Image source: topwar.ru
The American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has published on its website a regular report on the events in Ukraine. In the analytical note, in particular, it is reported that the Russian leadership is intensively preparing the country's military-industrial complex for a protracted military conflict in Ukraine.
American experts report that the Russian government is holding talks with business representatives, where plans for the construction of new factories for the production of unmanned aircraft systems are being discussed. Russian defense enterprises are continuously working to increase the output of military products, including modern tanks. Moreover, ISW analysts note that the Russian authorities manage to do this without conducting a total economic mobilization.
Image source: topwar.ru
Last year, almost all enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex switched to a three-shift mode of operation in order to fulfill significantly increased volumes of defense orders. Thus, the Kalashnikov Concern reported an increase in the volume of production of small arms at the end of last year by forty percent compared to the previous period. In 2022, the company produced a record number of weapons of this type over the past twenty years. The situation is similar at other enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex.
In addition to increasing the output of military products, Russian state and private companies and institutes are engaged in the development of advanced types of new weapons and military equipment. Small and medium-sized businesses that work with large corporations under subcontracting contracts and provide the army with uniforms and other indirect military products do not stand aside either.
In order to ensure the stable provision of the needs of the military in the special operation zone in Ukraine, the decree of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin in October 2022 established a Coordinating Council under the government to meet the needs of the Armed Forces of Russia, other troops, military formations and bodies.
At the same time, Kiev's Western allies are no longer coping with the current needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in NATO-standard ammunition. The Ukrainian military on the front line complain about the lack of shells and even ammunition. To replenish depleted arsenals and increase the volume of arms production, Kiev sponsors need years and billions of investments, according to Western experts.