How interesting is a person! More precisely, how interesting are the ways of human thought! A person is sure of one thing, but the output of his conclusions turns out to be completely opposite to the intended one. A person rejoices at the construction of a grandiose object. She reproaches everyone, from a handyman at a construction site to the president of the country, for the deadline for the completion of the facility, for the lack of funds to "accelerate". But when someone, regardless of position, finds a sponsor, often from competitors or enemies, a loud "cry" begins about patriotism, about national interests. We were betrayed! For an extra box of tiles, the foreman gave a worker to a neighbor to help him dig a pit for the restroom! And our construction site can get up from this!
And the person does not care deeply that there are no building materials. It does not matter that the worker is just sitting at "our" construction site. Without a job, which means no salary. The main thing is that the neighbor will not have a new restroom. And try to tell this patriot that he is a fool. That he is not a patriot of "our" construction site, but an enemy. He rushes to fight in holy confidence in his righteousness. "I agree to pierce the hole in the trouser belt again! I will tighten …". So what? Will you "tighten" and "poke a new hole in your belt" will there be money? Construction is expensive.
If you go right now to the pages of any mass media of a patriotic or military-political orientation, you will definitely find one, or even several articles about the lag of our defense industry in … Then you can insert whatever you like. In the construction of ships. In the modernization of aircraft. In the creation of new aircraft in general. The delay in re-equipping our Armed Forces with the new "Armata". In almost termination of development and further testing of many vehicles based on a promising tank. And everywhere there are angry comments from "patriots". Sabotage!
But the most interesting thing is that no one wants to look at the state defense order for the military-industrial complex. On how much the orders for the Russian army have been reduced. This means how many previously "planned" works and studies have stalled. The production is slowly, but goes over to the usual "starvation ration".
However, "patriotism" can strike from the other side. For products already created and even mass-produced by our industry. Moreover, this is also quite an interesting fact, such attacks appeared not so long ago. And the main thesis of such "patriotic" radicals looks quite beautiful. It looks right. "New weapons and equipment must first fully meet the needs of the Russian army, and then be supplied abroad!"
Anyone would like to argue? Thought really "warms the soul." It's hard to disagree. However, if we look at the very recent past, we will see a lot of interesting things that did not cause our indignation. Nobody is shouting about the need to rearm the Strategic Missile Forces on the S-300 with the letters. Behind the Urals, the "oldies" are still in service much worse than the 300s. Although anyone knows that it is these letters that make the complex simply great for performing certain tasks. And the fact that, for example, the Varshavyanka submarine abroad was larger than that of the Russian fleet? Not much, but more. And there was no "patriotic indignation"! And there are many such examples.
Today there is a lot of talk about the supply of Russian S-400 complexes to the Turks. How so? We arm a possible enemy! We ourselves strengthen our own opponents! Have we forgotten the lessons of 08.08.08? The Georgians shot down our planes with our own, delivered from Ukraine, "Buks" and "Wasps" …
It is not difficult to find out "where the legs grow" from this "patriotism". If we supplied S-400s to Venezuela or Indonesia, none of the "defenders of the Russian army" would even choke. Vice versa. Great deal from our "Oboronexport"! But we have one sluggishly smoldering, but not yet resolvable conflict. Nagorno-Karabakh!
A conflict that cannot yet be resolved. There is no way to convince both sides to compromise. Both Armenians and Azerbaijanis are confident in their righteousness and are ready to fight for Karabakh. Russia also cannot offer any way out in this matter.
Meanwhile, over the years that have passed since the collapse of the USSR, a completely new geopolitical situation has developed. Armenia became a union state. Today its security is guaranteed not only by Russia, but also by other countries. Azerbaijan is pursuing its own foreign policy. And he signed an agreement of friendship and mutual assistance with Turkey. And Baku has good relations with Georgia, "offended" and very eager for revenge.
How does it look from the side of a "sober" person? Russia "betrayed" Armenia and armed the air defense of the aggressors with its own best complexes! Now Baku and Ankara will be able to shoot down planes with our own missiles! But this is no longer "Buki" or "Wasp".
Only now the question arises. Unpretentious. Whose planes will the Turks and Azerbaijanis shoot down over Karabakh? Armenian? Are we so naive?
