"Need to do. Time will come"
This year, the great Russian gunsmith designer Arkady Shipunov would have turned 87 years
In April of last year, an outstanding scientist, designer and production organizer Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Arkady G. Shipunov passed away. He created and put on serial production dozens of samples of weapons and military equipment. Many of them still have no analogues in the world. The range of Shipunov’s developments is no equal: from pistols and sniper rifles to anti-aircraft missile-gun systems and combat modules. Many models are not only in service with the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, but are also exported to dozens of countries. Thanks to the management of the High-Precision Complexes holding, which organized the press tour to the Instrument Engineering Design Bureau, the newspaper “Military-Industrial Courier managed to get acquainted with the unique samples of the Russian weaponsdesigned by Arkady Shipunov, and see how they are produced.
The Kornet anti-tank missile system, the Pantsir anti-aircraft missile and cannon are now well known not only to domestic and foreign specialists, but also to the general public. At the same time, not everyone knows that on account of Arkady Shipunov and Vasily Gryazev the creation of a successful line of small arms, including large-caliber and special silent sniper rifles. And this is only a small part of Shipunov’s heritage.
Another facet of Shipunov's talent, revealed in the heavy 1990 and at the beginning of the 2000, is the rare ability to feel the market situation and correctly distribute the resources of the enterprise.
Death lightness
In the branch of the Tula Instrument Engineering Design Bureau - the Central Design Research Bureau of sporting and hunting weapons (TsKIB SOO), which develops and manufactures various shooting models, ranging from a pistol to sniper rifles and grenade launchers, as well as a wide range of ammunition, there is a unique room - the so-called technical cabinet This is essentially a museum, where not only domestic but also foreign models of small arms are collected for more than a century.
Designers of small arms come to this “cabinet” in order to see in practice and, so to speak, touch the technical solutions embedded in more or less well-known samples. And a special place here is occupied by the joint development of Arkady Shipunov and Vasily Gryazev.
“All samples of personal weapons, which were in service with the Red Army, the Soviet army and the Armed Forces of Russia, are created within our walls. Although to be completely accurate, they were initially developed at TsKB-14, which was later transformed into the Instrument Design Bureau, which became the subdivision of TsKIB SOO. It is enough to name the Makarov and Tokarev pistols, the Stechkin automatic pistol. People who bore these legendary names, worked in our company from the first to the last day of their activities. In addition to well-known products, there is also a line of pistols, which Igor Stechkin developed already in his mature years. This is the gun OTs-33, its next generation is OTs-23 in millimeter caliber 5,45 and OTs-27. But now these models have been replaced by the GSH-18 pistol, which is currently supplied to most security agencies, ”says Yury Amelin, head of the TsKIB SOO branch.
GSH-18 is a unique joint development of Arkady Shipunov and Vasily Gryazev, who decided, by creating a new gun, to move away from traditional technical solutions. It is noteworthy that the initials of its creators are ciphered in the name of the GSH-18: “G” - Gryazev, “Sh” - Shipunov.
“Until the creation of the GSH-18, the traditional concept of locking the barrel was used in pistols, which was also invented by Browning. It was believed that it was already fully formed and it is unlikely that changes will appear in it. But in the gun GSH-18 at the time of its creation was applied innovative, very ingenious locking scheme. Moreover, such a decision was not just a whim of designers who wanted to differ in something, for example, from the creators of the Glock or from the German developers of pistols. Locking in the GSH-18 by turning the barrel. It was impossible to simply provide the characteristics that the designers sought for in the traditional scheme, ”continues Amelin.
In the distorted barrel locking scheme, often also referred to as the Browning scheme, the trunk remains coupled to the bolt until it reaches its protrusion in a figured neckline or articulation - an “earring” on a fixed frame. Under the influence of the figure cutout (“earrings”), the barrel is lowered, and the bearing surfaces of the bolt lose their contact with it.
The scheme proposed by Arkady Shipunov and Vasily Gryazev was much simpler. Locking and unlocking the mechanism is done by turning the barrel around its axis. After the creation of the GSH-18, the designers of the Austrian company Steyer, as well as the developers of the Italian Beretta, began to use such a scheme.
Thanks to the use of the locking mechanism by turning the barrel, the GSH-18 became a unique pistol for its time, which had no analogues in the world. Yes, he still has no worthy competitors.
“A lot has been written about GSH-18, and more has been said. But I undertake to assert that, in the aggregate of combat characteristics, this is the most perfect combat pistol in the world. In its class - combat pistols - it is the easiest, its mass is half a kilogram without ammunition. Store capacity - 18 cartridges. At the time of the creation of the GSH-18, this was a record figure. The gun has excellent ergonomics, which is very important for personal weapons, which is used at the shortest possible distances. Whoever is the first to open fire or whoever has such an opportunity will be the winner in general, ”explains Yuri Amelin.
The automatic safety of the gun also contributes to the high combat readiness of the pistol, my interlocutor notes. This allows you to carry a pistol with a cartridge in the chamber. The automatic fuse does not require additional manipulations to open fire, so the shooter only presses the trigger and a shot occurs, while it is safe when worn and handled.
“The fact that the Gryazev-Shipunov GSH-18 pistol has been adopted by all power structures indicates its highest reliability and technical perfection. From all foreign analogues, the GSH-18 is also different in that it has been tested according to Russian standards, which many of the foreign samples do not stand up to. And reliability is one of the most important factors for combat use. Gun Gryazeva and Shipunova adopted by the Armed Forces, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, all without exception, law enforcement agencies. Although, I must say, the rearmament process is proceeding gradually. There is no large order for GSH-18 yet, and we are not doing it in such large volumes as we would like, ”Amelin notes.
Currently, the leading pistol in the product line of the Italian company Beretta - РХ-4 Stormo ("Storm"), which pressed the model "Beretta-92", which also uses a locking scheme for turning the barrel. "Storm" has already been approved by the NATO Technical Committee for use as personal weapons for the armed forces of the countries of the alliance. Italian developers offer PX-4 in the version for both military personnel and law enforcement agencies. Also in the line is a model for the units of special operations forces.
“I witnessed the creation of a pistol GSH-18. Then Vasily Gryazev and Arkady Shipunov reviewed and tested many different schemes and concepts. As a result, the concept of turning the barrel at a small angle was chosen, which ensured its optimal weight and size characteristics, reliability of operation, etc. Later, after the appearance of this gun, Western developers began to consider such a scheme as promising. There were corresponding models. But I emphasize that the scheme of locking by turning the trunk used in the GSH-18 was unique. Foreign analogues were developed much later than ours. Sometimes you hear the opinion that Russian designers are engaged in copying Western designs. The creation of GSH-18 is a very vivid example, proving that such a statement is incorrect. And this is an original pistol in many respects, without borrowing, ”summarizes Yuri Amelin.
