Two of the greatest names in the 20th Century are now in the hospital. The first one, South Africa's venerable Nelson Mandela who is now in critical condition according to the South African government. The second one, whose creation has affected the history of nations and firearms, 93-year old Mikhail Kalashnikov, has been flown into Moscow by an emergency medical airlift from his hometown of Izhevsk, according to Itar-Tass for further treatment yesterday, 23 of June.

The inventor of the AK-47 and whose name a family of Russian rifles carry, has been checked into the hospital for thrombosis in the pulmonary artery in Izhevsk but the doctors decided to send him to Moscow for better medical facilities. His condition is considered to be critical and thus prompted the Emergencies Ministries to airlift him. The recent updated was that he is said to be in a stable, but critical condition.

Earlier in May 2013, Kalashnikov  has already been hospitalised for two weeks. In December he has already been going to the hospital for check-ups and was even put into intensive care according to Russia Today, as his condition was said to be worsening.  Even at his age of 93 years, he has been active in Izhmash until his recent health battles.

Already concerned with the fate and future of Izhmash weapons factory, the company that is in financial problem and needing more government help  to make it compete in the firearms market amidst competition of AK copies from other countries, Kalashnikov transferred his name for free to the company so they can use his name for future products whilst at the hospital in May.  The Kalashnikov name is synonymous to the Russian firearms industry that almost every weapon that's announced from that country bears his name.

The AK-47 is the world's most popular rifle in the world with over a hundred million firearms in circulation amongst the world's militaries, guerilla fighters, terrorist organisations, and militias. It is the easiest to maintain and a very durable rifle and has followers amongst rifle enthusiasts and airsoft communities.