At the same time pleasant and disturbing are news from the mass of the military-industrial enterprises. Often they are forced to seek help from citizens possessing certain skills. For example, the other day the Sevmash plant complained about the lack of workers and immediately announced the start of recruitment for 60 vacancies. Similar messages are coming from other companies in the industry. The reason for these requests for help is almost always the same: factories are loaded with orders and simply cannot cope with them with the available forces. This year, the state allocated more than two trillion rubles for the purchase of weapons and military equipment, and not all defense factories can “get used” to the new load. Nevertheless, the current recruitment of workers speaks directly about the good prospects of the entire rearmament state program.
As a matter of fact, it is this state program, calculated up to 2020 of the year, that is the cause of all or almost all positive phenomena in the armed forces. Other measures are also being taken, but all of them are somehow related to an increase in funding. For example, to improve the efficiency of defense enterprises and to optimize a number of technical issues, a so-called system is being created. cross-cutting contracts. This means that the contract between the military and the industrialists will now stipulate not only the supply of weapons or equipment, but also their maintenance, repair and even recycling. This will help avoid a number of characteristic problems, as well as help enterprises with load planning. Signing an end-to-end contract will actually allow the plant to distribute its production capabilities in advance and, if necessary, prepare for future production growth or new orders.
An injection of money into the armed forces and, as a result, financing of the defense industry will be useful for both parties. So, now on the stocks of various shipyards there are several diesel-electric submarines of project 636, missile boats of project 21631 and several other types of equipment. Of particular note is the successful implementation of the 955 Borey project. Not so long ago in operation of the Russian Navy fleet the lead submarine of this project was adopted, the second and third ships are being tested, another one is under construction and two new submarines will be laid this year. In addition, by the end of the year, the deployment of full-fledged serial production of R-30 Bulava missiles intended for arming new submarines is expected.
Keep up with shipbuilders and sailors aviation industry and military pilots. Just a few days ago, for the first time, Ka-52 attack helicopters intended for the troops of the Southern Military District took off. In the coming weeks or even days, these machines will be transferred to the combat unit. Further supplies of the Ka-52 to the South-East Military District will continue, because the current order involves the construction of one and a half hundred such helicopters, and in the future production may be extended. The smaller order currently being executed concerns the production and supply of the Su-35S fighter belonging to the 4 ++ generation. Until 2015, the air force will receive 48 such aircraft, and in the future, according to the Ministry of Defense, it is possible to sign another contract for the next five years.
Regardless of the final number of Su-35C fighters, in the next few years, tests of the new aircraft that will replace it will be completed. The promising fighter of the fifth generation T-50 already exists and flies in four copies and at the beginning of this year made the first flight of long duration. In addition, two more prototypes of the T-50 are being built, which will also participate in the trials. It is also worth remembering the joint Russian-Indian project FGFA, which is the export version of the T-50. Despite being in the early stages, it is already attracting the attention of foreign buyers. So, a few months ago, the Peruvian military showed a willingness to purchase some FGFA. According to their calculations, only three new fighters will be enough to contain or fight the armed forces of neighboring countries.
Simultaneously with the creation of new designs, domestic aircraft manufacturers are working on the development of old ones. For example, the Irkut corporation this or next year promises to present a light attack aircraft based on the Yak-130 training aircraft. It is early to talk about the prospects of such an aircraft, but the experience of some foreign countries allows us to hope for a good future.
The ground forces, unfortunately, do not have as many reasons for pride as the Navy or Air Force. All their hopes are connected with new universal platforms, which will become the basis of the next years armored vehicles. Not so long ago, during a meeting of the leaders of the Ministry of Defense and defense enterprises, the public image was an image of an unfinished armored hull machine "Kurganets". Judging by the type of metal construction, the tests can begin as early as this year. A little later, the first tank of the Armat platform will be built, which in the future will become the main heavily armed armored vehicle of our army.
In the meantime, ground troops receive new armored personnel carriers BTR-82A, as well as carry out modernization of the old equipment with the replacement of equipment and weapons. New products in the field of ground-based equipment include the delivery of new vehicles for the airborne troops planned for this year. After several years of disputes and mutual accusations, the command of the armed forces and the General Staff finally came to a common opinion. Until the end of this year, the Airborne Forces will receive ten BMD-4М airborne combat vehicles and Rakushka armored personnel carriers. According to the results of the operation of these machines in the troops, a decision will be made on further purchases.
In addition to orders and obtaining new weapons and equipment, our army recently can boast of other things. For example, the level of training of military personnel is growing. Last year, the average raid of air force pilots continued to increase. This indicator reached a mark in 125-130 hours. Other measures are also being taken to train personnel, such as the recent transfer of several ground formations with subsequent maneuvers. Although the command was not entirely satisfied with the results of these exercises, a very large temporary interruption, which took place from the last such operation, can be considered a sufficient explanation of the existing problems.
Moral and patriotic measures are being taken. Currently, the issue of transferring the legendary cruiser Aurora back to the Navy with subsequent repair is being resolved. Starting this year, cadets from Nakhimov and Suvorov schools will again participate in parades on Red Square dedicated to Victory Day. In recent years, they had to watch the solemn march from the side, but now the leadership of the military department decided to return the future military to the direct participants in the solemn events. Finally, their own film studio, disbanded several years ago, may soon return to the Ministry of Defense. The responsibilities of this organization, as before, will include the creation of training and campaign films for the army.
In general, recent years have been a period of fundamental change in the development of the Russian armed forces. After the hopeless nineties and encouraging, but not too pleasing, the two thousandth, our country finally had the opportunity to pay the necessary attention to the army. This means that over the next few years, the combat potential of the army will continue to grow and Russia will remain under reliable protection from attacks from air, land, water and space.