For the GSH-18, created under the caliber 9x19 millimeters, even during the design, an armor-piercing cartridge was developed, capable of piercing eight millimeters of steel at a distance of 10 meters. If you look at special targets from the armored sheet used for the control shooting of the GSH-18 pistols before handing over the lot to customers, then on their surface are characteristic through-through hit marks resembling riveting. The bullet not only pierces the armored plate, but also “seals” the entrance, as it were, and passes on, guaranteed to hit the enemy in personal protective equipment. In the modern world, when body armor is not only among the military and law enforcement officers, but also among criminals and terrorists, such capabilities of the GSH-18 become critical in the event of armed confrontation at close range.
But not only among power structures the gun of Gryazev and Shipunov enjoys well-deserved popularity. In the line of the GSH-18 there is a sport model of the GSH-18 “Sport”, actively purchased by many weapons lovers around the world. Surprisingly, but one of the largest markets for a sports pistol is the United States of America, where not only a very high weapon culture, but a “weapon cult” in general. To buy not only unfinished, with low tactical and technical characteristics, but simply uncomfortable, low-ergonomic samples in the US, no one will.
Based on the GSH-18, but under the chambered 9x18 of millimeters Arkady Shipunov and Vasily Gryazev developed a compact pistol П-96 weighing just 400 grams without cartridges.
“Capacity П-96М - 14 cartridges. In this gun, the designers also used a locking scheme for turning to reduce its size and dispense with a large mass gate. The approaches and concepts in creating the P-96 are similar to those of the General Staff, although this gun appeared later than the General Staff-18. On the P-96 automatic fuse, due to the low fit of the barrel relative to the hand, high ergonomics are ensured. Now the cartridge “Parabellum” is replacing the millimeter cartridge 9х18, and at this stage we are not producing the P-96М yet, ”the head of the TsKIB SOO department continues to acquaint with unique samples.
In the technical office of the Central Design Research Bureau of sporting and hunting weapons near the GSH-18 and P-96M you can see a futuristic submachine gun under the symbol П-2000, which is not only in service with the national police and internal troops of the Interior Ministry, but also tested as personal weapons for armored vehicles, artillery crews, etc. in the Russian army.
PP-2000 is very popular in various special forces units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and internal troops. Of course, in terms of firepower, it cannot be compared with AK-74 assault rifles, but during the storming of the premises, the submachine gun developed by Vasily Gryazev and Arkady Shipunov due to its compactness and high accuracy becomes an indispensable weapon. In particular, PP-2000 is given to the so-called shield-men - soldiers of special forces who follow a protective shield. Due to the small mass of PP-2000, it is easy to conduct accurate fire with even one hand, covering oneself and the comrades with a shield.
“Created by Gryazev and Shipunov, the PP-2000 also uses the GSH-18 - 9x19 mm. Parabellum cartridges and armor-piercing cartridges. This submachine gun has a record low mass, it weighs 1,4 kilograms without any additional equipment. In fact, its weight and dimensions are comparable with the indicators of a modern combat pistol or slightly exceed them. PP-2000 even allows you to fire "in a pistol." This model is a full-fledged automatic weapon, there are shops for it on both the 20 and the 44 cartridge, it allows you to hit the enemy at a distance of 150 – 200 meters. At the expense of Picatinny's slats various sights are installed on it - night, collimator, magnificator. Tactical flashlights, laser designators are attached to the front handle, there is also a place for a silencer. PP-2000 is compact in size and has high destructive characteristics, ”states Yuri Amelin.
Another amazing development of Arkady Shipunov and Vasily Gryazev was a small-sized machine gun 9А-91, using special ammunition caliber 9х39 millimeters. This machine gun is well known to the fighters of various special forces units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and internal troops, where they have been delivered since the beginning of the 90s. During this time, 9А-91 was repeatedly used during various special operations in urban environments.
This is a compact weapon with a folding butt, the weight of the entire 1,5 kilogram without ammunition with a subsonic speed of a bullet. It is noteworthy that the standard silencer can be removed or installed without any effort in a matter of seconds.
An important feature of the 9A-91 submachine gun is that its standard ammunition is an order of magnitude lower rebound effect than that of AK-74 bullets of a 5,45 caliber of millimeter. This is especially important when working in urban environments, and most importantly - in premises, in particular during actions to free hostages, when a ricocheting bullet can hit not only special forces soldiers, but also hostages.
It is worth noting that on the basis of 9-91 created sniper rifle VSK-94, characterized by the use of sniper sights, including night, as well as non-removable (so-called skeletal) butt, in form resembling SVD. Like 9A-91, VSK-94 is actively purchased by law enforcement agencies and has been repeatedly used in various special operations. It is noteworthy that VSK-94 can be used with or without a silencer.
In addition to the silent sniper rifle, Gryazev and Shipunov also developed the OCB-96 large-bore sniper rifle, which is used not only to fight enemy snipers, but also to destroy protected objects on the battlefield - from light armored vehicles and cars to firing points. It is possible to use OCB-96 and for the destruction of such objects as command-staff vehicles, mobile radio stations, radar antenna, etc.
“This rifle was developed by Vasily Gryazev and Arkady Shipunov on a proactive basis. For the first time in our country, such a sniper weapon appeared. In recent years, it has developed most actively around the world. Almost all developed countries because of their versatility and the ability to perform a wide range of tasks at long ranges are armed with such rifles. Our OSV-96 operates at a distance of up to 2000 meters. Self-loading rifle. This reduces the fatigue of the shooter, allows you to make a series of shots with a small interval, spending on the restoration of crosstalk much less time. I must admit that there are not so many self-loading rifles in this class in the world. OCB-96 dimensions are decent, but the design uses a special hinge, thanks to which it folds up to the size of the SVD. Therefore, the shooter with OCB-96 in the folded state can easily fit in the car, the BTR, the BMP. Although the weight of the rifle is quite large - almost 13 kilograms, “- estimates the sample Amelin.
However, due to recoil for the OSV-96, the sniper sights that were being produced at that time did not fit. Also, most devices could not provide accurate shooting at the working range of the rifle. Therefore, in addition to the OCB-96 itself, the designers also had to develop a line of special sniper sights, including night ones, with which the shooter can hit targets even on a moonless night at a distance of up to 800 meters.
