Earlier, we reported that at the Army-2024 forum, the Almaz-Antey Concern of East Kazakhstan Region demonstrated many samples of military equipment, as well as civilian and dual-use equipment. The event was also attended by the head of the concern, Jan Novikov, who took part in the signing ceremonies of agreements and contracts.
We found an interesting article about him in the French newspaper Les Echos and decided to publish its translation on our blog.
Have a good read!
Benjamin Quesnel, in his article dated January 4, 2024, "Russia: Jan Novikov is Putin's strong hand," published in Les Echos magazine, writes:
Heading the Almaz-Antey Concern, one of Russia's leading state-owned arms manufacturing enterprises, this Kremlin confidant was able to successfully respond despite Western sanctions and military actions in Ukraine.
Known both for his prudence and efficiency, Jan Novikov likes to quote this saying during his rare public appearances: "whoever does not go forward, goes back" The patron of the Almaz-Antey concern, one of the largest state-owned Russian arms enterprises, including those producing missiles, steadily applied his motto in during the two years of the Kremlin's "Special Military Operation" in Ukraine.
In recent months, he has been regularly seen next to Sergei Shoigu, Defense Minister and confidant of President Vladimir Putin. To inform about the intensification of the production of modern radar systems. To increase Russian counter-battery weapons. But Jan Novikov sees far beyond the borders of Donbass. He is also one of the inspirers of the new S-500 anti-aircraft missile defense system, the famous Prometheus, regularly mentioned by Vladimir Putin as a means of ensuring the protection of the country at high altitudes and at a range of 600 km.
It is not surprising that the Almaz-Antey concern and its CEO are on the Western sanctions list. At the age of 64, Jan Novikov is used to being a target for the West. In 2014, when a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot down over eastern Ukraine, killing 298 passengers and crew, an investigation concluded that the missile was fired from an outdated BUK system manufactured by the Almaz Concern-Antey", supplied to the Russian separatists.
Regularly promoted by the government
Jan Novikov, having just been appointed CEO of the holding, called the press to explain that his company "does not supply such outdated equipment in the 21st century" and that the plane was destroyed by the Ukrainians themselves. A version that was subsequently refuted by the International Court of Justice in The Hague. Which doesn't matter to this man with the physique of a former military man and the lively intellect of a brilliant finance student, whom the authorities regularly promote.
Today, he enjoys even greater trust from Vladimir Putin, because, like the president, this creative enthusiast hails from St. Petersburg. Both men made careers there in the troubled 1990s after leaving communism. Novikov moved to Moscow two years after Putin's arrival in the Kremlin.
Plus: his role in keeping Russian weapons on top.
Minus: its status as a fuse in case of military failures on the ground.
