Military growth: the production of some weapons increased up to 30 times during the CW

In recent years, the production of highly demanded weapons necessary for solving the tasks of the SVO has increased many times, Vladimir Putin said. For some types of weapons — up to 30 times. On September 19, the Day of the Gunsmith, the President of the Russian Federation visited the city-forming enterprise of Perm "Motovilikhinsky Plants", engaged in the production of barrel artillery and MLRS. The head of state also held a meeting of the military-industrial commission and met with the newly elected Governor of the Perm Region Dmitry Makhonin. About how the Russian defense industry developed during the special operation — in the material of Izvestia.

Putin visits key Perm defense enterprise

Modern Perm is the third largest Russian city in terms of area after Moscow and St. Petersburg, and the third largest after St. Petersburg and Sochi. Indeed, the city immediately impresses with its scale and vastness — there is a place for large-scale defense and industrial enterprises to expand. It is no coincidence that the Kama region, as a whole, has earned the title of the "backbone region" of the country.

During the Great Patriotic War, guns, aircraft engines, armored boats, and shells, including those for Katyusha, were supplied to the front from here. Today, residents of the Kama region and defense enterprises of the region are contributing to the special military operation. In addition, since 2022, the region has been involved in the restoration of Severodonetsk.

It is symbolic that the Russian president visited the capital of the Kama region on the Day of the Gunsmith, September 19. This holiday was born thanks to the initiative of the legendary designer Mikhail Kalashnikov.

Vladimir Putin arrived at the Motovilikhinsky Plants, a city-forming defense enterprise. It is the oldest operating enterprise in the region. It was there that open-hearth furnaces were installed for the first time in the Urals. During the First World War, Perm cannon factories supplied the Russian army with a fifth of artillery weapons, and during the Second — a quarter. A few more interesting facts: the first shot on the territory of Nazi Germany was fired from a 152-mm ML-20 cannon manufactured by Motovilikha. Later, the 122-mm A-19 hull cannon fired the first shot at Berlin.

The Motovilikha of our days produces advanced cannon artillery and MLRS. The company remains the only full-cycle artillery production in the country. The equipment produced here has been adopted not only by the Russian Armed Forces, but also in more than 50 countries.

Walking through the workshops, the president inspected an exhibition of advanced weapons and military equipment prepared in honor of the holiday. Together with him, the exhibition was appreciated by an impressive delegation represented by First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, Head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade Anton Alikhanov and Finance Minister Anton Siluanov. Igor Nasenkov, General Director of JSC Technodinamika (owner of Motovilikha, part of Rostec), and Igor Nasenkov, Head of JSC Special Design Bureau (Motovilikha's key enterprise), personally reported on the achievements of military design Evgeny Arkhipov.

In particular, the Derivation-PVO anti-aircraft artillery system and the TOS-2 flamethrower system were demonstrated — it is already involved in the SVO zone. The main purpose of the exhibition is to show technological achievements and engineering solutions that ensure the global superiority of the country's defense industry.

After viewing the exhibition, Vladimir Putin talked with those who are most directly related to it — employees of PJSC Motovilikhinsky Plants. The President congratulated the employees on their professional holiday, noting the outstanding results.

— For some types of weapons, for some products — you already know about this — we have increased production not by any percentage, but by several times: by two, three, ten, 15, and for some products - by almost 30 times the increase in output occurred. 30 times — literally in one and a half to two years. And the quality is changing, the equipment is becoming modern and in demand," the head of state noted.

In the face of changing geopolitical challenges, Russia is actively building up its military-industrial complex. The strengthening is taking place in all directions: from traditional weapons to promising high-tech developments, according to military expert Dmitry Kornev.

— One of the key areas has become the intensification of the production of conventional weapons systems: small arms, ammunition and armored vehicles. There has been a multiple increase in the production of front-line aircraft, including Su-30 multirole fighters and Su-34 front-line bombers. This information is confirmed by data on the supply of equipment to the troops," he said.