Particular attention should be paid to the cartridges used for OSV-96. In addition to special sniper rifle ammunition, you can shoot with conventional machine-gun cartridges. Of course, at long range such cartridges give a strong dispersion, which is unacceptable for a sniper rifle. But we must not forget that in a critical case, such a replaceability of ammunition can save a sniper life. When regular ammunition is spent, the available machine-gun ammunition will allow the fight to continue, albeit with limited capabilities. Now the rifle is adopted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, units and subunits of the internal troops. She was repeatedly used in hostilities, earned good reviews.
“Often our OSV-96 is compared to the American large-caliber sniper M-82 caliber 12,7 millimeter of the company“ Barret ”. But the M-82 is the so-called anti-material rifle, that is, primarily intended to deal with cars, armored objects, enemy firing points, etc. It has smaller dimensions compared to OSV-96, it uses a different scheme, the design of it is welded. Barret's M-82 itself is very simple. True, OSV-96 and heavier, but only per kilogram. At the same time, our trunk is longer. “Barret” allows you to hit a jeep at a distance of 1200 – 1300 meters, and it is more difficult to solve more complex sniper tasks. I believe that OSV-96 is much more accurate, from it you can also hit targets such as enemy personnel, ”says Alexei Sorokin, director of TsKIB SOO.
"Effective Manager" - not a curse
Almost on the outskirts of Tula, on the territory of the former combine-manufacturing plant, the unique enterprise Shcheglovsky Val, which is part of the Instrument Design Bureau, now houses the Pantsir anti-aircraft missile and gun systems not only for the Armed Forces of Russia, but also for foreign customers. It also makes combat modules "Bakhcha-U", "Berehok", "Bereg", etc.
The creation of Shcheglovsky Val was another achievement of the outstanding designer-gunsmith and scientist Arkady Shipunov. This unique industrial complex owes its birth to him. Here one more unique talent of Shipunov - the organizer of production - was fully manifested.
In modern Russia, the phrase “effective manager” sounds more like a curse, not like praise. Such an epithet is usually given to managers who aspire to fill their pockets as much as possible at the expense of their production, saving under the pretext of "optimization" on everything. But in the case of Arkady Shipunov, an “effective manager” does not sound like a curse, but as a recognition of his unique instinct, high performance and desire to fight to the end for the prosperity of his native enterprise.
In the 90s, when the economic situation in Russia was very difficult, the Instrument Engineering Design Bureau had its first revenues from exporting anti-tank missile systems.
“The decision to create our own assembly, and now already the mechanical assembly production was taken personally by Arkady Georgievich. And this was his great wisdom. For which we are grateful to him and every day we remember a kind word. This, I would say without false modesty, is a strategically correct decision. At the end of the 90-s, the situation in the defense industry was rather complicated and the issue of placing new weapons and military equipment models already developed by that time at factories for mass production was very serious. The Instrument Engineering Design Bureau at that time did not have large production areas. Therefore, the Pantsir anti-aircraft missile and cannon complex, the development of which was already completed at that time, immediately raised the question of where to release it. There were proposals to give to specialized industries, for example, to the Ulyanovsk plant. Designers of armored vehicles then completed the development of the fighting compartment for the BMD-4. And again the question arose of where these departments produce. Either on the basis of the Kurgan plant or at Uralvagonzavod. But Shipunov then already knew the solution to this problem. And we started to create our own enterprise for the production of serial products, ”recalls the general director of Shcheglovsky Val, Vladimir Popov.
It is now the decision to create "Shcheglovsky shaft" seems the only correct one. But it should be understood that at that time a firm order could not provide the Design Bureau with instrument-making either for Bakhchu, or even for Pantsir.
Do not forget that the work on the anti-aircraft missile and cannon complex of the PCU led not only through partial funding from the United Arab Emirates, but also by investing its own funds. Building the plant for the production of promising weapons systems looked quite adventurous - at least from the outside.
As one of the employees of the PCU said, at the beginning of 2000-ies, when at a regular meeting with representatives of the Defense Ministry on Pantsir, the military stated that part of the work is being done at the expense of the UAE’s money, Shipunov retorted: “If I just sucked your "Boob" and not fed from others, it would have long been dead. "
But this was the talent of the organizer, who, having assessed the prospects of his complexes, not only was able to bring them to mass production, but also created an enterprise within the KBP for their mass production.
Arkady Shipunov perfectly understood: to create a little production. Only trained personnel will be able to ensure reliable and timely production of all products. Therefore, from the very beginning of the creation of Shcheglovsky Val, special attention was paid to the training of specialists.
“The territory of the combine production plant was bought out. On it, reconstruction work began on the organization of production, and as soon as possible Shcheglovsky Val began production of products both for export and for the state defense order. In 2004, the production of modules for the BMD-4 began, and in 2006, the Panzirey anti-aircraft missile guns were already launched. The team grew annually, almost monthly. New specialists are required now. Last year we grew up on 200 people, and next, we expect to be ready to accept about the same. The development concept of Shcheglovsky Val to 2020 has already been approved, according to which, already in 2017 – 2018, production areas will double or even triple, capacity will increase two to three times and all products of the Instrument Engineering Design Bureau will be concentrated on this site. "Shcheglovsky shaft" acquired additional space - the remaining territory of the combine plant. Currently, active design work is underway to create new workshops. For the Tula region it is extremely useful and beneficial. We create new jobs and prepare personnel. Both the potential and the experience of the Tula gunsmiths, which comes from the time of Lefty, we are now reviving and restoring, ”says Vladimir Popov.
From the Sahara to the Arctic
Over the past few years, according to the general director of Shcheglovsky Val, more than 200 anti-aircraft missile systems Pantsir were launched both within the framework of the state defense order and for export. In the opinion of not only domestic, but also foreign experts, now this weapon system is one of the most dynamically developing in its segment.
"Pantsir" is the main pride of the KBP and Shcheglovsky Val today. There are no analogues of this car in the world. The geography of our anti-aircraft missile-gun systems is extensive - from the Sahara to the New Siberian Islands. In January of this year, during the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to our plant in his presence, we showed white-painted, prepared for operation on Kotelny Island. Real polar. The temperature there is already below minus 20 degrees, and in winter it will be minus 50, polar bears are walking nearby. But the Pantsiri work fine. Our team from the production is now just at the boiler. Prior to that, "Pantsiri" took part in the exercises, having coped with all the tasks. The machine has acquired new detection locators, the opto-electronic station has been upgraded. And by 2016, we expect to release the Pantsir with radically improved tactical and technical characteristics, ”Vladimir Popov shares his plans.
