Weapons for bananas Why the quality of Russian weapons is reduced, and exports are growing
Every year the statistics fixes the growth of Russian sales. weapons, especially abroad. For example, in 2012, arms exports reached $ 13 billion, and international contracts reached $ 17,6 billion. But the main secret of Russian military exports is that this is far from always real money. And well, if for Tanks and fighters pay barter with beef or laptops. For some reason, responsible officials go to much stranger deals in which Russia's interests are not traced at all."MiGs" for figs
This has been the case since the Soviet times, when the USSR accounted for 40% of the world arms market. By the beginning of the restructuring, the country supplied arms to 20 billion dollars abroad, but real currency receipts amounted to 10% - this was officially recognized during the Yeltsin era. The Third World, on which the Union’s military exports were oriented, was used to this.
Yes, and why would he wean? In 1992–1994 64 Pacific warships fleet sold abroad at the price of scrap metal. The aircraft-carrying cruisers Novorossiysk and Minsk went to China for $ 9 million (a new aircraft carrier already cost a billion), along with the latest air defense systems, radar and navigation equipment. And even the documentation did not forget to attach! Where 72 T-90 tanks went, which officially drowned when crossing the Terek in the first Chechen campaign, is unknown. And the authorities to this day do not want to find out. So, there is a certain continuity that foreign observers must have noted. In Russia, miracles are possible if we distinguish between the interests of the state and the personal interests of an official.
For the post-Soviet 15 years, China has bought weapons from Russia for 20 billion dollars. There are Su-27 and Su-30, S-300PMU and Tor-M1 airplanes, Kilo submarines, tons of missiles and ammunition. The Celestial Empire received a license for a part of the weapons purchased and now quietly stamps it on its own enterprises. Russia in return found a stew, puff, toys, calculators and other consumer goods, which were yet to be transported, customs cleared and sold.
“From the point of view of the state, such transactions are unprofitable, and for the official this is the golden bottom, because a sea of unrecorded cash is formed,” says economist Andrey Bliznets. - You can write off thousands of tons of chicken legs as spoiled. And this is in the nineties, when state control was almost zero! It was not for nothing that the authorities began to investigate something in the monopoly Rosvooruzheniye right before the elections, when cash was required. And so none of her bosses and not planted.
It is not surprising that the barter scheme moved to the new century: Malaysia, Ethiopia, Brazil, Vietnam, Thailand in 2000 – 2006. could only offer rice, coffee, chicken legs, etc. for Russian weapons In 2004, Indonesia paid for the military property with “palm oil and its components.” But Rosoboronexport (the successor to Rosvooruzheniye) improved the old approach. There are, for example, Syria - the largest buyer of domestic weapons, who never paid for it. By the middle of 2000, a debt of 15 billion was generated. And then President Bashar Asad suggested that Moscow write off old debts and issue loans for new purchases of Russian weapons. Rave? In the men's company for such arrogance and you can get in the face. Nevertheless, in 2005, Russia wrote off Syria’s weapon debts to almost 10 billion dollars and issued another 9,7 billion for new equipment purchases. A year later, the same topic took off with Algeria: they wrote off old debts for 4,7 billion and signed a new contract for the supply of T ‑ 90 tanks, Su-30 fighters, and the C1 armored missile systems, which appeared in the Russian army only in 2012 year It is likely that Iraq’s 10 billionth debt has been written off for new military supplies.
“Syria, Algeria, Iraq are oil-producing countries that have had a reputation as bona fide borrowers,” said political analyst Anna Rudaya. - China also pays cash to most weapons suppliers. Russia pays for military supplies in foreign currency, except the Gulf countries. But it’s too early to rejoice: the supply of our equipment to Iran in 2005 – 2007 caused economic sanctions from the US that hit the entire Russian economy.
Stayed with the Hunin
It would seem that everything should be the other way around: countries like Iran or Venezuela should seek the reciprocity of Rosoboronexport. First, Russian weapons are inexpensive. Secondly, who else will sell it to them? After all, cooperation in the military sphere with the United States, Britain or any other NATO country is ordered in principle to Iran. Until recently, the same was true of India, since the Americans supported Pakistan. Nevertheless, the example of the late Commander Hugo Chávez surpasses the wildest ideas of Russian selflessness.
From 2004 to 2011, Mr. Chavez visited Russia 9 once - and every time he was interested in weapons. As a prologue, 100 thousand Kalashnikov assault rifles went to Venezuela, and Russian experts set out to build two small arms factories. Then came the turn of the 24 Su-30MK, 45 Mi-17В-5, Mi-35М and Mi-26Т helicopters, 5 thous. SVD sniper rifles. Total for 2010 was accumulated on 6,6 billion dollars. And what about the calculations?
