number of standardized models of automatic small arms. In 1964, for the creation of a complex of unified machine guns PK, PKT, PKB M.T. Kalashnikov and his assistants A.D. Kryakushin and V.V. Krupin were awarded the Lenin Prize.

From August 1967 to April 1975, Kalashnikov was deputy chief designer of the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant (since April 1975 - Izhmash Production Association). In 1969, on the occasion of his 50th anniversary, the designer was awarded the military rank of “Colonel Engineer”.

At the end of the 60s. In the twentieth century, the design bureau under the leadership of M. T. Kalashnikov begins to carry out important research and experimental work to create new small-caliber automatic weapons. In accordance with the instructions of the Main Rocket and Artillery Directorate, it was necessary to create military weapon not only of a reduced caliber (5.45 mm), but also of increased combat qualities.

According to the results of the first round of field competitive tests, of the seven presented assault rifles from different design teams, only Kalashnikov and A.S. samples were allowed to be tested in the military. Konstantinov (Kovrov).

Competitions among the troops ended with the adoption of 5.45-mm AK-74 and AKS-74 assault rifles into service in 1974 by the Soviet Army and the Warsaw Pact countries, and a little later, on their basis, a new set of small arms was developed and adopted for service: a shortened assault rifle AKS-74U (1979) and its modifications with a night sight AKS-74SN, AKS-74UB with a silent firing device (SBS) and a silent under-barrel grenade launcher, as well as light machine guns - RPK-74 (based on the AK-47), RPKS -74 with a folding stock, RPK-74M and a modification with a night sight RPK-74N.

AK-74 assault rifle with bayonet

AKS-74 assault rifle with a folded metal butt (below)

Based on the totality of research and development work and inventions without defending a doctoral dissertation in 1971, M. T. Kalashnikov was awarded the academic degree of Doctor of Technical Sciences. In April 1975, Colonel-Engineer Kalashnikov was appointed deputy chief designer of the Izhmash production association. And on January 15, 1976, by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Council, for outstanding services in the creation of new technology, he was awarded the Order of Lenin and the second gold medal “Hammer and Sickle”.

In May 1979, Mikhail Timofeevich became the chief designer - head of the small arms design bureau of the Izhmash research and production association (in the early 90s of the last century it was transformed into Izhmash JSC, later into Izhmash Concern OJSC , and in 2013 - to OJSC Concern Kalashnikov).

In 1980, in his native village of Kurya, a bronze bust of the twice Hero of Socialist Labor was installed to the famous gunsmith.

Bust of twice Hero of Socialist Labor M. T. Kalashnikov, installed in his homeland in the village of Kurya

In 1991, the AK-74M 5.45 mm caliber and its modifications with optical and night sights (AK-74MP, AK-74MN) entered service and into mass production. All Kalashnikov assault rifles could be equipped with bayonets, PBS and under-barrel grenade launchers.

In the early 90s. last century, based on the AK-74M, the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant began developing a new, “hundredth” series of Kalashnikov assault rifles for the most common cartridges in the world (7.62´39, 5.56´45 NATO, as well as Russian 5.45´39 mm ). This is how machine guns appeared: AK-101, AK-102 (both 5.56 mm), AK-103, AK-104 (both 7.62 mm), AK-105 (5.45 mm), as well as completely new ones - AK -107 (5.45 mm) and AK-108 (5.56 mm), developed on the basis of the AK-74M and AK-101, respectively, designed with a balanced automatic system.

To the question often asked to the designer about whether his conscience was tormenting him for creating a “killing machine,” Kalashnikov replied: “It’s not my fault that today these weapons are used in the wrong places. This is the fault of politicians, not designers. I created weapons to protect the borders of the Fatherland."

In addition to small arms for the Armed Forces, the design bureau under the leadership of Kalashnikov developed a large number of weapons for athletes and hunters, which not only met their intended purpose, but were also distinguished by high technical characteristics and beauty. The Saiga self-loading hunting carbines, designed on the basis of the Kalashnikov assault rifle, have gained enormous popularity among hunting enthusiasts in our country and abroad. Among them: the smooth-bore model “Saiga”, the self-loading carbine “Saiga-410”, “Saiga-20S”. More than a dozen modifications of carbines are still produced today.

After the collapse of the USSR, the services of the now legendary gunsmith designer were highly appreciated in the Russian Federation. By decree of the President of the Russian Federation of November 5, 1994, for outstanding services in the field of creating automatic small arms and significant contributions to the defense of the Fatherland, he was awarded the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 2nd degree. In the same year, he was awarded the next military rank of “Major General”.

By decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated June 6, 1998, a group of seven designers, among whom was the famous gunsmith M. T. Kalashnikov, was awarded the State Prize of the Russian Federation in the field of literature and art in 1997 (in the field of design - for a collection of sports and hunting equipment weapons). And on October 7, 1998, by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation, for his outstanding contribution to the defense of the Fatherland, he was awarded the country's highest award - the revived Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called.

In 1999, M. T. Kalashnikov was awarded the rank of “Lieutenant General”. In 2001, he joined the ranks of the United Russia party.

Kalashnikov was the only person awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation and twice the title of Hero of Socialist Labor. He was awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation with a special distinction - the Gold Star medal for outstanding services in strengthening the country's defense capability on November 10, 2009 (Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 1258).

Thanks to Kalashnikov, Russia has been celebrating a new professional holiday- Gunsmith's Day. This is a holiday for all workers of the military-industrial complex (DIC), creators domestic weapons, specialists involved in the history of the development of weapons and the study of the traditions of Russian weapons. Mikhail Timofeevich headed the editorial board of the monthly magazine "Kalashnikov", published since 1999 by the Federation of Practical Shooting of Russia and the Union of Russian Gunsmiths, which publishes materials about weapons, ammunition, equipment, history, hunting, shooting sports and combat experience.

The legendary designer of automatic small arms lived in Izhevsk, which became his hometown of gunsmiths, and continued his fruitful work at Kalashnikov Concern OJSC until last days own life. M. T. Kalashnikov died on December 23, 2013 after a serious, long illness. Buried with military honors on December 27, 2013 on the Central Alley of the Pantheon of Federal Military Heroes memorial cemetery in the Mytishchi district of the Moscow region.

Mikhail Timofeevich was an Honored Worker of Industry of the USSR, an Honored Worker of Science and Technology of the Udmurt Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, an honorary member (academician) of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Academy of Rocket and Artillery Sciences, and the Russian Academy of Engineering; full member - academician of the Petrovsky Academy of Arts and Arts, the International Academy of Sciences, Industry, Education and Art of the USA, the International Academy of Informatization, the Union of Designers of Russia, the Engineering Academy of the Udmurt Republic; honorary professor of Izhevsk State Technical University and a number of other major scientific institutions. He was elected as a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of the 3rd (1950 - 1954) and 7th - 10th (1966 - 1984) convocations.

He was also awarded the title of honorary citizen of the city of Izhevsk (1988), the Udmurt Republic (1995), the Altai Territory (1997) and the village of Kurya, Altai Territory.

Among other awards of M. T Kalashnikov, the Russian Order: “For Military Merit” (2004), Soviet: three Orders of Lenin (1958, 1969, 1976), Order of the October Revolution (1974), Order of the Patriotic War, 1st degree (1985), Red Banner of Labor (1957), Friendship of Peoples (1982), Honorary weapon from the President of the Russian Federation (1997), medals, as well as orders and medals of foreign countries.

Laureate of the Presidential Prize of the Russian Federation (2003), All-Russian Literary Prize "Stalingrad" (1997), All-Russian Literary Prize named after. A. V. Suvorova (2009). Member of the Russian Writers' Union.

The name of the designer is immortalized on a stele for gunsmith designers on the territory of the Degtyarev plant in the city of Kovrov. In November 2004, a museum and exhibition complex dedicated to the legendary gunsmith designer opened in Izhevsk. The event was timed to coincide with the 85th anniversary of M. T. Kalashnikov. The central place in the exhibition was occupied by a monument to the designer.

Lifetime monument to M. T. Kalashnikov in Izhevsk.
Sculptor V. Kurochkin

In Egypt, on the Sinai Peninsula, a monument to the Kalashnikov assault rifle was erected.

The Kalashnikov assault rifle is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the most common weapon in the world (according to some sources, there are about 100 million assault rifles in the world). Various modifications of the Kalashnikov assault rifle are in service with the armies and special forces of 106 countries.

In April 2014, by order of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, the Mikhail Kalashnikov Medal of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation was established. It is awarded to military personnel and civilian personnel of the Armed Forces, workers of the defense industry and research organizations for “differences in the introduction of innovations in the development, production and commissioning of modern weapons and military equipment.”

