>

Isnt that somewhat intentional though?  Maybe I'm wrong but I thought the popularity of the ak was its design allowed it to be made dirt cheap and it was easy to change the stamping in factories that make something else over to produce aks when needed (or nationalized).  Or are you saying the m4 types are cheaper now?
She said her talks with Mr. Lavrov were “wonderful” and she described South Africa as a friend of Russia with a strengthening relationship. Mr. Lavrov, for his part, had only praise for South Africa and its stand on global issues.

Translation: Russia is paying them for the support. >

If you have time, look into the South African state capture. Its really terrifying. >

"On the first day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year, the South African government demanded an immediate Russian withdrawal. It warned that the Russian military action would cause “human suffering and destruction” and huge damage to the global economy. But since then, South Africa has refused to repeat this criticism, instead choosing to abstain in UN votes, while calling for dialogue and negotiations.
On Monday, when asked whether she had repeated any of her original criticism to the Russian foreign minister, Ms. Pandor said she would seem “quite simplistic and infantile” if she did so – “given the massive transfer of arms” to Ukraine from its allies.
She said her talks with Mr. Lavrov were “wonderful” and she described South Africa as a friend of Russia with a strengthening relationship. Mr. Lavrov, for his part, had only praise for South Africa and its stand on global issues."
What a world. >

Russia might have pee pee pics of Ms. Pandor. >

In South Africa you don't need to have dirt on our politicians. That dirty laudry is on full public display 24/7. The reason for the backpeddaling is corruption and incompetence. And a hold on to power, that's the most important to our politicians. >

Holding on to power while the country runs out of it. The blackouts I hear are unreal at this point. >

What power? You mean the generator/inverter-solar setup that only the better-off people can afford? All the robots are dead, streetlights haven't worked in decades... >

The robots? >

It's what South Africans call traffic lights. >

You mean Chappie wasn't a documentary? >

I can't re-watch that film knowing what pieces of shit Ninja and Yolandi are. >


what pieces of shit Ninja and Yolandi are.

Oh? >

We have so many issues in South Africa and this is how the government prioritise their time. I really hope we can vote out these corrupt criminals next year. >

Good relations with Russia usually indicate a corrupt government. >

Case in point, Belarus. >

Or Syria. >

Iran. >

Venezuela. >

Cuba. >

China? >

North Korea >

Nicaragua >

Hey good for them, tying your country to Russia has never ever back fired on anyone ever in the whole history of the world ever never. >

Even India is slowly backing away from buying arms and fighters from Russia. >

Might be because Russian arms proved to be vastly inferior to their western counterparts in actual combat so we'll see a lot of countries trying to stay away from such second-tier merchandise from now on. >

This is something that is becoming increasingly obvious with the passage of time, especially if you're at all interested in small arms.
The modern AK-12 is arguably a crappier gun than the AK-74 it replaced, in large part because the furniture is crappy plastic pieces that can't hold a zero. On top of that, the Russians apparently can't even make enough of them, and have been burning through their AK-74 (1974) and even AKM (1959) stockpiles
Put it another way - look at special forces units around the world, and look at the guns they use. Even in countries where the primary infantry weapon is an AK, the special forces units are usually using M4-type rifles.
If you're looking to buy the best rifle for your dollar today, you could do A LOT better than even the most modernized AK rifle.