An assault rifle that can be used on land and underwater has emerged from the shadows of development and received government approval for use in the military, Rostec said Wednesday.
"Until now underwater combatants were forced to use two kinds of weapons, one for operations underwater and a Kalashnikov for shooting on dry land. Now you only have to replace the ammunition magazine," said a spokesman from the weapons research and design agency where the amphibious rifle was developed over the course of 13 years.
The prototype for the rifle was the brainchild of renowned armorer Vasily Gryazev, now deceased.
The amphibious rifles are currently being manufactured for domestic use, but could soon start being exported abroad, the bureau's spokesman said.
