Russia allegedly sent an official proposal to Greek Defense Minister Panos Kammenos offering collaboration to co-manufacture AK-47 assault rifles in Greece, according to the site onalert.gr. Initially, a verbal offer was made, however, a formal reply is expected by August, or so the site claims.

The offer had first been made to Greece in 2006 when Russia had suggested the creation of weapons production units in Greece.

The latest report claims Russian officials asked to visit the Hellenic Defense Systems (EAS) facilities in Egio, in the northern Peloponnese. Upon touring the site, the Russian officials deemed the manufacturing facilities to be efficient and reiterated the proposal to the leftist government. An official letter to the General Directorate for Defense Investment and Armaments soon followed giving a detailed plan for the co-manufacturing of Kalashnikov rifles.

A number of hurdles would need to be overcome before such a … rumored deal could be implemented. It would be hard for Greece’s NATO allies accept such an agreement — i.e. NO COMPATIBILITY with Alliance norms — whereas the Greek military would also need to replace its “entire arsenal” of G3 German-designed assault rifles — most of which are already produced in Greece.

Thus, beyond the “PR-factor” of the news report comes the question: What’s the benefit?