Mikhail Kalashnikov

Born Nov 10, 1919, in the town of Kur’ia, in present-day Altai Krai. Soviet small arms designer, doctor of technical sciences (1971). Hero of Socialist Labor (1958). Became a member of the CPSU in 1953.

After World War II, Kalashnikov developed a type of small arms used as the basis for the 1947-model submachine gun called the 7.62-mm Kalashnikov Automatic (AK), which was adopted by the Soviet Army. The 7.62-mm caliber for small arms was standardized on the basis of this weapon. The 7.62-mm modernized submachine gun (AKM), the 7.62-mm light machine gun (RPK), the 7.62-mm Kalashnikov machine gun (PK or, on a stand, PKS), and later the 7.62-mm tank machine gun (PKT) were adopted. Kalashnikov was a deputy to the fourth, seventh, and eighth convocations of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. In 1949 he was awarded the State Prize of the USSR. He has been awarded two Orders of Lenin, two other orders, and medals.