Uralvagonzavod: the manufacturer of Armat breaks records of MIC

Three Kazan representatives of ''conventional arms''

According to the register of the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade, in our country there are 99 companies associated with the industry of conventional arms.

The total turnover of the companies in 2015 was 293 billion rubles. This data is based on the indicators of 75 companies — another 24 companies have not released the revenue figures. In 2014, the turnover of the companies was higher — 309 billion rubles. However, there the number of companies that disclosed their data was more — 84. The turnover of the industry decreased by 5%.

Out of 99 companies in the list, only three ones are registered in Kazan.

Russian top 10: Shvabe and Uralvagonzavod

The largest company in Russia related to conventional arms by turnover in 2015 was the famous Uralvagonzavod in Nizhny Tagil or, to be more exact, the scientific production corporation Uralvagonzavod named after Dzerzhinsky.

The company's turnover in 2015 was about 54.9 billion rubles. Compared to the result in 2014, it declined by a quarter — it amounted to 74.1 billion rubles. The corporation Uralvagonzavod was founded in 2007, the parent company is Uralvagonzavod in Nizhny Tagil. The corporation includes more than 35 enterprises, including factories of railway equipment, armoured repair plants, the design bureau of car building and other enterprises. The company, in particular, is the producer of modern tanks T-14 Armata, first shown at the parade in Moscow on the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Victory. In September, the tanks began to enter into service, the contract was about for 100 cars.

Until recently, the company was independent and was not part of any large holding. However, at the end of 2016, Vladimir Putin ordered to transfer all shares of Uralvagonzavod to the state corporation Rostec. A few days ago, it was reported that Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of Russia Aleksander Potapov will replace Oleg Sienko on the post of Director General of Uralvagonzavod.

A few days ago, it was reported that Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of Russia Aleksander Potapov will replace Oleg Sienko on the post of Director General of Uralvagonzavod. Photo: arms-expo.ru

The second place by turnover in the sphere of the industry of conventional arms is taken by the Degtyarev Plant in Kovrov, Vladimir Oblast. The turnover of this enterprise in 2015 was two times lower than of Uralvagonzavod — 27.5 billion rubles. In 2014, the Degtyarev Plant's figure was by 12% higher — 24.4 billion. The plant was established during the First World War, in 1916, as the Kovrov machine-gun factory. Now the plant produces weapons for the air force, navy and ground forces for the armies of 17 countries, including the man-portable anti-aircraft missile Igla, the anti-tank guided missile Kornet-EM, the anti-personnel grenade launcher AGS-30.

The third place is taken by the Arzamas Machine-Building plant in Nizhniy Novgorod Oblast. In 2015, the company's revenue amounted to 14 billion rubles, it is by 16% more than in 2014, when the turnover amounted to only 12 billion rubles. The company was founded in 1967 as a motor components plant. Until the 1980s, the factory produced spare parts for GAZ, later it started production of special equipment. Now the plant manufactures armoured vehicles, the famous armoured car Tiger, as well as other vehicles based on them.

The scandals with Motovilikha Plants

The fourth place by turnover in 2015 was taken by the Kurgan mechanical engineering plant. The revenue was almost at the same level as in the Arzamas machine-building plant — 11 billion rubles. A year before, the turnover was less, but only by 1%. The company was founded in 1950, in 1954 the plant switched to the production of crawler tractors. Since 1967 and until today it has the serial production of infantry fighting vehicles. The company is the only Russian manufacturer of infantry fighting vehicles.

The fifth place — the oldest arms plant of Russia — the Tula Arms Plant. It was founded in 1712 by a decree of Peter I. By the beginning of the 20th century, the plant arranged serial production of hunting rifles. During the Great Patriotic War, it produced rifles, the air gun Shvak, the revolver of the Nagant system and the pistol of Tokarev system. Now the company produces anti-tank guided missile 9М113М, the compact rifle AM, AS rifle, special sniper rifle VSS, self-loading special pistol 7.62 mm, the Kalashnikov. The company's turnover in 2015 amounted to slightly less than 10 billion rubles, compared with 2014 this indicator increased 2.7 times.

The sixth place with the figure like almost Tula arms factory's — Perm PJSC of special machinery and metallurgy Motovilikha Plants. The company's turnover in 2015 amounted to 9.6 billion rubles, compared to 2014 it increased 2.3 times. It was founded in 1736 as Motovilikha copper foundry. Now the company produces weapons such as self-propelled artillery gun Vena and the reactive system of volley fire Smerch. Earlier, Motovilikha Plants were controlled by former state Duma deputy and former city Manager of Kazan Marat Zagidullov. Subsequently, Director General of the company Nikolay Bukhvalov turned to the head of the Investigative Committee of Russia Alexander Bastrykin with the statement, stating that the actions of Zagidullov for issuing loans to legal entities resulted in the loss at approximately 1.3 billion rubles. Later, in 2016, the leadership of Motovilikha Plants was joined by former managers of KAMAZ.