In the middle of 2006, the then CEO of Rosoboronexport said in an interview that "there is no barter in the payment." And Sergey Ladigin, the head of the regional department, confirmed that Chavez is paying for armament with “real money”. But by September, information had passed that the “scheme of unconventional calculations for a part of the supplied dual-use and military products” had been approved. It seems that in such a situation and barter is not so bad: after all, Venezuela is the largest oil producing country in the world. However, by December it turned out that barter was the drain on Russian 13 companies of thousands of sludge barns in eastern Venezuela. "Barns", in fact, are "dead lakes" of oil spilled around the fields. From the post-war times they were afraid to approach them - the expenses are mad. And then the Russians came with a proposal to clean everything up, and the profit received (!) To pay themselves for the weapons already delivered.
Of course, barns today in the same places. And Russian officials from 2007 are trumpeting that LUKOIL, TNK-BP, Rosneft, Surgutneftegaz and Gazpromneft have formed a consortium that will develop the richest oil fields in the Orinoco river basin. This is what a bright export of capital! Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin explained that the consortium is needed, because the oil is “heavy” and one company will not pull such expenses. The oil workers started talking that work in Venezuela does not promise any profits at all: the oil is sulphurous, its refining is expensive, and transportation in general is not very real. And if it were not for the Kremlin’s political reasons, they wouldn’t have a foot in South America. However, Sechin announced the readiness of the Russian side to invest 30 billion dollars in the development of the Junin-6 field. Only for the right to participate in this project immediately paid 1 billion "green". The representative of the state "Gazpromneft" Yuri Levin said that the Russians are going to invest in the social programs of Venezuela. And the Moscow Housing Fund entered the project “The Great Mission of Housing” to build residential buildings in Caracas with the money of taxpayers in the capital of Russia.
Cuban rake
The main question is when the hair has stood on end: is it possible out of ignorance? Is it possible with a pure heart to send money and the latest weapons abroad, knowing that they will never pay for it. Indeed, after the collapse of the Union, almost no “friendly country” returned a penny from those debts. And our government has written off everything and starts feeding them again. Why? Where is the logic here?
After all, the USSR had no greater friend than Fidel Castro. And no country of the social camp received more weapons, money, goods from Moscow than Cuba. But in 1992, Mr. Fidel said that he owed nothing to Russia, but on the contrary, she owed 30 billion to Cuba "for disrupting cooperation." I mean, after the collapse of the country, we stopped feeding Cubans. And Castro and Chavez were great friends. And where is the guarantee that the Kremlin will not step on the same rake in Venezuela today, where the nationalization of foreign property has long been in fashion? After all, the money of Gazprom and Rosneft, at least formally, belong to taxpayers.
Today, the cost of military contracts signed by Russia and Venezuela is estimated at 11 billion dollars. The “breakthrough” occurred when Caracas, to the delight of the Kremlin, recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia: here both loans and new investments in the Venezuelan economy. Russian companies are already participating in five oil production projects, but in none of them have more than 40%. "Participate" - this means investing huge funds in the preparation for production. The media reported that on his deathbed, Chavez allegedly bequeathed to take care of contacts with the Chinese as the apple of his eye, but said nothing about Russia. By the way, the Chinese, in exchange for their loans, are already receiving Venezuelan oil, and the Russian consortium will start production not earlier than in 3 – 4 of the year.
It is reported that Venezuela does not lose interest in the most modern models of Russian weapons. So, no one would be surprised if the South American army gets them before the Russian. Or even in its place. After all, no one clutched his head when the Defense Ministry decided to donate 2008 MiG-10 fighters to Lebanon by removing them from combat duty in the Russian Air Force and upgrading it at their own expense. In 29, they decided to donate Mi-2010 helicopters instead of MiGs. Of course, this technique is no longer new, but the meaning of such operations for ordinary Russians is hardly understandable.
Plus the opacity of transactions. In 2010, a representative of Rosoboronexport denied selling the 12 MiG-29 to Sudan, but soon the fact of the deal was confirmed by the Minister of Defense of this African country. Today, MiG Corporation has current contracts for 90 – 100 fighters MiG-29. Over the past 20 years, the corporation has shipped 150 fighters abroad for 4 billion dollars. But in 2012, MiG's net loss amounted to more than 30 million dollars, and the total debt was recently estimated by some media in 1,7 billion!
How is this possible? Indeed, in 2009, MiG became one of the main recipients of anti-crisis assistance: The Ministry of Defense spent 900 million dollars on the purchase of 34 MiG-29 for the Russian Air Force. Another 1 billion contributed from the budget to the share capital. The corporation does not like to comment on the topic of debts, although their appearance was not without scandals. For example, 290 million dollars on new aircraft arrived from India in 1997, and disappeared in an unknown direction. The MiGs were not supplied under the contract, the Ministry of Finance was paying off with the Indians, who simply wrote off this debt hanging on the corporation.
