The Soviets called them “Monkey Models.” These were military items manufactured for export to be inferior to what the Soviet forces were issued. That’s why it was such a surprise when the first Soviet pilot to escape the USSR with his aircraft and the West got a chance to examine his non-monkey model Mig. The craftmanship was lousy, including leaving rivet bolt heads sticking out of the plane’s skin.
I did not know that. Looked it up and it is true. I am guessing that since the Soviets gave these weapons away for free or for barter goods (raw materials rather than cash) they did not make them as good as the originals to keep down costs and to also to make sure if need be the USSR was still able to keep down their client states militarily.
“Monkey model” redirects here.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Export_variants_of_Soviet_military_equipment
Export variants of Soviet military equipment were versions of Soviet military equipment (armored vehicles, airplanes, missiles) of significantly inferior capability to the original designs and intended only for export. Monkey model was the unofficial designation given by the Soviet Military to such variants. The monkey model was exported with the same or a similar designation as the original Soviet design but in fact it lacked many of the advanced or expensive features of the original.