In a step seen by Russian experts as a new development in the Chechen struggle against the Russian federal forces in the independence-seeking republic, Chechen gun-makers invented a new weapon. In a video tape posted on the Chechen fighters website Thursday, July 29, President of Chechen Republic of Ichkeria (CRI), Commander-In-Chief of CRI Armed Forces Aslan Maskhadov and Amir of Islamic Brigade of Martyrs 'Riyadh as-Salihiin' (Gardens for the Righteous) Abdallah Shamil Abu-Idris (Commander Basayev) have presented the new weapon to the Chechen troops. Lom 30 (Lion 30) was invented and manufactured by the Chechen fighters and is being distributed among all fronts and direction of CRI Armed Forces, they said.
Lom-30 uses ammunition from Russian automatic grenade launcher AGS-17. The new Chechen weapon has high mobile characteristics (weighs 6.5 kg) and an effective range of fire, up to 2 km. It is a kind of handheld grenade-launcher, which is capable of eliminating enemy manpower and destroying light vehicles at a distance of 14 to 2,000 meters. Moreover, the new weapon can now be used to hit low-flying targets, according to the site. Maskhadov and Commander Abu-Idris said the model has virtually been put on the production line, but did not specify where the new weapon is manufactured.
Maskhadov also announced that Chechen gun-makers are now developing other types of weaponry as well, which will soon be provided to the Chechen troops. The new Chechen weapon has raised fears among the Russian military circles as it would pose threats to the Russian forces in the war-torn republic. Lom 30 will enable the Chechen fighters to easily hit the Russian targets, according to a Russian expert who declined to be identified. Another Russian expert said the new weapon will be used by the Chechen fighters to target buildings and cars due to its light weight, urging the Russian special units to find as fast as possible the manufacturing place of the weapon. |