Originally created as a stationary air defense system to protect objects (in particular, according to the head of Shcheglovsky Val, at one time there was even a project to install Pantsiri to buildings in Moscow to provide the air defense and missile defense of the capital), now ZRPK has moved to wheeled and tracked chassis, became highly mobile and able to successfully repel enemy attacks even on the march.
“At the end of the 90s, when supplies of ATGM to the Arab countries began, working capital and resources appeared in the PCU. The great merit of Arkady Shipunov is that he decided to put money into the development of the Pantsir. He firmly believed in this complex. You can tell for a long time how much distrust there was to this machine, how much opposition there was. But Shipunov invested money in the development of ZRPK. As the production workers say, "iron will judge us." As you can see, the complex is being released, and so far we have only positive reviews. Everything else is evil, ”says Vladimir Popov.
According to him, the main part of the ZRPK combat module is a radar detection. “It is completely Shipunov’s merit that the radar station appeared at the time, at the turn of the 2000-s. Initially, the development of the radar was given to one of the Moscow enterprises. But Muscovites could not make a station with the given parameters. Shipunov not only invested the KBP, but also collected all the best minds and forces, he joined the work himself. And the millimeter-wave radar in the required dimensions with a phased antenna array, and most importantly - with the specified characteristics was developed, "- continues Vladimir Popov.
It was Arkady Shipunov’s talent as a designer, as an organizer of production and his unique technical flair that made it possible to create an anti-aircraft missile system that has no analogues in the world.
But not the "Shell" united lives KBP. On the unique assembly site of the Shcheglovsky Val, combat modules for various armored vehicles are manufactured: Bakhcha, Berehok and Bereg.
“We developed all the modules for the money of the enterprise. Except maybe “Berezhka”, which was commissioned by GABTU, but then it was “frozen” because of the lack of funding. However, Arkady Shipunov said at the time that this work should not be abandoned, such a module would definitely be needed very soon. And, as always, he was right, ”recalls Lev Shvets, chief designer of armored vehicle complexes.
Now the situation has changed, and the Bakhcha-U module is supplied for the newest BMD-4M airborne combat vehicles.
“Currently 40 has such combat vehicles in the Airborne Forces. This is the most modern, in our opinion, and many experts agree with us, a combat vehicle of this class. The BMD-4 paratroopers are very pleased. After a two-year break, we restore production. True, now our modules are already being installed on new machines developed by Kurganmashzavod, ”explains Vladimir Popov.
The Bahcha-U combat module, equipped with a modern sighting system with automatic target tracking, a thermal imager and a panoramic view for the commander of a combat vehicle, is capable of hitting a 100 mm 2A70 gun and 30 mm 2A72 not only lightly armored targets and enemy manpower, but also long-term firing points Tanks. Due to the high-explosive shells "Cherry" with remote detonation BMD-4M with the installed "Bakhcha" can perform the function of mobile artillery landing.
It is worth noting that 2А70 and 2А72 are also developed by Arkady Shipunov and Vasily Gryazev.
“In the 100-mm gun 2А70 its creators Gryazev and Shipunov laid a resource in 500 shots. But a little later we tested the sample on 1500 shots. Checked up. There is no barrel wear or burnout burnout. So it is possible to bring the resource up to three thousand, ”Lev Shvets is convinced.
At the time of the creation of the Bakhchi, in terms of the capabilities of its sighting system, it was superior to the tanks that were then in service with the Russian Ground Forces. For example, a panorama of the workplace of a commander of a combat vehicle appeared relatively recently on T-72B4, which participated in a tank biathlon this year, but not yet commercially supplied to the Armed Forces of the country.
To compare the combat module, which now stands on the serial BMP-3, with “Bakhchoy-U” does not even make sense, so the product KBP exceeds its rival. True, according to Lev Shvets, it is possible that in the future, the BMP-3 will start installing combat modules for the PCU.
“For the Bakhchi-U installation, we only need the 27 volt power cable and connection to the combat vehicle’s speed sensor. No further modifications are required. Such conditions were identified by Arkady Shipunov when we were just starting this work, ”says the chief designer for armored vehicle complexes.
One BMP-2 with the Berehok combat compartment installed on it can replace up to four non-upgraded vehicles. "Berehok" - a module for the BMP-2. We put a new gunner's sight, on the stern of the fighting compartment we installed a panoramic sight of the commander in a special basket. There is the same MSA system there as on the “Bakhche”, but there are still AGS with a range of up to 2100 meters, and we also hung the Cornet ATGM, which can be fired even on the move. For especially dangerous purposes, we can use two anti-tank missiles in one beam. This option is effective in use against armored vehicles equipped with a complex of active as well as dynamic protection. Panorama for the commander - the development of our KBP. Guns, shells and sights, too, were created at the Instrument Engineering Design Bureau, ”emphasizes Lev Shvets.
In addition to Bakhchi-U and Berezhka, now at Shcheglovsky Val, work is already underway on the Bereg military compartment to upgrade the most massive Russian Airborne Forces vehicle, the BMD-2. There are solutions for BRDM.
Testament of the great master
The works of Arkady Shipunov cover a very large range of weapons systems, ranging from small arms to anti-aircraft missile systems. This is surprising, but the designer developed the pistol GSH-18 and immediately conducted work on the small-sized 9А-91, made the mobile "Armor". And in all areas of his work, Arkady Shipunov created true masterpieces, in many ways unparalleled in the world. Weapon systems born by the talent of Arkady Georgievich Shipunov are in demand not only from the Russian, but also from the foreign military.
And we should not forget that Arkady Shipunov was not only a brilliant designer, creator of various weapon systems, able to make a correct forecast of IWT development for several generations in advance, but also an astute leader and organizer of production, striving to do everything for his team. Even in the most difficult 90-ies, he managed not only to save the KBP and create the Shcheglovsky Val, but at the cost of incredible efforts to bring the unique Pantsir anti-aircraft missile-gun systems, the Bakhcha-U and Berehok ". He said: it is necessary to do, the time of these systems will come soon. And no mistake.
Arkady G. Shipunov forever enter into history Russian weapons as a great designer, an outstanding scientist, a wise and insightful leader, a talented production organizer.
