Weapons maker Izhmash has signed a contract to supply its latest shotgun to U.S. law enforcement agencies.
The manufacturer closed the deal earlier this month during a trade show in Las Vegas, Nevada, and announced it Monday on its website. The weapon involved is called a Saiga-12. It is a smoothbore shotgun with a multiround clip and is designed to look like the famous Kalashnikov machine gun.
"First deliveries of the Saiga-12 to law enforcement agencies in the United States were already completed in January this year," said Izhmash general director Maxim Kuzyukov.
"The American market for civilian weapons is increasing," Kuzyukov said. "We can confidently forecast up to 20 percent growth in deliveries in 2012. Our manufacturing is capable of fully supplying these needs," he said.
Izhmash also announced that it has selected the Russian Weapon Company as its exclusive supplier to the American market.
A spokesman for Izhmash declined to provide details about the partner or name the U.S. law enforcement agencies that are buying its products.
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