Earlier, Motovilikh Plants were controlled by former state Duma deputy and former city Manager of Kazan Marat Zagidullov. Photo: kraskichemi.ru

How Kalashnikov and children of Shvabe divided the top

The seventh place by turnover in 2015 is taken by the Krasnogorsk plant named after Zverev in Moscow Oblast. That time it amounted to 8.9 billion rubles — it is 16% more than in 2014 when it amounted to 7.6 billion rubles. The company was founded in 1942, mainly producing opto-mechanical devices for defence purposes. Later, the factory produced the most popular cameras Zenit, cameras Krasnogorsk, surveillance and sighting systems. Now the company belongs to the holding company Shvabe. In its turn, it is run by Rostec, unites key enterprises of the optoelectronic industry in Russia. Basically, Krasnogorsky plant produces optical sights, sighting systems, optical-electronic equipment. However, one can find the online shop, where it is offered to buy film SLR cameras at a price two or three thousand rubles.

The eighth place — the Central Research Institute of Automatics and Hydraulics in Moscow. The company's turnover in 2015 was 8.8 billion rubles. Compared with the figure of 2014, revenue grew by 3%. The company was founded in 1949 to produce high-precision servo systems and actuators guidance for advanced weapons systems of the army and navy. Now the company produces the systems of control and guidance, hydraulic machinery, high-pressure lines, means of measurement.

The ninth place is taken by the Kalashnikov Concern in Izhevsk. The turnover in 2015 amounted to 8.2 billion rubles. Compared with 2014, the figure increased 2.8 times. The company is the largest manufacturer of combat automatic and sniper weapons, guided artillery shells. The concern owns three brands — Kalashnikov (fighting and civil weapon), Baikal (hunting and civil weapon), IZHMASH (sports weapon). Before 2013, the company was called the scientific production association IZHMASH, until 1975 — the Izhevsk machine-building plant.

The Vologda optical-mechanical plant rounds out the top ten leaders among the companies associated with the industry of conventional arms. The company's turnover in 2015 amounted to 8.1 billion rubles. In 2014, it was almost a quarter less — 6.6 billion rubles. The company, as well as the Krasnogorsk plant named after Zverev, is part of the holding Shvabe. The company produces electro-optical, thermal imaging products, optical-electronic devices for medical and civil purposes. Products are exported to 21 countries. The plant was founded in 1971, in 1977 it entered the Leningrad optical and mechanical union named after Lenin (LOMO). In 1986, it split from LOMO.

The concern owns three brands — Kalashnikov, Baikal, IZHMASH. Photo: Maksim Platonov

Growth records of KOMZ and ''children'' of the Leningrad State Optical Mechanical plant (GOMZ)

In the register of organisations of the military-industrial complex of Russia associated with the industry of conventional arms, there are only three Kazan companies. They are Kazan Optical-Mechanical Plant (KOMZ), the scientific development and production centre State Institute of Applied Optics and the Shvabe Technology Laboratory.

The largest enterprises of Kazan — the Kazan Optical-Mechanical Plant. It takes the 23rd place in Russia by turnover in 2015. It amounted to 4.22 billion rubles. Compared with 2014, the turnover of the company showed record growth — almost 4 times. In 2014, the figure of the plant amounted to only 1.1 billion. KOMZ is currently the only serial manufacturer of observation optical devices in Russia. The factory was founded in 1940. In 1941, KOMZ merged with the Leningrad GOMZ due to the evacuation of the plant. Now the company produces binoculars, monoculars, rifle scopes and spotting scopes, night vision devices and magnifiers, microscopes, rangefinders, refractometers.

The second place among Kazan companies and 34th in Russia is taken by the scientific production association State Institute of Applied Optics. In 2015, the company's turnover amounted to 2.1 billion rubles. During the year, it increased by more than a third — from 1.5 billion rubles. The enterprise, like some of those already mentioned, is included in the holding Shvabe. The Institute was founded in 1957. The company is engaged in comprehensive fundamental and applied research, develops and manufactures optoelectronic systems. The detailed information on the activities of the enterprise is not disclosed — it is known that the institute is involved in the development of thermal devices for anti-tank missiles, as well as optoelectronic module for the Russian heavy drone.

The institute is engaged in comprehensive fundamental and applied research, develops and manufactures optoelectronic systems. Photo: Maksim Platonov

However, several days ago, they released the information on the financial performance in 2016: the figures rose sharply — profits from sales doubled, and turnover increased one a half times.

The Shvabe Technological Laboratory rounds out the top three of the Kazan companies of the industry of conventional arms. The company takes the 56th place in the national ranking with the turnover in 2015 of 564 million rubles. For the year, the Shvabe Technological Laboratory raised this figure by 15% from 489 million rubles. Until 2014, the company was also included in the Shvabe, it was called the central design bureau Foton. It was established in 1941 on the basis of the design department of the evacuated Leningrad GOMZ. Now the company is the developer of optical and optoelectronic products for the marine, monitoring devices, analytical devices.