In April of last year, an outstanding scientist, designer and production organizer Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Arkady G. Shipunov passed away. He created and put on serial production dozens of samples of weapons and military equipment. Many of them still have no analogues in the world. The range of Shipunov’s developments is no equal: from pistols and sniper rifles to anti-aircraft missile-gun systems and combat modules. Many models are not only in service with the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, but are also exported to dozens of countries. Thanks to the management of the High-Precision Complexes holding, which organized the press tour to the Instrument Engineering Design Bureau, the newspaper “Military-Industrial Courier managed to get acquainted with the unique samples of the Russian weaponsdesigned by Arkady Shipunov, and see how they are produced.
The Kornet anti-tank missile system, the Pantsir anti-aircraft missile and cannon are now well known not only to domestic and foreign specialists, but also to the general public. At the same time, not everyone knows that on account of Arkady Shipunov and Vasily Gryazev the creation of a successful line of small arms, including large-caliber and special silent sniper rifles. And this is only a small part of Shipunov’s heritage.
Another facet of Shipunov's talent, revealed in the heavy 1990 and at the beginning of the 2000, is the rare ability to feel the market situation and correctly distribute the resources of the enterprise.
Death lightness
In the branch of the Tula Instrument Engineering Design Bureau - the Central Design Research Bureau of sporting and hunting weapons (TsKIB SOO), which develops and manufactures various shooting models, ranging from a pistol to sniper rifles and grenade launchers, as well as a wide range of ammunition, there is a unique room - the so-called technical cabinet This is essentially a museum, where not only domestic but also foreign models of small arms are collected for more than a century.
Designers of small arms come to this “cabinet” in order to see in practice and, so to speak, touch the technical solutions embedded in more or less well-known samples. And a special place here is occupied by the joint development of Arkady Shipunov and Vasily Gryazev.
“All samples of personal weapons, which were in service with the Red Army, the Soviet army and the Armed Forces of Russia, are created within our walls. Although to be completely accurate, they were initially developed at TsKB-14, which was later transformed into the Instrument Design Bureau, which became the subdivision of TsKIB SOO. It is enough to name the Makarov and Tokarev pistols, the Stechkin automatic pistol. People who bore these legendary names, worked in our company from the first to the last day of their activities. In addition to well-known products, there is also a line of pistols, which Igor Stechkin developed already in his mature years. This is the gun OTs-33, its next generation is OTs-23 in millimeter caliber 5,45 and OTs-27. But now these models have been replaced by the GSH-18 pistol, which is currently supplied to most security agencies, ”says Yury Amelin, head of the TsKIB SOO branch.
GSH-18 is a unique joint development of Arkady Shipunov and Vasily Gryazev, who decided, by creating a new gun, to move away from traditional technical solutions. It is noteworthy that the initials of its creators are ciphered in the name of the GSH-18: “G” - Gryazev, “Sh” - Shipunov.
“Until the creation of the GSH-18, the traditional concept of locking the barrel was used in pistols, which was also invented by Browning. It was believed that it was already fully formed and it is unlikely that changes will appear in it. But in the gun GSH-18 at the time of its creation was applied innovative, very ingenious locking scheme. Moreover, such a decision was not just a whim of designers who wanted to differ in something, for example, from the creators of the Glock or from the German developers of pistols. Locking in the GSH-18 by turning the barrel. It was impossible to simply provide the characteristics that the designers sought for in the traditional scheme, ”continues Amelin.
Andrei Sedykh Collage (photo by Alexey Ranma)
In the distorted barrel locking scheme, often also referred to as the Browning scheme, the trunk remains coupled to the bolt until it reaches its protrusion in a figured neckline or articulation - an “earring” on a fixed frame. Under the influence of the figure cutout (“earrings”), the barrel is lowered, and the bearing surfaces of the bolt lose their contact with it.
The scheme proposed by Arkady Shipunov and Vasily Gryazev was much simpler. Locking and unlocking the mechanism is done by turning the barrel around its axis. After the creation of the GSH-18, the designers of the Austrian company Steyer, as well as the developers of the Italian Beretta, began to use such a scheme.
Thanks to the use of the locking mechanism by turning the barrel, the GSH-18 became a unique pistol for its time, which had no analogues in the world. Yes, he still has no worthy competitors.
“A lot has been written about GSH-18, and more has been said. But I undertake to assert that, in the aggregate of combat characteristics, this is the most perfect combat pistol in the world. In its class - combat pistols - it is the easiest, its mass is half a kilogram without ammunition. Store capacity - 18 cartridges. At the time of the creation of the GSH-18, this was a record figure. The gun has excellent ergonomics, which is very important for personal weapons, which is used at the shortest possible distances. Whoever is the first to open fire or whoever has such an opportunity will be the winner in general, ”explains Yuri Amelin.
The automatic safety of the gun also contributes to the high combat readiness of the pistol, my interlocutor notes. This allows you to carry a pistol with a cartridge in the chamber. The automatic fuse does not require additional manipulations to open fire, so the shooter only presses the trigger and a shot occurs, while it is safe when worn and handled.
“The fact that the Gryazev-Shipunov GSH-18 pistol has been adopted by all power structures indicates its highest reliability and technical perfection. From all foreign analogues, the GSH-18 is also different in that it has been tested according to Russian standards, which many of the foreign samples do not stand up to. And reliability is one of the most important factors for combat use. Gun Gryazeva and Shipunova adopted by the Armed Forces, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, all without exception, law enforcement agencies. Although, I must say, the rearmament process is proceeding gradually. There is no large order for GSH-18 yet, and we are not doing it in such large volumes as we would like, ”Amelin notes.
Currently, the leading pistol in the product line of the Italian company Beretta - РХ-4 Stormo ("Storm"), which pressed the model "Beretta-92", which also uses a locking scheme for turning the barrel. "Storm" has already been approved by the NATO Technical Committee for use as personal weapons for the armed forces of the countries of the alliance. Italian developers offer PX-4 in the version for both military personnel and law enforcement agencies. Also in the line is a model for the units of special operations forces.
Andrei Sedykh Collage (photo by Alexey Ranma)
“I witnessed the creation of a pistol GSH-18. Then Vasily Gryazev and Arkady Shipunov reviewed and tested many different schemes and concepts. As a result, the concept of turning the barrel at a small angle was chosen, which ensured its optimal weight and size characteristics, reliability of operation, etc. Later, after the appearance of this gun, Western developers began to consider such a scheme as promising. There were corresponding models. But I emphasize that the scheme of locking by turning the trunk used in the GSH-18 was unique. Foreign analogues were developed much later than ours. Sometimes you hear the opinion that Russian designers are engaged in copying Western designs. The creation of GSH-18 is a very vivid example, proving that such a statement is incorrect. And this is an original pistol in many respects, without borrowing, ”summarizes Yuri Amelin.