From Irkut Corporation, which produces Su-30 fighters, 2005 left thousands of people in 5 (one third of the team), although by that time the order book for new “Drying” exceeded 5 billion dollars. High turnover and the "Sukhoi". Although with the 2008 of JSC “Company Sukhoi” received orders for 280 new fighter for 12,7 billion dollars, some of the specialists have salaries for 20 – 25 thousand rubles. (700 – 800 "green"). In Izhevsk gunsmiths, producing Kalashnikov assault rifles, even less.
“Shares of defense enterprises belong to the state, arms manufacturers are completely dependent on orders from above,” says economist Dmitry Telnov. - They do not apply what they get from barter deals for the sale of missiles and airplanes. That such barter is still relevant is evidenced by the fact that Rosoboronexport was recently allowed to sell goods received for weapons on world markets without being imported into Russia. An equally serious problem is that defense enterprises, depending on the unpredictable consequences of barter, cannot develop normally and conduct business. Accordingly, the quality of Russian weapons is falling. It turns out a vicious circle. By agreeing to barter, we deprive enterprises of funds for development, for new developments. As a result, we lose the competition. And our goods for real money are already very few people need.
For example, military-technical cooperation with China is steadily declining. Experts say that the army of the Middle Kingdom needs modern technologies, and Russia is not ready for this. And today we are talking only about the supply of spare parts and joint scientific research. Moreover, China has long become a competitor of Russia in the arms market ... with Russian technologies! In July 2010, "MiG" and "Sukhoi" realized themselves: they blocked the supply to partners aviation RD-93 engines, which are installed on Chinese FC-1 fighters, are direct competitors of the MiG-29. But it’s too late: the MiG costs $ 30 million, while the Chinese counterpart costs $ 10 million. And the Z-10 combat helicopter, first presented at the 2012 air show in Zhuhai, turned out to be a copy of the Russian project 941, developed in 1995, but never really implemented.
Algeria refused the party "MiGs" because of inadequate quality - they were quickly redeemed for the Russian Air Force. India returned the aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Gorshkov upgraded for it. But, losing ground in the global arms market, Russia wants at any price to maintain the same production volumes. Because the authorities do not know how to effectively modernize the old factories, but they are afraid to close the workshops and dismiss tens of thousands of people. But, if the crisis is long to hide, it turns into a default. And if at the same time the country is full of weapons, it will definitely shoot.
Geography of Russian weapons
Today, Rosoboronexport supplies dozens of weapons to 60 countries of the world. But the main export of five unchanged since the days of the USSR. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, not a single model of military equipment was created in the country, which would be actively sold abroad. For example, in 2010, the press did not mention a single contract for the export of Russian naval equipment or air defense systems.
Today, Rosoboronexport supplies dozens of weapons to 60 countries of the world. But the main export of five unchanged since the days of the USSR. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, not a single model of military equipment was created in the country, which would be actively sold abroad. For example, in 2010, the press did not mention a single contract for the export of Russian naval equipment or air defense systems.
SU-30 - the first production aircraft in the world with super-maneuverability. Since 1992 has produced more than 420 machines, the price in 2013 has been 83 million dollars. Su-30 is able to fight away from airfields: it has a system for refueling in the air, advanced navigation systems, a wide range of equipment for actions in the group.
MiG-29 - A fourth-generation multipurpose fighter. More than 600 aircraft were produced, the price does not exceed 30 million dollars. In the Russian Air Force only about 240 MiGs are left; they are not planned to be modernized. Today, the aircraft is purchased by third world countries due to low prices. And Germany, which received the 24 MiG-29 in inheritance from the GDR, transferred them to Poland back in 2004.
T-90 "Vladimir" - Russian main battle tank, in 2001 – 2010. was the best selling tank in the world. In 2011, the price of T-90 was about 4 million, but since that time its purchase for the Russian army has been discontinued. Not counting the production under license in other countries, in Nizhny Tagil produced at least 1335 T-90 in different variations. And in the Indian army there are more of them than in the Russian - 700 versus 500.
Mi-24 - a classic transport and combat helicopter, which became famous during the war in Afghanistan, where it was called “Glass” and “Crocodile”. Produced more than 3,5 thousand copies, which are used in the armed forces of 45 countries of the world. And even in the US Army there are 3 – 5 copies for combat training programs.
7,62-mm Kalashnikov assault rifle –The base model was adopted in the 1949 year. The most common small arms in the world: every fifth barrel on Earth is a Kalash. According to various estimates, everything in the world exists from 70 to 105 million copies of various modifications of Kalashnikovs. They are adopted in the armies of 55 countries of the world. There are about 20 countries where the Kalashnikovs are licensed, as many have launched large-scale production without permission, and small handicraft industries are not amenable to counting. In 2004, Rosoboronexport and designer Mikhail Kalashnikov accused the United States of supplying the ruling regimes of Afghanistan and Iraq with counterfeit copies of AKs produced in China and Eastern Europe.
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