The words of M. T. Kalashnikov sound like a testament to descendants: “Sometimes I want to shout so that many, many boys in our Russia, and not only in it, can hear me: “Men!.. My dears! Good ones... Don’t think that everything in the world has already been invented, everything was not done by you. Go for it, boys!.. The old designer, the gray-haired general, calls you to this...”

Mikhail Pavlov,
Senior Researcher, Research Institute
military history of the Military Academy of the General Staff
Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Candidate of Technical Sciences

Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov was born on November 10, 1919 in the village of Kurya, Altai Territory, into a large peasant family.

Father - Kalashnikov Timofey Alexandrovich (1883-1930).

Mother - Kalashnikova Alexandra Frolovna (1884-1957).

In 1930, the family was dispossessed and exiled to the Tomsk region, the village of Nizhnyaya Mokhovaya.

Until 1936, Mikhail Kalashnikov studied at school. At the end of the 7th grade, he went to work as a technical secretary of the political department of the 3rd branch of the Turkestan-Siberian Railway.

In 1938, Mikhail was drafted into the army. He served in the Kiev Special Military District, in a tank regiment, where he took a course as a tank driver. The regiment was stationed in the city of Stary.

While serving in the army, M. T. Kalashnikov developed a recorder for the number of shots fired from a tank gun and a counter for the service life of a tank engine, work on which took several months. During the test, the device operated reliably and accurately recorded engine operation under load and at idle. As a result, the command decided to organize it serial production. By the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, Mikhail Timofeevich was in Leningrad, at plant No. 174 named after. K.E. Voroshilov, where the device was tested.

Since September 1941, Kalashnikov has taken part in combat operations as the commander of the T-34 tank. In October 1941, in the battles near Bryansk, he was seriously wounded and seriously concussed. For two weeks he escaped encirclement with his comrades, after which he was sent to a front-line hospital in Trubchevsk, near Bryansk, and later evacuated to a hospital in the city of Yeletsk.

In the hospital ward, M. T. Kalashnikov was relentlessly pursued by the idea of ​​​​developing a new submachine gun, the need for which was the only thing the soldiers in the hospital were talking about. He used the recovery leave provided for further treatment to implement this plan in the railway workshops of the Matai station (Kazakhstan), where he worked for some time before the war. Within 3 months, Kalashnikov managed to produce the first sample of a submachine gun, which was finalized through the joint efforts of the inventor and teachers, craftsmen in the training and production workshops of the Moscow Aviation Institute, evacuated to Alma-Ata.

The first weapons specialist to evaluate the prototype was the head of the Artillery Academy named after. Dzerzhinsky, professor, Major General A. A. Blagonravov. Anatoly Arkadyevich identified design flaws, but also noted the talent of the novice developer. He recommended sending M. T. Kalashnikov for technical studies (this was in July 1942). This is how Mikhail Timofeevich ended up at the scientific testing site for small arms and mortar weapons (NIPSMVO) of the Moscow Military District. There, the submachine gun underwent full-scale testing, but due to the high cost of production and certain shortcomings, it did not enter service.

Until 1944, M.T. Kalashnikov, in addition to the submachine gun, developed a light machine gun and a self-loading carbine. These samples also did not enter service, but the work on them enriched the designer with considerable experience, which instilled confidence in success.

In 1945, M.T Kalashnikov took part in a competition to develop an assault rifle chambered for the 1943 model. Based on the results of competitive tests in 1947, the AK-47 assault rifle was recommended for adoption by the Soviet Army.

In 1948, the young designer was sent to the Izhevsk Motor Plant, where a pilot batch of an assault rifle was being manufactured for military testing. Then Kalashnikov did not even think that he would “settle” in this city, which was still little known to him, which later became his home.

In September 1949, Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov was sent to the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant for serial production of the AK-47 assault rifle, and was assigned to the staff of the chief designer's department.

Subsequently, the AK-47 was supplemented with: a modernized AKM assault rifle of 7.62 mm caliber. and a modernized assault rifle with a folding stock - AKMS. After switching to 5.45 mm caliber. appeared big family Kalashnikov assault rifles: AK-74, AKS-74U, AK-74M.

Mikhail Timofeevich is also known as a designer of machine guns. Among his developments:

• RPK and RPKS light machine guns of 7.62 mm caliber with a folding stock;
• RPK-74 and RPKS-74 light machine guns of 5.45 mm caliber. with folding stock.

