Alexey Sudayev

Alexey Ivanovich Sudayev (; 23 August 1912 – 17 August 1946) was a Soviet firearm designer. He created the PPS submachine gun and the AS-44 assault rifle.
He lived in Leningrad, and participated in the defense of the city. The PPS was developed to be mass-produced for the defense of Leningrad.
Sudayev designed one of the first Soviet assault rifles for the new intermediate cartridge 7.62×39mm, the AS-44. The first prototype was tested in 1944, and found to function adequately by the Soviet army, though it was considered too heavy at 5.6 kg. Sudayev then worked on a second, lighter prototype that weighed only 5.35 kg. However, the second prototype had accuracy and reliability problems, which needed to be resolved. However, Sudayev became seriously ill and died in 1946, a week before his 34th birthday and before his design could be finalized.