For the GSH-18, created under the caliber 9x19 millimeters, even during the design, an armor-piercing cartridge was developed, capable of piercing eight millimeters of steel at a distance of 10 meters. If you look at special targets from the armored sheet used for the control shooting of the GSH-18 pistols before handing over the lot to customers, then on their surface are characteristic through-through hit marks resembling riveting. The bullet not only pierces the armored plate, but also “seals” the entrance, as it were, and passes on, guaranteed to hit the enemy in personal protective equipment. In the modern world, when body armor is not only among the military and law enforcement officers, but also among criminals and terrorists, such capabilities of the GSH-18 become critical in the event of armed confrontation at close range.
But not only among power structures the gun of Gryazev and Shipunov enjoys well-deserved popularity. In the line of the GSH-18 there is a sport model of the GSH-18 “Sport”, actively purchased by many weapons lovers around the world. Surprisingly, but one of the largest markets for a sports pistol is the United States of America, where not only a very high weapon culture, but a “weapon cult” in general. To buy not only unfinished, with low tactical and technical characteristics, but simply uncomfortable, low-ergonomic samples in the US, no one will.
Based on the GSH-18, but under the chambered 9x18 of millimeters Arkady Shipunov and Vasily Gryazev developed a compact pistol П-96 weighing just 400 grams without cartridges.
“Capacity П-96М - 14 cartridges. In this gun, the designers also used a locking scheme for turning to reduce its size and dispense with a large mass gate. The approaches and concepts in creating the P-96 are similar to those of the General Staff, although this gun appeared later than the General Staff-18. On the P-96 automatic fuse, due to the low fit of the barrel relative to the hand, high ergonomics are ensured. Now the cartridge “Parabellum” is replacing the millimeter cartridge 9х18, and at this stage we are not producing the P-96М yet, ”the head of the TsKIB SOO department continues to acquaint with unique samples.
In the technical office of the Central Design Research Bureau of sporting and hunting weapons near the GSH-18 and P-96M you can see a futuristic submachine gun under the symbol П-2000, which is not only in service with the national police and internal troops of the Interior Ministry, but also tested as personal weapons for armored vehicles, artillery crews, etc. in the Russian army.PP-2000 is very popular in various special forces units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and internal troops. Of course, in terms of firepower, it cannot be compared with AK-74 assault rifles, but during the storming of the premises, the submachine gun developed by Vasily Gryazev and Arkady Shipunov due to its compactness and high accuracy becomes an indispensable weapon. In particular, PP-2000 is given to the so-called shield-men - soldiers of special forces who follow a protective shield. Due to the small mass of PP-2000, it is easy to conduct accurate fire with even one hand, covering oneself and the comrades with a shield.
“Created by Gryazev and Shipunov, the PP-2000 also uses the GSH-18 - 9x19 mm. Parabellum cartridges and armor-piercing cartridges. This submachine gun has a record low mass, it weighs 1,4 kilograms without any additional equipment. In fact, its weight and dimensions are comparable with the indicators of a modern combat pistol or slightly exceed them. PP-2000 even allows you to fire "in a pistol." This model is a full-fledged automatic weapon, there are shops for it on both the 20 and the 44 cartridge, it allows you to hit the enemy at a distance of 150 – 200 meters. At the expense of Picatinny's slats various sights are installed on it - night, collimator, magnificator. Tactical flashlights, laser designators are attached to the front handle, there is also a place for a silencer. PP-2000 is compact in size and has high destructive characteristics, ”states Yuri Amelin.
Another amazing development of Arkady Shipunov and Vasily Gryazev was a small-sized machine gun 9А-91, using special ammunition caliber 9х39 millimeters. This machine gun is well known to the fighters of various special forces units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and internal troops, where they have been delivered since the beginning of the 90s. During this time, 9А-91 was repeatedly used during various special operations in urban environments.
This is a compact weapon with a folding butt, the weight of the entire 1,5 kilogram without ammunition with a subsonic speed of a bullet. It is noteworthy that the standard silencer can be removed or installed without any effort in a matter of seconds.
An important feature of the 9A-91 submachine gun is that its standard ammunition is an order of magnitude lower rebound effect than that of AK-74 bullets of a 5,45 caliber of millimeter. This is especially important when working in urban environments, and most importantly - in premises, in particular during actions to free hostages, when a ricocheting bullet can hit not only special forces soldiers, but also hostages.
It is worth noting that on the basis of 9-91 created sniper rifle VSK-94, characterized by the use of sniper sights, including night, as well as non-removable (so-called skeletal) butt, in form resembling SVD. Like 9A-91, VSK-94 is actively purchased by law enforcement agencies and has been repeatedly used in various special operations. It is noteworthy that VSK-94 can be used with or without a silencer.
In addition to the silent sniper rifle, Gryazev and Shipunov also developed the OCB-96 large-bore sniper rifle, which is used not only to fight enemy snipers, but also to destroy protected objects on the battlefield - from light armored vehicles and cars to firing points. It is possible to use OCB-96 and for the destruction of such objects as command-staff vehicles, mobile radio stations, radar antenna, etc.
“This rifle was developed by Vasily Gryazev and Arkady Shipunov on a proactive basis. For the first time in our country, such a sniper weapon appeared. In recent years, it has developed most actively around the world. Almost all developed countries because of their versatility and the ability to perform a wide range of tasks at long ranges are armed with such rifles. Our OSV-96 operates at a distance of up to 2000 meters. Self-loading rifle. This reduces the fatigue of the shooter, allows you to make a series of shots with a small interval, spending on the restoration of crosstalk much less time. I must admit that there are not so many self-loading rifles in this class in the world. OCB-96 dimensions are decent, but the design uses a special hinge, thanks to which it folds up to the size of the SVD. Therefore, the shooter with OCB-96 in the folded state can easily fit in the car, the BTR, the BMP. Although the weight of the rifle is quite large - almost 13 kilograms, “- estimates the sample Amelin.
However, due to recoil for the OSV-96, the sniper sights that were being produced at that time did not fit. Also, most devices could not provide accurate shooting at the working range of the rifle. Therefore, in addition to the OCB-96 itself, the designers also had to develop a line of special sniper sights, including night ones, with which the shooter can hit targets even on a moonless night at a distance of up to 800 meters.