In the early 1960s. A sample of a single machine gun chambered for a 7.62x54mm rifle cartridge was put into service.

In total, the Kalashnikov design bureau created more than a hundred samples of military weapons.

As for the main brainchild of the designer - the Kalashnikov assault rifle, it is recognized as the invention of the century. This assessment was given by the French newspaper Libération, which compiled a list of outstanding inventions of the 20th century - from aspirin to atomic bomb. The famous Israeli designer Uziel Gal once told him: “You are the most unsurpassed and authoritative designer among us.”

According to foreign experts, by the beginning of 1996, from 70 to 100 million samples of the machine gun were manufactured in the world. It is used in 100 countries around the world. The Kalashnikov assault rifle entered state symbols a number of countries - depicted on banners and coats of arms.

For the creation of the AK-47, Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov was awarded the Stalin (State) Prize of the first degree. For the development of a unified light machine gun, the designer was awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor. In 1964 he was awarded the Lenin Prize. After 34 years, M. T. Kalashnikov again became a laureate of the State Prize. In 1976, Mikhail Timofeevich was awarded the second Gold Medal “Hammer and Sickle”. Among his awards are three Orders of Lenin, “For Services to the Fatherland” II degree, Order of the October Revolution, Red Banner of Labor, Friendship of Peoples, Patriotic War I degree, Red Star, and many medals. M. T. Kalashnikov is a holder of the Order of St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called.

Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov - Doctor of Technical Sciences, Honored Worker of Industry of the USSR, Honored Worker of Science and Technology of the Udmurt Republic, Honorary Member (Academician) of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Academy of Rocket and Artillery Sciences, Russian Academy of Engineering, full member of the Petrovsky Academy of Arts and Arts, International Academy of Sciences, industry, education and art of the USA, the International Academy of Informatization, the Union of Designers of Russia, and a number of other major scientific institutions; Honorary citizen of the Udmurt Republic, the city of Izhevsk, the village of Kurya, Altai Territory.

M. T. Kalashnikov published four books of memoirs: “Notes of a gunsmith designer” (1992), “From someone else’s threshold to the Spassky Gate” (1997), “I walked the same road with you” (1999), "The Trajectory of Fate" (2004). He is a member of the Russian Writers' Union.

Wife, Ekaterina Viktorovna Kalashnikova (1921-1977) - design technician, performed drawing work for Mikhail Timofeevich.

Daughters: Nellie Mikhailovna (born 1942), Elena Mikhailovna (born 1948), Natalya Mikhailovna (1953-1983). Son - Viktor Mikhailovich (born 1942).

• Biography

Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov- Russian designer of small arms, twice Hero of Socialist Labor (1958, 1976), Hero of Russia (2009), holder of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called (1998), laureate of the Lenin Prize (1964), Stalin Prize (1949), State Prize of Russia (1998), Doctor of Technical Sciences (1971), Lieutenant General (1999), Deputy of the Supreme Council of the USSR (1950-1954); creator of the Kalashnikov assault rifle.

Mikhail Kalashnikov was born November 10, 1919, in the village of Kurya, Kurinsky district, Altai Territory. Misha was the seventeenth child in a large peasant family. In his autobiography, he wrote: “My homeland - the steppe Altai village of Kurya stretches along the Loktevka River, sixty kilometers from the Barnaul - Semipalatinsk railway line, and it is not surprising that I first saw a “live” steam locomotive only in 1936, when I turned 17 years... In 1930, his father was recognized as a kulak and the Kalashnikovs were evicted from the Altai Territory. In 1936, after graduating from the ninth grade of high school, Mikhail went to work as a student at the railway depot of the Matai station in Kazakhstan, and later worked in Alma-Ata as a technical secretary of the Turkestan-Siberian Railway department. In 1938, he was drafted into the Red Army, was sent to the Kiev Military District, graduated from the school of tank driver mechanics, and served in a tank regiment in the city of Stryi in Western Ukraine.

Not everyone is destined to sow grain or stand at the machine, because today you cannot deal with the enemy, as my legendary namesake once did, with just your fist...

Kalashnikov Mikhail Timofeevich

In his army service, Kalashnikov showed himself as an inventor. He developed an inertial counter to count the number of shots fired from a tank gun, made a special device for the TT pistol to increase the efficiency of firing from it through slits in the tank turret, and created a tank engine resource meter. With the latest invention, Junior Sergeant Kalashnikov was sent by the district commander, Army General Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov, to Moscow, and from there to Leningrad Plant No. 174 named after Voroshilov to put the invention into production. With the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, senior sergeant Kalashnikov took part in battles as a tank commander. In October 1941, in the battles near Bryansk, he was seriously wounded and shell-shocked.

