A joint Georgian-Israeli production of rifles will be launch in Georgia, with Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili presenting the newly set-up plant for making carbines similar to the famed American M4.
Unveiling the factory a year after his initial reveal of plans for it, Garibashvili spoke to reporters after inspecting the Delta CCA Arms plant, a joint facility involving the local Delta company of arms and hardware production and their Israeli partners.
Equipped with factory machines built in the United States, the production will make GI-4 carbines – rifles similar to the 5.56 NATO-caliber M4 that has become ubiquitous in US armed forces and troops in dozens of other countries, including Georgian Defense Forces.
The PM told local press all parts of the carbine would be produced locally by personnel who had undergone relevant training for the project, which was initially started during Garibashvili’s time as the defense minister, before his appointment as the PM in February.
Involving university graduates, the work at the new plant is also set to be expanded in the future to include production of other firearms and accessories and upgrades to existing arms. The PM’s office said plans were also in place to export the hardware made at the factory.
Signed by the Defense Ministry and the Israeli company involved in the initiative in May, the deal for the factory is the latest of the moves by the ministry to launch local production of hardware for armed forces over the recent years.
The Defense Ministry has been in talks with Polish and South African companies to launch joint production of unmanned aerial vehicles, while also exploring possibilities of joint ventures with the Czech Republic. (Agenda/Business World Magazine)
