Ensuring the needs of the army is an absolute priority of Rostec State Corporation
The year 2024 turned out to be, perhaps, one of the most tense for the military-industrial complex of our country due to the situation at the front and the tasks set for the defense industry by the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin. The output of military products for a number of samples of military equipment has increased five to six times or more. What are the results of the outgoing year? Bekhan OZDOEV, Industrial Director of the cluster of armaments, ammunition and special chemicals of Rostec State Corporation, answered this and other questions in an interview with the Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper.
– Bekhan Ibrahimovich, the state is asking especially harshly today for the execution of the state defense order. With what result is Rostec coming to the end of the year?
– The corporation traditionally fulfills the state defense order at a high level – close to 100 percent. This year was no exception. Ensuring the needs of the army is our absolute priority. I would like to note that we supply the troops with about 80 percent of the weapons and equipment that are used in the area of their defense.
– What new types of weapons are being supplied to the military department?
– For the needs of the Ministry of Defense, we produce T-90M "Breakthrough" tanks, heavy flamethrower systems TOS-2, remote mining systems "Agriculture", tracked self-propelled artillery installations (ACS) "Msta-SM" and wheeled ACS "Malva", multiple launch rocket systems "Tornado-S" and "Tornado-G". These are the most modern samples that have confirmed high combat effectiveness in combat operations in Ukraine.
We also transfer to the troops a large number of deeply modernized samples, modified on the basis of combat experience. Here we can name our hits such as T-72B3M and T-80BVM tanks, infantry fighting vehicles BMP-2M "Berezhok" and BMP-1AM "Basurmanin".
– How does your experience affect the security of our equipment?
– Both new and upgraded models meet modern challenges in terms of their efficiency, flexibility of application, ease of maintenance, maintainability. They go to the war zone with enhanced protection, means of camouflage, including in the radar range. They have improved communication, data transmission, and fire control systems.
By the way, we see that the enemy is adopting some of our approaches. They also began to hang "barbecues" on cars. Only here they are factory-made, they are mostly artisanal. Abrams and Leopards, which are covered with Soviet dynamic protection Kontakt-1, are also regularly found in the SVO zone. It's a confession in a way. Although it often does not help the enemy in the confrontation with our latest fire and shock circuits.
– What is the situation with the production of precision-guided munitions?
– Rostec produces a wide range of guided munitions. For example, guided artillery shells "Krasnopol". They have proven themselves admirably in Syria, including when hitting small-sized moving targets. Now they are being massively used in the SVO zone, including in the upgraded version of Krasnopol-M2. Their accuracy is such that even at maximum range, the enemy has almost no chance. At the same time, they are not affected by electronic warfare, unlike the American Excalibur.
Another good example is anti–tank guided missiles. They hit not only armored vehicles on the battlefield, but also fortifications, shelters, command posts, communication towers, firing points in buildings, enemy concentrations. In particular, the accuracy of our ATGM "Cornet" allows you to fly into the embrasure of the dugout. A combination of ATGM and UAVs is also used – an effective reconnaissance and fire contour of the tactical link is obtained.
We are increasing the production of guided missiles for X-UAV drones — these missiles based on the Kornet ATGM work very accurately.
I will also note the Tornado-S multiple launch rocket systems. They are more powerful, longer-range, more precisely, the American Hymars.
– They say that the shock effect on the enemy was produced by high-explosive aerial bombs with universal planning and correction modules...
– It really is. All experts, including foreign ones, note the effectiveness of these munitions today. One FAB-3000 bomb is enough to, as they say, tear apart an enemy stronghold. The shock wave covers an area of 11 football fields.
Our light multipurpose guided missiles, the "Product-305", are effectively used. They are guaranteed to destroy equipment, structures, positions, and enemy crossings. Moreover, their control channels cannot be suppressed with the help of electronic warfare, not a single such case has been recorded. Helicopter operators use this missile as a surgical scalpel – due to the accuracy of the ammunition, they can choose exactly where to hit the object, as a result, the missile can fly to the militants even into the attic through the dormer window.