In the hospital, Mikhail Timofeevich conceived the design of a submachine gun. Having received a six-month leave for health reasons, he arrived at the Matai station and produced a test sample in the workshops of the depot. Another sample of the weapon was manufactured at the Moscow Aviation Institute, which was evacuated to Alma-Ata, in the workshops of the small arms and cannon weapons department. In June 1942, the sample was sent for review to Samarkand, where the Artillery Academy was located at that time. Tests of the weapon sample were carried out by Professor Anatoly Arkadyevich Blagonravov, who, although he did not recommend the Kalashnikov submachine gun for service, highly appreciated the talent of the inventor. A sample of the weapon was also examined by specialists from the Main Artillery Directorate of the Red Army, who noted its successful design, but also did not recommend it for production due to the technological complexity of its manufacture. However, it was decided to use Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov for design work, and he was sent for further service to the Central Small Arms Research Site (NIPSVO) of the Main Artillery Directorate. In 1944, Mikhail developed a sample of a self-loading carbine, which, although it did not go into production, in the future served as a prototype for the creation of an assault rifle.

During the Second World War, submachine guns - automatic weapons chambered for a pistol cartridge - became widespread in the armies of all countries of the world. Having become an effective melee weapon, submachine guns still could not compare with a carbine in terms of combat range, accuracy, or penetration power. The flaw was inherent in the very basis - the low power of the powder charge of a pistol cartridge. As a result, even after adopting submachine guns, the military leadership had to keep carbines in service. The variety of main weapons of rifle units was extremely inconvenient both in combat and in organizational terms, and in defense production.

The need to create automatic weapons chambered for a rifle cartridge was urgent, and Kalashnikov took up the solution to this problem. The inventor created the first example of such a weapon chambered for the 7.62 intermediate cartridge of the 1943 model in 1946. M.T. Kalashnikov constantly worked to improve his assault rifle, trying to simplify its design and adapt it to the technological requirements of industry.

In 1947, the Kalashnikov assault rifle won competitive tests and in 1949 was adopted by the Soviet army under the name “7.62-mm Kalashnikov assault rifle model 1947 (AK).” In the same year, for the creation of the M.T. Kalashnikov received the Stalin Prize of the first degree.

Since 1949, the designer lived in Izhevsk, where the production of his machine guns was launched at the Izhmash plant. For many years, Mikhail Timofeevich worked at the Izhmash design bureau to improve his machine gun and create on its basis unified models of small automatic weapons (AKM, AKMS machine guns, RPK, PK, PKT machine guns for tanks, PKBT for armored personnel carriers). The designer managed to achieve an optimal combination of a number of qualities that ensure high efficiency and reliability of the machine gun in combat, namely: a short locking unit, a suspended bolt, preliminary release of the cartridge case after firing, eliminating failure during extraction of the spent cartridge case, low sensitivity to contamination and the possibility of trouble-free use in any climatic conditions. Kalashnikov not only created the best assault rifle in the world, but also for the first time developed and introduced into the troops a number of standardized models of automatic small arms. (M.Ya. Thessaloniki)

The principle of operation of the Kalashnikov assault rifle

The operation of the Kalashnikov assault rifle is based on the use of the energy of powder gases discharged through a hole in the barrel wall. The channel is locked by turning the shutter to the right. The machine is fed from a 30-round box magazine. The hammer-type impact mechanism is powered by a mainspring. The trigger mechanism ensures single and continuous fire. The fire selector is also a safety device that locks the trigger. There is a bayonet.

With the same dimensions, weight and the same rate of fire, the machine gun has a 2 times greater fire range compared to the PPSh.

Due to the best ballistic properties, it provides a large penetrating effect of the bullet, which expands the possibilities of combat use of the Kalashnikov assault rifle in populated areas, in wooded areas and in the fight against manpower, having light protection (helmet, body armor, etc.).

Today, about 70 million assault rifles of its design are in service in 55 countries around the world.

According to rough estimates, more than 50 million Kalashnikov AK-47 assault rifles have already been produced outside our country.

Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov - quotes

All over the world, Russia is known by four symbols: vodka, matryoshka, caviar and Kalashnikov...

