Uzina Mecanica Plopeni, a subsidiary of the Romanian National Company for Military Technique Romarm, will start to produce Beretta assault weapons in about six months.

Production will start based on a memorandum of understanding signed on June 10 with the Italian company Beretta Holding, economy minister Niculae Badalau said at the signing of the document, Romania Insider reads.

The modernization and re-tooling of the plant will require an estimated investment of EUR 6.5 million, financed by the Italian partner. The Romanian state will hold 80 percent of the joint venture through the Plopeni company while Beretta Holding will hold the remaining 20 percent.

In the first phase, 15 percent of the parts needed to produce the weapons will be produced in Romania, but the share of domestic components will increase as the factory’s capacity will also grow.