Andrei Sedykh Collage (photo by Alexey Ranma)
Particular attention should be paid to the cartridges used for OSV-96. In addition to special sniper rifle ammunition, you can shoot with conventional machine-gun cartridges. Of course, at long range such cartridges give a strong dispersion, which is unacceptable for a sniper rifle. But we must not forget that in a critical case, such a replaceability of ammunition can save a sniper life. When regular ammunition is spent, the available machine-gun ammunition will allow the fight to continue, albeit with limited capabilities. Now the rifle is adopted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, units and subunits of the internal troops. She was repeatedly used in hostilities, earned good reviews.
“Often our OSV-96 is compared to the American large-caliber sniper M-82 caliber 12,7 millimeter of the company“ Barret ”. But the M-82 is the so-called anti-material rifle, that is, primarily intended to deal with cars, armored objects, enemy firing points, etc. It has smaller dimensions compared to OSV-96, it uses a different scheme, the design of it is welded. Barret's M-82 itself is very simple. True, OSV-96 and heavier, but only per kilogram. At the same time, our trunk is longer. “Barret” allows you to hit a jeep at a distance of 1200 – 1300 meters, and it is more difficult to solve more complex sniper tasks. I believe that OSV-96 is much more accurate, from it you can also hit targets such as enemy personnel, ”says Alexei Sorokin, director of TsKIB SOO.
"Effective Manager" - not a curse
Almost on the outskirts of Tula, on the territory of the former combine-manufacturing plant, the unique enterprise Shcheglovsky Val, which is part of the Instrument Design Bureau, now houses the Pantsir anti-aircraft missile and gun systems not only for the Armed Forces of Russia, but also for foreign customers. It also makes combat modules "Bakhcha-U", "Berehok", "Bereg", etc.
The creation of Shcheglovsky Val was another achievement of the outstanding designer-gunsmith and scientist Arkady Shipunov. This unique industrial complex owes its birth to him. Here one more unique talent of Shipunov - the organizer of production - was fully manifested.
In modern Russia, the phrase “effective manager” sounds more like a curse, not like praise. Such an epithet is usually given to managers who aspire to fill their pockets as much as possible at the expense of their production, saving under the pretext of "optimization" on everything. But in the case of Arkady Shipunov, an “effective manager” does not sound like a curse, but as a recognition of his unique instinct, high performance and desire to fight to the end for the prosperity of his native enterprise.
In the 90s, when the economic situation in Russia was very difficult, the Instrument Engineering Design Bureau had its first revenues from exporting anti-tank missile systems.
“The decision to create our own assembly, and now already the mechanical assembly production was taken personally by Arkady Georgievich. And this was his great wisdom. For which we are grateful to him and every day we remember a kind word. This, I would say without false modesty, is a strategically correct decision. At the end of the 90-s, the situation in the defense industry was rather complicated and the issue of placing new weapons and military equipment models already developed by that time at factories for mass production was very serious. The Instrument Engineering Design Bureau at that time did not have large production areas. Therefore, the Pantsir anti-aircraft missile and cannon complex, the development of which was already completed at that time, immediately raised the question of where to release it. There were proposals to give to specialized industries, for example, to the Ulyanovsk plant. Designers of armored vehicles then completed the development of the fighting compartment for the BMD-4. And again the question arose of where these departments produce. Either on the basis of the Kurgan plant or at Uralvagonzavod. But Shipunov then already knew the solution to this problem. And we started to create our own enterprise for the production of serial products, ”recalls the general director of Shcheglovsky Val, Vladimir Popov.
It is now the decision to create "Shcheglovsky shaft" seems the only correct one. But it should be understood that at that time a firm order could not provide the Design Bureau with instrument-making either for Bakhchu, or even for Pantsir.
Do not forget that the work on the anti-aircraft missile and cannon complex of the PCU led not only through partial funding from the United Arab Emirates, but also by investing its own funds. Building the plant for the production of promising weapons systems looked quite adventurous - at least from the outside.
As one of the employees of the PCU said, at the beginning of 2000-ies, when at a regular meeting with representatives of the Defense Ministry on Pantsir, the military stated that part of the work is being done at the expense of the UAE’s money, Shipunov retorted: “If I just sucked your "Boob" and not fed from others, it would have long been dead. "
But this was the talent of the organizer, who, having assessed the prospects of his complexes, not only was able to bring them to mass production, but also created an enterprise within the KBP for their mass production.
Arkady Shipunov perfectly understood: to create a little production. Only trained personnel will be able to ensure reliable and timely production of all products. Therefore, from the very beginning of the creation of Shcheglovsky Val, special attention was paid to the training of specialists.
“The territory of the combine production plant was bought out. On it, reconstruction work began on the organization of production, and as soon as possible Shcheglovsky Val began production of products both for export and for the state defense order. In 2004, the production of modules for the BMD-4 began, and in 2006, the Panzirey anti-aircraft missile guns were already launched. The team grew annually, almost monthly. New specialists are required now. Last year we grew up on 200 people, and next, we expect to be ready to accept about the same. The development concept of Shcheglovsky Val to 2020 has already been approved, according to which, already in 2017 – 2018, production areas will double or even triple, capacity will increase two to three times and all products of the Instrument Engineering Design Bureau will be concentrated on this site. "Shcheglovsky shaft" acquired additional space - the remaining territory of the combine plant. Currently, active design work is underway to create new workshops. For the Tula region it is extremely useful and beneficial. We create new jobs and prepare personnel. Both the potential and the experience of the Tula gunsmiths, which comes from the time of Lefty, we are now reviving and restoring, ”says Vladimir Popov.
From the Sahara to the Arctic
Over the past few years, according to the general director of Shcheglovsky Val, more than 200 anti-aircraft missile systems Pantsir were launched both within the framework of the state defense order and for export. In the opinion of not only domestic, but also foreign experts, now this weapon system is one of the most dynamically developing in its segment.
"Pantsir" is the main pride of the KBP and Shcheglovsky Val today. There are no analogues of this car in the world. The geography of our anti-aircraft missile-gun systems is extensive - from the Sahara to the New Siberian Islands. In January of this year, during the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to our plant in his presence, we showed white-painted, prepared for operation on Kotelny Island. Real polar. The temperature there is already below minus 20 degrees, and in winter it will be minus 50, polar bears are walking nearby. But the Pantsiri work fine. Our team from the production is now just at the boiler. Prior to that, "Pantsiri" took part in the exercises, having coped with all the tasks. The machine has acquired new detection locators, the opto-electronic station has been upgraded. And by 2016, we expect to release the Pantsir with radically improved tactical and technical characteristics, ”Vladimir Popov shares his plans.