It must be said that this is more than an automatic machine. I affirm: this best slot machines in the world. There is no other weapon like this on the entire planet.

Only Kalashnikov works with full efficiency.

Kalashnikov Mikhail Timofeevich was born on November 10, 1919 in the village of Kurya, Altai province, RSFSR.
Russian designer of small arms, creator of the Kalashnikov assault rifle, president of the Union of Russian Gunsmiths, consultant to the general director of FSUE Rosoboronexport, general designer of small arms of the Izhmash concern, Doctor of Technical Sciences.

Mikhail Kalashnikov - Hero of the Russian Federation (2009), twice Hero of Socialist Labor (1958, 1976), laureate of the Stalin (1949) and Lenin Prizes (1964).
Kalashnikov - Lieutenant General, member of the Russian Writers' Union, member of the CPSU (since 1952).

Family, childhood and youth

Father - Timofey Aleksandrovich Kalashnikov (1883-1930), was recognized by the Soviet authorities as a kulak and exiled with his family from the Altai Territory to Siberia (1930).
Mother - Kalashnikova Alexandra Frolovna (1884-1957).
Mikhail was the seventeenth of nineteen children born to Alexandra Frolovna.
Of the nineteen, only eight survived; Mikhail was a very weak child and once, when he was six years old, he also almost died.

Mikhail Timofeevich recalls that on long winter evenings the whole family sang, he especially loved the songs “Glorious Sea, Sacred Baikal”, “A storm roared, thunder roared”, “A tramp fled from Sakhalin”, “A Cossack galloped through the valley, through the Caucasian regions”.
Parents with early childhood They taught children to do peasant work, Mikhail tended cows, looked after chickens and ducks, and helped adults in the field.

After the family was dispossessed, they moved to Siberia. There he went to school, although he already knew how to read and write. The teachers were political settlers, and they taught the children a lot and with enthusiasm. Mikhail liked physics, geometry and literature, he even wrote poetry. He also studied technology with interest: he disassembled and assembled various mechanisms.

After graduating from the 7th grade, with the permission of his mother and stepfather, Kosach Efrem Nikitich, Mikhail Kalashnikov traveled to his native Kurya, then returned to Siberia.
There he began working part-time at a machine and tractor station. At the same time, according to the recollections of Kalashnikov himself, a Browning gun first came into his hands, which he studied with passion.

Kalashnikov graduated from the 9th grade of high school and went to work as an accountant at the Matai station railway depot.
In 1936, Kalashnikov moved to Alma-Ata, where he began to serve as the technical secretary of the political department of the 3rd department of the Turkestan-Siberian Railway.

Two years later, he was drafted into the Red Army, served in Western Ukraine, in the Kiev Special Military District, where he received the specialty of a tank driver.

Designer Kalashnikov

Already while serving in a tank regiment, which was stationed in the city of Stryi, Mikhail Kalashnikov made a number of interesting and important developments. He came up with a device for measuring the engine life of a tank engine, an adaptation for a TT pistol to increase the efficiency of firing through slots in the tank turret, and an inertial counter for recording the actual number of shots fired from a tank gun. The young designer reported this to Army General Georgy Zhukov himself. After the report, by order of the head of the Main Armored Directorate of the Red Army, junior sergeant Kalashnikov was sent to the Leningrad Voroshilov Plant to improve his inventions. A prototype of a combined tank service life meter has passed laboratory tests in factory conditions.

In August 1941, senior sergeant Kalashnikov became a tank commander; near Bryansk he was seriously wounded in the shoulder by shrapnel and shell-shocked. He was sent to an evacuation hospital in the city of Trubchevsk, then to the Yeletsk military hospital. There he came up with the idea of ​​​​creating a submachine gun. He made the first sample in the workshops at Matai station - it was closest to his previous place of work from the hospital.

Then Kalashnikov went to Alma-Ata and made an appointment with the Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan Kaishigulov. He listened to the designer and sent him to the Moscow Aviation Institute named after S. Ordzhonikidze, which was being evacuated. There, at the factory, Kalashnikov improved the submachine gun. Kaishigulov liked the new weapon and sent the inventor to Samarkand, to the Dzerzhinsky Artillery Academy.
There Kalashnikov met with Professor A.A. Blagonravov, who was an expert in the field of weapons design. The professor’s friendly review, as Kalashnikov himself admitted, opened the way for him to professional design work.

