On the eve of the 75th anniversary of the beginning of the enterprise's activity, Deputy General Director of the Scientific and Production Corporation "Uralvagonzavod" for special equipment Vyacheslav KHALITOV answered the questions of the correspondents of the "National Defense" magazine.
Vyacheslav Gilfanovich, what events do you consider significant in the history of Uralvagonzavod?
- Undoubtedly, a long list of such significant events opens the release of the first heavy wagons in the fall of 1936. After all, initially the main purpose of the new plant was precisely in the production of purely peaceful products - railway rolling stock. The Ural Carriage Works is the brainchild of the first five-year plans, which put our country on a par with the world's largest industrial powers.
However, after five years, the company had to put on an overcoat. In 1941, eleven industrial enterprises were evacuated to Nizhniy Tagil from the western regions of the USSR. With their participation, UVZ was redesigned into a tank plant, which in the same year began to produce products for the needs of the front. In a very short time, Nizhny Tagil turned into a "tank city". Without exaggeration, it was a labor feat of workers, engineers and employees. Already in 1941, for the first time in the world, a tank conveyor was launched, from which over 25 thousand legendary T-34 tanks rolled off by the end of the war. They fought at Stalingrad, on the Kursk Bulge, liberated Vienna and Prague, thousands of other cities and towns in our country and abroad, stormed Berlin. Every second T-34 tank that took part in the hostilities of the Great Patriotic War was assembled in Nizhny Tagil. This formidable combat maneuverable vehicle is deservedly recognized as the best tank of the Second World War. And the contribution of Uralvagonzavod to the great Victory is undoubtedly significant.
By the way, during the war years UVZ was engaged not only in the mass production of tanks. Armored hulls for "flying tanks" - the famous Il-2 attack aircraft, were also forged in his workshops. The plant also produced aerial bombs.
After the war, Uralvagonzavod turned into a diversified enterprise. The plant resumed the production of railway rolling stock. On March 19, 1946, the first heavy-duty platform rolled out of the factory gates. In 1947, the production of gondola cars began, and in 1948 - covered cars. I would like to note that the resumption of carriage production took place at a qualitatively new level. It relied on advanced military technologies mastered during the war. This allowed Uralvagonzavod to start manufacturing complex railway equipment - isothermal tanks based on vacuum powder insulation. They were designed to transport liquid oxygen. Our enterprise has developed dozens of modifications of isothermal railway and stationary tanks, which are widely used in various sectors of the national economy.
T-90 tanks are among the best in the world.
"Terminator" tank support combat vehicle.
In the shops of the Uralvagonzavod, construction and agricultural machinery was assembled, in which there was an acute need in the post-war years. The plant also took part in the implementation of orders for the then emerging space industry.
At the same time, Uralvagonzavod continued to be one of the pillars of the country's defense-industrial complex. The Cold War made it necessary to take seriously the strengthening of military power. Already in 1954, the T-54 medium tank went into production, and in 1958 the production of the T-55 and its numerous modifications began. For their time, these were outstanding combat vehicles. Back in the years of the Great Patriotic War, the designers of plant No. 183, as the Uralvagonzavod was then designated, on the basis of the T-34 created the T-44 tank with a unique layout. Due to the transverse installation of the engine and transmission, it was possible to significantly reduce the length and height of the vehicle, as well as to shift the turret to the middle of the hull, thereby relieving the front rollers. The same scheme was applied to the T-54/55. On the new tank, the armor was increased and a 100-mm cannon was installed. The low silhouette and rounded turret added to the protection. These tanks were delivered not only to units of the Soviet Army, but also to other countries. They are still in service in the armies of a number of states. The corporation's enterprises continue to receive applications from foreign customers for the modernization of T-54/55 machines.
T-34 tanks can often be seen even now. They became monuments to the feat of Soviet soldiers and home front workers.
On its own initiative, Uralvagonzavod created the T-62 medium tank, which in 1961 began to enter the troops. He received a 115-mm smooth-bore semi-automatic cannon with ammunition of 40 armor-piercing sub-caliber, cumulative and high-explosive fragmentation shells.
And, of course, the development and serial production of the main T-72 "Ural" tank - the most massive tank of the second post-war generation, became a milestone for Uralvagonzavod. It was put into service in 1973 and since then has been the main striking force of the Ground Forces of the USSR and Russia, as well as the armies of many other states. I will not talk about it in detail, since the readers of the National Defense magazine probably know this car well.
The contribution of Uralvagonzavod to the Victory in the Great Patriotic War can hardly be overestimated. The merit of the enterprise is also great in strengthening the country's defense capability in the post-war years. What does UVZ offer the Armed Forces today?
- If we talk about the tanks produced by the head enterprise of the corporation in Nizhny Tagil, then these are various modifications of the T-90 missile and cannon tank, which, according to many domestic and foreign experts, is one of the best modern armored vehicles. Work on promising machines does not stop either.
One of the new products is the Terminator tank support combat vehicle (BMPT). Our designers are constantly improving it.
BMR-3M armored demining vehicle.
Engineering vehicle for clearing IMR-3.
When the Uralvagonzavod Scientific and Production Corporation was founded in 2007, the holding included many industrial enterprises, research institutes and design bureaus of the Russian military-industrial complex, which significantly expanded the product line. Here one cannot but recall Uraltransmash, which produces 152-mm self-propelled guns "Msta-S", or Plant No. 9 - a developer and manufacturer of artillery systems for the Ground Forces, the Special Design Bureau of Transport Engineering - the developer of the T-80 tank with a gas turbine engine. The Nizhny Novgorod "Burevestnik" is engaged in the creation of guns for the Navy and army mortars, the Omsk design bureau of transport engineering is known for the heavy flamethrower system TOS-1A, and the Rubtsovsky branch - for the command combat reconnaissance vehicles BRM-3K and mobile reconnaissance points equipped with modern collection means. processing and transmission of information. This list can be continued for a long time.