Originally created as a stationary air defense system to protect objects (in particular, according to the head of Shcheglovsky Val, at one time there was even a project to install Pantsiri to buildings in Moscow to provide the air defense and missile defense of the capital), now ZRPK has moved to wheeled and tracked chassis, became highly mobile and able to successfully repel enemy attacks even on the march.
“At the end of the 90s, when supplies of ATGM to the Arab countries began, working capital and resources appeared in the PCU. The great merit of Arkady Shipunov is that he decided to put money into the development of the Pantsir. He firmly believed in this complex. You can tell for a long time how much distrust there was to this machine, how much opposition there was. But Shipunov invested money in the development of ZRPK. As the production workers say, "iron will judge us." As you can see, the complex is being released, and so far we have only positive reviews. Everything else is evil, ”says Vladimir Popov.
According to him, the main part of the ZRPK combat module is a radar detection. “It is completely Shipunov’s merit that the radar station appeared at the time, at the turn of the 2000-s. Initially, the development of the radar was given to one of the Moscow enterprises. But Muscovites could not make a station with the given parameters. Shipunov not only invested the KBP, but also collected all the best minds and forces, he joined the work himself. And the millimeter-wave radar in the required dimensions with a phased antenna array, and most importantly - with the specified characteristics was developed, "- continues Vladimir Popov.
It was Arkady Shipunov’s talent as a designer, as an organizer of production and his unique technical flair that made it possible to create an anti-aircraft missile system that has no analogues in the world.
But not the "Shell" united lives KBP. On the unique assembly site of the Shcheglovsky Val, combat modules for various armored vehicles are manufactured: Bakhcha, Berehok and Bereg.
“We developed all the modules for the money of the enterprise. Except maybe “Berezhka”, which was commissioned by GABTU, but then it was “frozen” because of the lack of funding. However, Arkady Shipunov said at the time that this work should not be abandoned, such a module would definitely be needed very soon. And, as always, he was right, ”recalls Lev Shvets, chief designer of armored vehicle complexes.
Now the situation has changed, and the Bakhcha-U module is supplied for the newest BMD-4M airborne combat vehicles.
“Currently 40 has such combat vehicles in the Airborne Forces. This is the most modern, in our opinion, and many experts agree with us, a combat vehicle of this class. The BMD-4 paratroopers are very pleased. After a two-year break, we restore production. True, now our modules are already being installed on new machines developed by Kurganmashzavod, ”explains Vladimir Popov.
The Bahcha-U combat module, equipped with a modern sighting system with automatic target tracking, a thermal imager and a panoramic view for the commander of a combat vehicle, is capable of hitting a 100 mm 2A70 gun and 30 mm 2A72 not only lightly armored targets and enemy manpower, but also long-term firing points Tanks. Due to the high-explosive shells "Cherry" with remote detonation BMD-4M with the installed "Bakhcha" can perform the function of mobile artillery landing.
It is worth noting that 2А70 and 2А72 are also developed by Arkady Shipunov and Vasily Gryazev.
“In the 100-mm gun 2А70 its creators Gryazev and Shipunov laid a resource in 500 shots. But a little later we tested the sample on 1500 shots. Checked up. There is no barrel wear or burnout burnout. So it is possible to bring the resource up to three thousand, ”Lev Shvets is convinced.
At the time of the creation of the Bakhchi, in terms of the capabilities of its sighting system, it was superior to the tanks that were then in service with the Russian Ground Forces. For example, a panorama of the workplace of a commander of a combat vehicle appeared relatively recently on T-72B4, which participated in a tank biathlon this year, but not yet commercially supplied to the Armed Forces of the country.
To compare the combat module, which now stands on the serial BMP-3, with “Bakhchoy-U” does not even make sense, so the product KBP exceeds its rival. True, according to Lev Shvets, it is possible that in the future, the BMP-3 will start installing combat modules for the PCU.
“For the Bakhchi-U installation, we only need the 27 volt power cable and connection to the combat vehicle’s speed sensor. No further modifications are required. Such conditions were identified by Arkady Shipunov when we were just starting this work, ”says the chief designer for armored vehicle complexes.
One BMP-2 with the Berehok combat compartment installed on it can replace up to four non-upgraded vehicles. "Berehok" - a module for the BMP-2. We put a new gunner's sight, on the stern of the fighting compartment we installed a panoramic sight of the commander in a special basket. There is the same MSA system there as on the “Bakhche”, but there are still AGS with a range of up to 2100 meters, and we also hung the Cornet ATGM, which can be fired even on the move. For especially dangerous purposes, we can use two anti-tank missiles in one beam. This option is effective in use against armored vehicles equipped with a complex of active as well as dynamic protection. Panorama for the commander - the development of our KBP. Guns, shells and sights, too, were created at the Instrument Engineering Design Bureau, ”emphasizes Lev Shvets.
In addition to Bakhchi-U and Berezhka, now at Shcheglovsky Val, work is already underway on the Bereg military compartment to upgrade the most massive Russian Airborne Forces vehicle, the BMD-2. There are solutions for BRDM.
Testament of the great master
The works of Arkady Shipunov cover a very large range of weapons systems, ranging from small arms to anti-aircraft missile systems. This is surprising, but the designer developed the pistol GSH-18 and immediately conducted work on the small-sized 9А-91, made the mobile "Armor". And in all areas of his work, Arkady Shipunov created true masterpieces, in many ways unparalleled in the world. Weapon systems born by the talent of Arkady Georgievich Shipunov are in demand not only from the Russian, but also from the foreign military.
And we should not forget that Arkady Shipunov was not only a brilliant designer, creator of various weapon systems, able to make a correct forecast of IWT development for several generations in advance, but also an astute leader and organizer of production, striving to do everything for his team. Even in the most difficult 90-ies, he managed not only to save the KBP and create the Shcheglovsky Val, but at the cost of incredible efforts to bring the unique Pantsir anti-aircraft missile-gun systems, the Bakhcha-U and Berehok ". He said: it is necessary to do, the time of these systems will come soon. And no mistake.
Arkady G. Shipunov forever enter into history Russian weapons as a great designer, an outstanding scientist, a wise and insightful leader, a talented production organizer.
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