{"id":28878,"date":"2018-10-16T22:07:10","date_gmt":"2018-10-16T22:07:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/10\/16\/socom-solicitation-for-reverse-engineered-foreign-weapons-sparks-russian-anger-warnings\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T20:51:14","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T20:51:14","slug":"socom-solicitation-for-reverse-engineered-foreign-weapons-sparks-russian-anger-warnings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/2018\/10\/16\/socom-solicitation-for-reverse-engineered-foreign-weapons-sparks-russian-anger-warnings\/","title":{"rendered":"SOCOM solicitation for \u2018reverse engineered\u2019 foreign weapons sparks Russian anger, warnings"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Kalashnikov Concern<\/a> \u2014 the Russian firm renowned for designing the AK-47 assault rifle \u2014 was caught off guard by U.S. Special Operations Command\u2019s<\/a> desire to \u201creverse engineer\u201d and \u201cdomestically produce\u201d Russian-styled weapons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In statements through state-controlled media, Russian leaders and industry officials warned the U.S. military not to copy its coveted weapon designs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One problem: the solicitation is more than a year old and portions of the contract have already been awarded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a small business solicitation<\/a> from April 2017, SOCOM asked American businesses \u201cto explore whether it is feasible to reverse engineer or reengineer and domestically produce\u201d a 7.62 x 54mm belt-fed light machine gun that resembles a PKM, and a 12.7 x 108mm heavy machine gun that resembles a Russian-designed NSV.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That solicitation was recalled in a National Interest article this month, sparking anger from senior Russian officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSeveral countries hold licenses for manufacturing Russian machine guns of this model, but the U.S. is not among them,” Russian senator Viktor Bondarev<\/a>, who helms the Russian parliament\u2019s Committee on Defense and Security, told state media<\/a> last Wednesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe should prevent any attempts to use Russian weapons developments without our permission,\u201d Bondarev added. “If U.S. intentions evolve into real actions … then we should react decisively and promptly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SOCOM confirmed to Military Times that contracts for the first phase, the research portion, of the solicitation have already been awarded to Dillon Aero Inc., Knight\u2019s Armament Company, and McNally Industries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SOCOM said the second phase, to demonstrate a production capacity, is already underway. Those contracts have yet to be awarded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A local female Manbij Military Council trainee fires a 7.62mm PK machine gun during marksmanship training Feb. 21, 2017, at Sanaa Training Center in Northwest Syria. The instruction is 20 days long to include basic rifle marksmanship, and squad level weapons and movement techniques. This is the first cycle of women to graduate and join the MMC. The course is administered by Special Operations Joint Task Force \u2013 Operation Inherent Resolve trainers. (U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Mark Burrell)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The command wants to build the production base in the U.S. to better supply surrogate forces, according to the solicitation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cForeign made weapons lack interchangeability and standardization which hinders field and depot-level part replacement,\u201d the solicitation reads. \u201cDeveloping a domestic production capability for foreign-like weapons addresses these issues while being cost effective as well as strengthens the nation\u2019s military-industrial complex, ensures a reliable and secure supply chain, and reduces acquisition lead times.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Security Assistance Monitor, a group that tracks and analyzes U.S. security assistance programs, said that moving production stateside could have several other benefits for SOCOM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt adds risk when you have to buy them from former Soviet states or other countries,\u201d said Colby Goodman, director of the Security Assistance Monitor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere could be concerns about the quality of the weapons,\u201d Goodman added. \u201cBut there are also concerns about the U.S. associating with individuals who might be involved in some shady or illicit activities, and I think there has been an increasing concern that U.S. laws are becoming more restrictive on supporting China and Russia.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kalishnikov\u2019s parent company, Rostec, is a state-owned enterprise in Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking to state media, Rostec said they were unaware of SOCOM\u2019s plans, adding that the manufacture of Russian small arms in the U.S. without permission from them would be considered intellectual theft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A Romanian Gendarmerie instructor (right) shows an Afghan Uniform Police non-commissioned officer how to use the Russian-made NSV 12.7 millimeter machine gun at the Spin Boldak ANP Training Center, Oct 25, 2011, at Spin Boldak, Afghanistan. The Romanian Gendarmerie trained ten ANA officers and NCOs on the NSV, PKM 7.62 millimeter Squad Automatic Weapon and the RPK light machine gun. (Photo by Sgt. First Class Barbulescu Alcor)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf someone wants to carry out this work legally … they should approach Rosoboronexport [Russia\u2019s state arms exporter] and discuss it. Otherwise, this would amount to the illegal copying of Russian innovations or theft, simply speaking,\u201d Rostec said in a statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are so many knock-offs of older Russian weapons, though, that Rostec\u2019s complaint may not hold much water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Foreign copies of both the NSV and PK machine guns have proliferated since the weapons were fielded in the late 1960s and early 1970s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Small changes in an American-designed system could also allow reproduction of NSV and PK machine guns while still honoring the original copyrights.<\/p>\n\n\n\t