Interview with the former director of the Plant. Malysheva Vadim Fedosov
Interview with the former director of the Plant. Malysheva Vadim Fedosov (recorded the day before his dismissal- V.Ch.)The whole structure of the Ministry of Defense should be changed
Kharkov is the only city in the world where there are six enterprises capable of producing military equipment. Meanwhile, during the ATO, the country's largest producer tanks, plant named after Malyshev, did not receive a single order from the Ministry of Defense. While soldiers on the front lines are praying for reinforcements, over 500 tanks are gathering dust at the Armored Plant. Moreover, half of them are on the move, and in the very near future they could help the army.
Who is behind the constant threats to the mining of the flagship of the domestic tank construction, why does the company have wage arrears, how strong are the separatist sentiments in the enterprise? We are talking about this and many other things with the already ex-general director of the Malyshev plant, Vadim Fedosov. (the interview was recorded the day before his dismissal - V.Ch.)
- How do you explain that telephone terrorists constantly call and report on the mining of the Malyshev plant?
- I believe that this is the machinations of our opponents, who do not like, that the production of armored vehicles for the Ukrainian army can be deployed here. Although the plant currently produces equipment mainly for export contracts.
- What does the plant do to support the army?
- According to the plans of the Cabinet of Ministers, in connection with the ATO, we had to be loaded with orders. However, despite the fact that this year the plant reached the maximum productivity mode due to export contracts, we did not receive a single order from the Ministry of Defense.
Now we have two customers for the export of the Asian-African direction, thanks to which the growth dynamics has been significantly increased. Currently, on the orders of the Minister of the Interior, we are developing body armor. I think we will get good products. This is ordinary armor, but it has a differentiated level of thickness, fits the body tightly in geometry and has a different nature of heat treatment. These are body armor 5-6 protection class, which will be at a cost of no more than 1 thousand dollars.
- How do you explain that there is not a single order for tanks?
- This is due solely to the incapacity of the Ministry of Defense to make decisions quickly. The Ministry of Defense itself is substantially regulated by legislative acts. In order to make a decision, you need to hold a bunch of events: from tenders to testing, review, analysis.
- However, there is a war and the situation requires an immediate response.
- Yes, but there is a nuance. The war has not been officially declared, and therefore the simplifying procedure, unfortunately, is valid only in a limited segment that does not belong to the Ministry of Defense. National Guard is acting in new ways. Decisions are made quickly and efficiently. Despite the bureaucratic delays, they receive equipment for their armament, which saves a large number of lives of their soldiers, and the Defense Ministry does not break through.
- But during the war it is criminal. How do you think the situation can be changed?
- Probably, the new Minister of Defense in a short time has not yet been able to understand the situation, but I believe that the entire structure of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine needs to be changed and reformatted anew.
- What resources can increase the number of armored vehicles in the ATO area?
- The quantitative indicator is important, but not key. The army does not need such expensive tanks as the Oplot. It is necessary to conduct a very fast, cheap, extensive modernization and restoration of armored vehicles. This is a tank T-64, which we have in sufficient numbers in the park. But again, the main role is played by the professionalism of the crew, platoon, company, battalion, which can act together. In our country, the level of decomposition of the army has reached its apogee, which we are now seeing.
- As far as I know, there are tanks at the Panzer Plant, which could soon be sent to the front.
- Yes, there are almost 500 units of armored vehicles. Of these, quickly enough can be restored to half. And in the baseline for 3 week, and with proper funding and work in three shifts, even faster.
There is another point. We can release cars in large quantities, but who will drive them? For example, during the war, the Germans trained their crews for about six months. And before that, they had already fought, they were transplanted to the "Tigers" and only after 6 months of training sent to the front.
The Malyshev plant can now supply equipment for the war. We have opportunities for this, technical means, specialists. What is lacking is the will of the top managers, who would say: “We must!”
- All those who are now on the front line in one voice say that armored vehicles in the ATO area are really not enough. Who or what prevents to properly provide the army?
- Not enough serviceable technology. In general, it is enough, but it requires repair. No ready-made equipment for use. The reason is that the peace-loving policy of Ukraine reached the point where there were programs for reducing armored forces to 400 units. In Israel, 2700 was armed with tanks, and we had a focus on the UK, where about the same as ours. In accordance with this was a security system. A special blow to the armed forces was inflicted when they replaced the Soviet way of forming system support for tank forces with a logistics system that was approaching the western model. We left the Russian system, but did not formulate our own. Full repair companies and battalions disappeared. They are, but only on paper. There are no specialists, technical support, spare parts, fuel, equipment. At the initial stage of the ATO, 40 brigades were formed that carried out the restoration of technology. Including they were from the plant Malysheva. Although it is not our function. Now there are fewer such brigades. If the mechanic can change the engine, tracks, gearbox with the help of a repair company, then professionals are needed to repair the block electronics or optics system, which is located in the tower.
- What are the capabilities of the plant now?