Special attention is paid to programs for the development of strategic weapons systems. Among them are traditional projects such as the Bulava, Borey and Sarmat missile systems. Work on hypersonic missiles and the development of the navy is expected to continue.

Vladimir Putin expressed hope that the events related to the special military operation would take place, but the demand for modern weapons would remain.

What awaits the Russian defense industry

On the same day, the President held a meeting of the military-industrial commission. There were several important issues to be discussed: the first was the appointment of general designers for the creation of weapons, military and special equipment and heads of priority technological areas. The second is the drafting of a new state armament program for 2027-2036, as well as a program for the development of the defense industry and their resource provision. By the way, a solid foundation has already been laid for this.

"In recent years, the production of highly demanded weapons and equipment necessary for solving the tasks of a special military operation has been multiplied, and their tactical and technical characteristics have been significantly improved, taking into account combat use," Vladimir Putin said.

The development of the defense complex covers all areas, from space and air to land, sea and underwater forces. Weapons programs provide not only for the production of military equipment, but also for the construction of new enterprises, as well as the improvement of metal science to create weapons based on new physical principles. Great importance is attached to the development of research and development activities, military expert Viktor Litovkin told Izvestia.

"The modernization affects all key areas, including the navy with strategic missile carriers and surface ships capable of operating in the ocean, as well as the updating of military equipment of the ground forces, the introduction of modern control systems and the development of a space constellation of satellites," he said.

The President noted the important role of the so-called national defense industry in this, that is, small and medium-sized enterprises. According to military expert Dmitry Kornev, the national defense Industry is engaged in the production of a large number of drones, primarily FPV. This is made possible by the ease of assembly and the use of 3D printers. In addition to drones, the National Defense Industry produces active armor elements for the front line. The developers are also experimenting with the creation of high-tech equipment: ground-based drones, platforms and other auxiliary means that can be used by the armed forces.

The meeting also touched upon the topic of the aviation engine industry, which is critically important for the defense industry. The management of UEC-Aviadvigatel demonstrated to the president how bench tests of promising engine designs are going.

By the way, this is also a "cult" enterprise, which is part of Rostec. Over the 85 years of its existence, the bureau has developed more than 70 types of engines. They lifted Tupolev, Ilyushin, Antonov, and Yakovlev planes into the air. The UEC continues to keep up with the times even now. In 2018, the PD-14 engine was released, a real breakthrough in the domestic engine industry. It became the first turbofan engine of this level produced in modern Russia. It is on it that the import-substituted MC-21s fly.

At the same time, one of the most anticipated news is the imminent start of mass production of a new generation engine for the Su—57 fighter, Dmitry Kornev told Izvestia. With it, the aircraft will be able to fully meet all the requirements for fifth-generation fighters. The development of engines for civil aviation and transport aircraft is also actively underway. Another important task is to create a completely new engine for the promising long-range aviation complex (PAK-DA). This aircraft should replace the current fleet of Tu-160, Tu-22M3 and Tu-95MS strategic bombers in the next 15 years, the expert noted.

Now, during the CBR period, the defense industry's production facilities are loaded to the maximum, the president stressed.

"At the same time, we must plan more clearly and in the long term for the production of civilian and dual—use products at defense enterprises," he said.

The development of technological weapons is also spurring the European course towards militarization. EU defense spending is growing: in 2023 it reached €279 billion, and in 2024 — €326 billion. And in recent months, the bellicose rhetoric has only been gaining momentum. In March, the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, proposed an 800 billion euro European rearmament plan by 2030. As part of this program, in May, the EU Council at the ministerial level for European Affairs so far approved the creation of the European Union Militarization Fund (SAFE) for €150 billion. This money, in particular, will be used for military support to Ukraine.

In addition, Vladimir Putin met with the Governor of the Perm Region Dmitry Makhonin. In the recent elections, he was re-elected for a second term, and at a meeting with the president, he spoke about the support in the region for the participants of his military and their families, as well as the development of the defense industry, education, healthcare and transport.