Think about it? I understand the concern of the Armenian media. On May 1, the joint tactical exercises of Baku and Ankara began. They are finished today. But the place of the exercise is Nakhichevan. This territory has long become pro-Turkish. And the goal … Joint actions of the Turkish and Azerbaijani armies in the face of opposition from enemy aircraft in mountainous terrain. The Armenians quite reasonably ask what kind of enemy is Baku talking about? Moreover, practicing actions near the borders of Armenia.
And if I add to the already stated that the Turks are planning to hold trilateral exercises this year? Ankara-Baku-Tbilisi? And if I also add that, according to some information, the Turks originally planned to purchase similar systems from NATO? And if I add that negotiations are underway on the sidelines about the possibility of organizing the production of the S-400 in Turkey? It remains only as in Ukraine - "Defense for Gilyak!"
Probably enough "pouring water" on the mill of "patriotism". It's time to switch to cold logic. Switch your brain from "patriotic frenzy" and search for enemies to formal logic. And first of all, a few questions to the readers.
Does anyone believe that Azerbaijan, even in an alliance with Turkey, will fight with Russia? Or provoke Russia to send troops to Armenia to cover the border? The past years have shown that Baku is pursuing a very balanced foreign policy. And the maximum that can be expected is provocations at the border. Moreover, on both sides. But for this we have a military base there.
Does anyone believe that Erdogan, having gained practically unlimited power, will want to risk it in a conflict with Russia? Does Turkey have a chance to win? I will immediately "cut off" those who have already opened their mouths to remind me of the Turkish membership in NATO. We saw this membership. After the downed aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces.
Maybe someone believes that Georgia will again try to regain the lost South Ossetia and Abkhazia? Repeat the 2008 war? Tbilisi is well aware that the Russians will not stop in front of their capital for the second time …
So why is selling the latest weaponry profitable? It is beneficial to Russia and beneficial to customers. The first thing to understand is that the weapons we manufacture have analogues abroad. In some indicators it is worse than ours, in some it is better. Those who graduated from the Soviet higher educational institutions remember very well how we prepared for the exams on the secret weapons of the Soviet army. Our secret grenade launcher has almost the same characteristics as Karl Gustaf. And about "Karlusha" you can safely read in "Foreign Military Review".
Second, weapons are a product of high technology. Modern weapons can be developed and produced by a limited number of countries. Therefore, the price for such weapons is "sky-high". The sale of one copy allows the plant to additionally release several new ones.
Third: truly revolutionary designs, which competitors do not yet have, are not put on the external market. Even when the world already knows about the existence of such weapons.
Fourth, the supply of modern weapons and equipment has a number of very significant advantages for "related products." The American Javelin costs from 200 to 250 thousand dollars, and the rocket to it from 100 to 125 thousand dollars. But the systems still need to be serviced, repaired, changed "consumables" …
And fifth: remember our famous Kalibr cruise missiles. Just remember the performance characteristics of these missiles before and after impact. For Russia, as the heir to the USSR, arms are probably the only commodity that we made like all "progressive mankind". The best for yourself, and for the rest something similar … But in the same "package".
There is one more detail that is little talked about. If I make weapons, then I thoroughly know its capabilities. And I have in my arsenal protection against attack by this very weapon. Which one? But these are already the secrets of manufacturers. In all countries.
so what? Are our defenders or statesmen traitors? If, in conditions of a limited resource, states find opportunities to fulfill a state order through the sale of their products? They do not wait for budget money after a month or two from the beginning of the year to come to the plant's accounts, but make products? If they do not expect money for "science", but use their own money earned on export? If, pardon the pathos, they don't take money away from old people and children?
Our government today is forced to "make a calm face", answering questions about the budget and the possibility of financing a variety of social and other programs. Although any person understands that it is difficult for us under the sanctions. But we are not giving up these programs.
So, dear "patriots", turn on the "thinker" before shouting about betrayal, sabotage, arming enemies. We are not at war today. And "defense" is our usual industry. She makes a product! The goods that the state buys from her on the domestic market. But the same product is in demand in the foreign market. The task of any production is to make money. Yes, the product is specific. High-tech product. But the product is expensive …
