Mikhail Timofeyevich Kalashnikov (Russian: Михаил Тимофеевич Калашников; 10 November 1919 – 23 December 2013) was a Russian small arms designer, most famous for developing the AK-47, AKM, and AK-74 assault rifles. On 17 November Kalashnikov was hospitalized in an Udmurtian medical facility. He died on 23 December, 2013 after a prolonged grave illness.