Kalashnikov was sent to Moscow to the Main Artillery Directorate of the Red Army, from there he was sent to the city of Kolomna to the Central Research Range of Small Arms and Mortars (NIPSMVO), and then assigned to the design bureau.

In this bureau, Kalashnikov finalized the design of the submachine gun and created a self-loading carbine and a light machine gun (it did not pass the test and was sent to the museum). Failure with a light machine gun forced Kalashnikov to pay attention to his education; he read a lot of specialized literature, studied prototypes, and talked with designers.

Kalashnikov assault rifle

In 1945, Kalashnikov began working on automatic weapons chambered for the 1943 model. The project was accepted for development and the designer went to Kovrov, where the production of machine guns was to be launched.

During comparative tests, the Kalashnikov assault rifle successfully passed everything: soaking loaded assault rifles in swamp slurry, and “bathing” the weapon in the sand.
The famous small arms designers V.A. Degtyarev and G.S. Shpagin admitted defeat.

In 1948, Kalashnikov was sent to a plant in Izhevsk, where it was planned to develop the model and manufacture a military batch of machine guns. Production of the Simonov carbine was discontinued.

At the beginning of 1949, a government decree was issued on the adoption of the machine gun and its mass production at the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant. The assault rifle received the official name - “7.62-mm Kalashnikov assault rifle model 1947 (AK).”

Having been demobilized with the rank of senior sergeant, Mikhail Timofeevich moved with his family to Izhevsk, where he continued his design work at Izhmash.

For the modernization of the AKM assault rifle and the creation of the RPK light machine gun in 1958, Kalashnikov was awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor.

In 1961, the Soviet Army adopted a new unified PK machine gun with all its varieties, and a second unified small arms system chambered for a rifle cartridge was created.

Later, the AK-74 and AKS-74 assault rifles were created, then on their basis the shortened AKS-74U assault rifle and RPK-74 and RPKS-74 light machine guns were developed and also adopted.

In total, Mikhail Kalashnikov invented more than 150 types of small arms.
The French newspaper Libération recognized the Kalashnikov assault rifle as the invention of the century.
Now AK in various variations is the most common small arms in the world.

Social work

Kalashnikov was elected as a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of six convocations (1950-1954), and was a delegate to the XXV Congress of the CPSU and the XVIII Congress of Trade Unions. For a number of years he was a member of the Udmurt Regional Committee of the CPSU.

Awards

For the creation of the AK-47 assault rifle, Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov was awarded the Stalin Prize of the first degree, in 1964 - the Lenin Prize, in 1998 - the State Prize.
For the creation of the AKM assault rifle and the RGS light machine gun, he was awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor.

The designer was awarded three Orders of Lenin, the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, II degree, the Orders of the October Revolution, the Red Banner of Labor, Friendship of Peoples, the Patriotic War, I degree, the Red Star, and he is a holder of the Order of St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called.

Kalashnikov - Honored Worker of Industry of the USSR, Honored Worker of Science and Technology of the Republic of Udmurtia, Honorary Member (Academician) Russian Academy Sciences, Academy of Missile and Artillery Sciences, Russian Academy of Engineering, full member of the Petrovsky Academy of Arts and Arts, International Academy of Sciences, Industry, Education and Arts of the USA, International Academy of Informatization, Union of Designers of Russia.

He is an honorary citizen of the Udmurt Republic, the city of Izhevsk and the village of Kurya, Altai Territory. A bronze bust of the designer was installed in the village of Kurya.

Books

Mikhail Kalashnikov is a member of the Union of Writers of Russia, he published memoirs - “Notes of a gunsmith designer” (1992), “From someone else’s threshold to the Spassky Gate” (1997), “I walked the same road with you” (1999), “Everything you need - simple" (2009).

Hobbies

Kalashnikov is passionate about developing hunting weapons. His hunting self-loading carbines "Saiga" (smooth-bore model "Saiga", self-loading carbine "Saiga-410", "Saiga-20S" - more than a dozen modifications in total) are designed on the basis of an assault rifle.

Mikhail Timofeevich is a big fan of classical music, especially the work of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

He loves poetry, he began writing poetry in the third grade, and later his works were published in the newspaper of the Kyiv Special Military District "Red Army".

Personal life

Wife - Kalashnikova Ekaterina Viktorovna (1921-1977), worked as a design technician.
Children - Nellie (born 1942), Elena (born 1948), Natalya (1953-1983), Victor (born 1942).