Arms Designer Day is observed in Russia every September 19, a professional holiday established in 2011 at the request of Mikhail Kalashnikov, the renowned inventor of the AK-47 assault rifle. The holiday was officially recognized by President Dmitry Medvedev and coincides with the Russian Orthodox Church's celebration of Archangel Michael, Kalashnikov's namesake. It is most prominently celebrated in cities with weapons manufacturing plants, such as Izhevsk, Barnaul, Novosibirsk, Tula, and Kovrov. On this day, arms designers are acknowledged for their contributions to the country's defense industry, reflecting the importance of their work in national security. The first celebration took place in 2012, following Kalashnikov's meeting with then-Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in 2010, where the idea for the holiday was proposed and supported by the Union of Russian Arms Designers.