- In 80-ies, the plant was focused on the maximum number of production of 4200 tanks per year in wartime. We can now produce less than 50. Machines 200 level overhaul and upgrades are quite able to do. Already since the fourth quarter we can launch this program. If they give a lot of money, we'll start tomorrow. If the T-64 tank was produced from scratch, it would have cost 1,5 million dollars, and now its sales price is 300 thousand dollars.
- What new developments are now being conducted by the company?
- T-64 BV can be significantly improved for very little money. The tank "Oplot" is 15 times more expensive than the T-64, and its effectiveness is the highest in 2 times. Today in Ukraine we have created tanks close to the conditions of the Second World War, not looking at the fact that now the system of radio electronics and optics has gone far ahead. Previously, the orientation was on the oncoming battle. In war zones of low intensity or conducting local combat operations in populated areas, such armament of a tank does not correspond to tactical expediency. We can not hit the upper floors, and the upper hemisphere is the affected area for an ordinary anti-tank grenade. Therefore, we establish a new type of dynamic protection, onboard booking, constructively changing the car. Instead of a machine gun we install more serious things.
- What do you have now with the export?
- The number of export orders is constantly increasing. Sometimes there are more than we can meet in 6-8 times. After 2008, the market grew sharply. We work systematically with Pakistan, China.
- So, the money should be?
- Not all the money comes to us. Ukrspetsexport takes an average of 25-27%, sometimes up to 45%. In order to fulfill the scope of work offered under these contracts, we need to increase the number of workers tenfold. Now the factory employs 2700 people. We do not have such a level
specialists, equipment. Depreciation of the main production means 94%, whereas in the USSR the plant was liquidated or sent for restructuring at 65%. We from 16,5 thousand machines 11,5 thousand completely do not fit.
We have a restructuring plan. For this we need to decrease in 4,5 times. Due to the sale of unnecessary assets, we could throw all this into the main production, buy new equipment, reduce costs, and switch to other energy saving systems. But we are not allowed to do this. All overgrown with long legal-bureaucratic delays.
- The last time people received a salary for May. What is the reason?
- With the fact that the policy of the state concern Ukroboronprom in 2014, compared with 2013, has changed a lot. If last year, realizing our difficult situation, Ukroboronprom presented a loan in total for 116 million UAH. with the return that in the dry residue was for us 83 million UAH, then in the 2014 year we were not only not given loans, but even in May we took 23 million UAH. Allegedly, what we owe for the past year. Our company is not systemically funded.
- It seems that someone is specifically beneficial to the largest tank factory in Ukraine has ceased to exist?
- Russia already in the 2012 year put an end to the enterprise, and no one expected that we will start producing tanks again. Therefore, let's say, the problem component can take place here.
- How pro-Russian are your employees?
- 22% of people working at the plant have basic Russian citizenship. They moved here at the end of 80's beginning of the 90's. Much of these people are separatist. They think that if the Russian army enters here, the situation will improve. But everything will be exactly the opposite. We with Russia in the tank sector are tough competitors. Therefore, they do not need the plant named after Malyshev, and they will simply close it. We hinder them greatly. All attempts to establish cooperation with Russia, starting with 2005, have been in vain. We could not not sell, did not buy a single nut. Believe me, we invisibly feel the presence of Russian special services here.
- How do you assess the possibility of a full-scale invasion of Russian troops on the territory of Ukraine?
- It all depends on the psychological state of the president of Russia. In order to carry out the operation effectively, they must concentrate not 50 thousand people, but at least 600 thousand. This group would allow them to go no further than Poltava. Although Kharkov could probably take. But we do not have Georgia and not Chechnya. Here they will be confronted, including the Russians. Putin in this case is waiting for an intense guerrilla war. Western restrictions will also be lifted, and we will get high-tech weapon. The Kremlin must not forget - we are not a banana republic. We have a serious, albeit strongly undermined military, and Russia is vulnerable. So we will fight, and ultimately win!
- How do you explain that telephone terrorists constantly call and report on the mining of the Malyshev plant?
- I believe that this is the machinations of our opponents, who do not like, that the production of armored vehicles for the Ukrainian army can be deployed here. Although the plant currently produces equipment mainly for export contracts.
- What does the plant do to support the army?
- According to the plans of the Cabinet of Ministers, in connection with the ATO, we had to be loaded with orders. However, despite the fact that this year the plant reached the maximum productivity mode due to export contracts, we did not receive a single order from the Ministry of Defense.
Now we have two customers for the export of the Asian-African direction, thanks to which the growth dynamics has been significantly increased. Currently, on the orders of the Minister of the Interior, we are developing body armor. I think we will get good products. This is ordinary armor, but it has a differentiated level of thickness, fits the body tightly in geometry and has a different nature of heat treatment. These are body armor 5-6 protection class, which will be at a cost of no more than 1 thousand dollars.
- How do you explain that there is not a single order for tanks?
- This is due solely to the incapacity of the Ministry of Defense to make decisions quickly. The Ministry of Defense itself is substantially regulated by legislative acts. In order to make a decision, you need to hold a bunch of events: from tenders to testing, review, analysis.
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