A striking example - the fate of the aircraft industryPublished statistics on the structure of Russian exports. It turned out that the share of technological goods is a few percent. If at the beginning of the “market reforms” exports to 43% were mineral resources, nowadays this figure has exceeded 70%.
What is the reason for the technological lag in Russia? Why are negative trends growing?
Vyacheslav Nikolaevich Tetekin, a member of the State Duma Committee on Defense, comments on these questions.
Domestic aviation mechanical engineering is almost destroyed
- The published figures are not surprising. In Russia, a line has been drawn for a long time to consciously suffocate domestic engineering and manufacturing industries. When they say that Russia has become a power sitting on an export-raw needle, this is usually portrayed as the result of the actions of elemental, spontaneous forces. They say that there are factors beyond human control. But in fact, the dependence on imports and, accordingly, raw materials export dependence are the results of a very specific government policy.
I will cite the facts from the field I am most involved in, that is, from aeronautical engineering. More than 20 years ago, in the late USSR, we provided about 30% of the global air transportation market by our own aircraft. Today, only 1% of the world's air cargo is carried by Russian-made aircraft, and even then it is still Soviet aircraft.
Nothing new is now practically produced, besides, production of competitive models IL-96 and Tu-204 / 214 is curtailed. And the An-148 joint project with Ukraine is almost no longer underway. Remains the notorious "Superjet", which on 70-80% consists of imported components. Domestic aviation engineering almost destroyed, and this was not an accident. This is done in the interests of foreign competitors in the Russian manufacturing industry.
In the agrarian country instantly appeared powerful processing complex
If it goes on like this, the non-raw material share of our exports will drop to zero. The restoration of the manufacturing industry is possible only with a change in the socio-economic course, and this also implies personnel changes.
Now taxation is arranged in such a way that it actually stifles domestic engineering and creates more favorable conditions for foreign products. As a result, buying a domestic plane is more expensive than a foreign one. If economic policy is structured in this way, then what can we expect? Can we expect a revival of domestic engineering?
There were no scientists, engineers, technicians or skilled workers in the 30s. There was no production or energy capacity. But in 1941, a powerful industry emerged in the USSR, capable of creating modern types of weapons at that time. In the agrarian country, a powerful processing complex appeared almost instantly.
Now there is everything, and more precisely, for the present there is everything that is needed: science, engineers, workers and production base. The only thing we lack is state will.