MOSCOW, August 12. /TASS/. Russia’s small arms industry has evolved since the start of the special military operation in Ukraine: high-precision rifles, which were previously used mainly by amateur hunters, are now being manufactured by private companies for combat use, Kalashnikov Group CEO Alan Lushnikov said in an interview with TASS Director General Andrey Kondrashov.

"With the start of the special military operation, our small arms industry has adopted a new approach. Whereas high-precision rifles used to be the domain of a few amateur hunters, now all these manufacturers are focused on meeting the needs of combat units," said Lushnikov.

He noted that he knows all the private manufacturers, maintains contact with them, and is well disposed toward them. According to him, these companies have increased production several-fold without government investment, and their products are in high demand.