I would like to add that helicopters successfully use Igla anti-aircraft guided missiles against enemy drones. That is, they perform the functions of fighters, and very successfully.
– Artillery is still the god of war today. And what about ammunition for howitzers and MLRS?
– Perhaps no other country in the world produces ammunition in such quantities. Compared to 2022, in 2023, our ammunition production increased tenfold, artillery shots - more than six times, tank shots – more than 30 times, melee weapons – 14 times, rockets for MLRS and CBT – more than six times. It is already obvious that these indicators will be higher by the end of this year, and in 2025 their significant growth will continue.
I would like to add that our specialists are working on the range, accuracy, mobility, security, and versatility of cannons, howitzers, and mortars. We are creating new ammunition, sights, new control and communication systems for embedding batteries in information circuits. One example of this work is the Malva wheeled howitzers, capable of hitting targets at distances of several tens of kilometers. Modern guns and ammunition, as well as the latest fire control system, provide these howitzers with high combat effectiveness.
– Today, the Russian Armed Forces are increasingly using unmanned aerial vehicles of various classes, and appropriate units are being created. How is drone production developing in the corporation?
– Technical thought in this direction is not just developing now, but is running with leaps and bounds. For example, Kalashnikov has established the production of almost the entire line of drones: reconnaissance, shock, communication repeaters, barrage ammunition, aircraft-type UAVs and quadrocopters.
Miniature short-range drones have also been created, which can actually act as pocket binoculars for military personnel.
Some of these drones are already being mass-supplied to the troops, some are undergoing pilot testing in the area of their own defense or are preparing for its implementation. This line is constantly being improved, its range and efficiency are increasing.
– I believe that our enemy has no shortage of drones. What about us?
– Everything is being done to provide the army with drones. I'll give you an example of one of our companies. Last year, it increased production almost four times, this year it plans to increase it three times more, and next year – by another one and a half times. That is, the pace of production of these products is breaking records today.
– And what is the situation with protection from drones and other means of aerial destruction?
– Rostec produces a wide range of air defense systems. For example, the Pantsir-S anti-aircraft missile and cannon system is one of the most effective in its class. The complex fights in large numbers in the area of its own defense and successfully shoots down complex targets, including those with low radar visibility. For example, these are high-precision projectiles of multiple rocket launchers and even cannon artillery shells, Western stealth cruise missiles Storm Shadow. Of course, these are also unmanned aerial vehicles, which are destroyed by "Shells" in large quantities.
In addition, a new anti-aircraft missile system "Pantsir-SMD-E" has been created, which is designed to protect industrial and administrative facilities from massive attacks by drones. In this version of the system, special small-sized missiles are used to destroy mini-drones with high efficiency and, so to speak, at a reduced price. One installation of the new complex can carry either 12 standard anti-aircraft guided missiles or 48 short-range interception missiles.
The corporation's enterprises also create small-sized radars that are placed in dangerous areas, including to protect our peaceful cities. For example, the Airspace Control System (Air Traffic Control System) allows you to create a continuous radar coverage and monitor the air situation in real time, identifying all types of targets from aircraft to ultra-small UAVs.
– Along with aerial drones, ground-based ones are actively developing in the world. Do Russian engineers have something to answer?
– Do not hesitate – we will answer. We are creating a large range of land complexes. These are remote mine clearance machines and other systems. I will say more: some samples of robots are already used in combat and confirm the inherent characteristics.
I would like to mention the Dispatch project as a successful example. This is a combat ground–based complex with a universal design for solving a wide range of tasks - from transport to shock with appropriate equipment. It is maneuverable, compact. It can be used where it is difficult to use conventional equipment. For example, in urban development. In addition, it is very difficult to detect it in an open area, where it can move easily and unnoticeably. And most importantly, the "Dispatch" saves the lives of the fighters, greatly facilitating the fulfillment of tasks.
Oleg Falichev