Not everything depends on the corporation. The Defense Ministry is still in the process of shaping the future image of the Russian Armed Forces and fine-tuning the mechanism of interaction with industry. So, this year UVZ received a contract from the Ministry of Defense only for the modernization of T-72 tanks.
Mobile drilling platforms are manufactured for the needs of the oil and gas industry.
At the upcoming exhibition in Nizhny Tagil, the modernized T-90S tank will be demonstrated. How is it different from the tanks of this family of earlier models?
- The main direction of modernization is a new tower, which is equipped with an improved fire control system, an automatic loader and a cannon, as well as additional remotely controlled machine gun weapons and protection. Particular attention is paid to increasing the commander's capabilities in tactical control of a tank and a subunit, searching for targets and controlling the fire of the main weapons in all types of combat equally effectively day and night. The software and hardware complex gives the commander the most complete picture of the battle. The controllability of the tank has been significantly improved due to the introduction of automatic gear shifting and a steering drive from the steering wheel. A more powerful main engine was installed. There is an additional power unit that will provide power supply to the tank in the parking lot. At the same time, the dimensions of the vehicle did not increase, but in terms of weight, it continues to remain in the 50 t class, surpassing all other modern tanks in this indicator. We are confident that the modernized T-90S will be appreciated by domestic and foreign specialists.
Uralvagonzavod is a leading supplier of armored vehicles to the world market. What, in your opinion, are the prospects of the enterprise in this business sector?
- Indeed, UVZ today is the leader in the export of armored vehicles. And this is no coincidence. For maneuverability and firepower
T-90S is superior to foreign samples. And at the price it is more affordable than its competitors. However, we do not rest on our laurels, but we are constantly improving our machines. The upgraded T-90S tank you asked about is an example of this. Its security, speed characteristics and maneuverability have been increased. Combat capabilities have also expanded through the introduction of modern means of observation, detection, information processing, control and communication. The modernized T-90S surpasses the existing main battle tanks in terms of the sum of its qualities. And we are confident that it will attract foreign customers.
The Terminator tank support combat vehicle has great export potential. When this machine is shown at international arms exhibitions, it invariably turns out to be included in the top lists of popular exhibits. Foreign military delegations also come to the test site of the Nizhniy Tagil Institute for Testing Metals in order to see the Terminator in action.
The production of railway rolling stock is one of the priority areas of the civil sector of Uralvagonzavod.
The road construction equipment of Uralvagonzavod is in steady demand.
Potential foreign customers are also interested in the TOS-1A heavy flamethrower system, the BREM-1 armored recovery vehicle, the BMR-3M armored demining vehicle, the IMR-3 engineering barrage vehicle and other military equipment of the corporation.
The volume of civilian production of Uralvagonzavod exceeds the military component. What is the nomenclature of civilian products today?
- One of your colleagues once remarked that Uralvagonzavod is an "industrial masterpiece", meaning that the Nizhny Tagil enterprise is the largest industrial enterprise in the world. After the formation of the corporation, it became an industrial masterpiece squared. The design bureaus and factories of the association are capable of creating and producing a wide variety of engineering products. In total, the corporation's enterprises produce about two hundred types of products for various purposes. Still, there are priorities. This is still the production of rolling stock for railways. Last year, we put into operation in Nizhny Tagil the southern aisle of the paint shop - production at the highest modern level. Road construction equipment is in great demand. The volume of production of oil and gas equipment, including mobile drilling platforms, is expanding. Urban trams produced by Uraltransmash are also a very promising business, since the country's tram fleet is outdated and needs to be replaced.
Did the management of Uralvagonzavod have any desire to leave the military business and completely reorient production towards the production of more predictable civilian products on the market?
- I do not agree with you that the civil sector is "more predictable." Very unexpected turns occur in it, including unpleasant ones. But the way out of peak situations largely depends on the quality of management, on the qualifications of engineers, designers and workers, that is, on the employees of the enterprise themselves. And here, indeed, there is more clarity than in cases where the enterprise depends on misunderstanding or, even worse, whims.
But this is all theory. In fact, first of all, we understand our responsibility for ensuring the country's defense capability. And, secondly, the corporation itself was created in order to preserve and develop scientific and production potential for creating promising complexes of armored and artillery weapons, rationalizing defense production and increasing the competitiveness of products.
Uralvagonzavod today is not just a large machine-building plant, but a research and production corporation that unites more than twenty enterprises of various profiles. How are the relations between the individual links of this complex machine built? How do they interact with each other?
- Today we can already say that the holding has taken place. Its integrated structure of a diversified machine-building complex has been created, in which high technologies of the defense industry act as locomotives for the development of the civil sector. On the other hand, civilian innovations are fueling military projects.
However, it is too early to say that the corporation acts like a well-oiled machine. Many enterprises of the holding, for a number of reasons, do not yet operate synchronously. Therefore, the mechanism and structure of the corporation need to be improved. What we are working on.
In conclusion of our conversation, I would like to note that the 75th anniversary of UVZ practically coincides with the 90th anniversary of the Russian tank building. Therefore, let me congratulate the tank builders, soldiers of the armored forces, veterans of the industry and the Armed Forces on this glorious date and assure them that Uralvagonzavod will not let you down!
