In early August, the leadership of the State Space Research and Production Center (GKNPTs) named after V. I. M. V. Khrunichev. The purpose of the appointment of new leaders was the recovery of the enterprise, caused by the existing problems. New dignitaries must solve existing problems and restore the potential of the enterprise. Last week, a plan for the financial recovery of the Center was presented.
Last Thursday, September 11, the new general director of GKNPTs im. Khrunichev Andrey Kalinovskiy presented to the leadership of the space industry the developed action program aimed at restoring the enterprise. Development plan of the Center. Khrunichev was developed in accordance with the April instructions of Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. The proposed rehabilitation program was reviewed and approved by the Supervisory Board of the United Rocket and Space Corporation (URSC). In the near future, the package of documents will be sent for consideration to the related departments and the Federal Space Agency. After obtaining all required permits, the program must be approved by the government.
The proposed program for the restoration of the potential of GKNPTs them. Khrunicheva is important for the domestic space industry, since this enterprise is one of its main "locomotives". The head of the URCS Igor Komarov noted that the plan for the financial rehabilitation of the Center will be adopted in less than a month, since the enterprise needs urgent assistance. In his opinion, the situation is "difficult, but not hopeless." Thus, the implementation of the measures developed under the new plan will begin in the very near future.
Deputy General Director of the URSC Pavel Popov told the press about the current state of the State Research and Production Space Center named after Khrunichev, and also touched upon the reasons for the observed phenomena. In his opinion, the reason for the present deplorable state of the enterprise is the wrong organization of production. Because of this, since 2007, the Center has been constantly suffering losses. The accumulated loss from operating activities reached 11.9 billion rubles, and debts to suppliers amount to about 14.7 billion rubles. In addition, there are colossal debts to banks. According to P. Popov, the Center. Khrunicheva, suffering losses, did not declare them. The corresponding statements appeared only at the end of last year, when the situation became too difficult.
The press cites other details of the position of the State Research and Production Space Center im. Khrunichev. According to the publication "Vzglyad", the company has a negative profit forecast for this year: -27%. Labor productivity is 30% below the industry average. The average salary of employees is 37 thousand rubles. The utilization rate of the enterprise does not exceed 40%, the wear and tear of the equipment has reached 60%. Thus, the condition of the Center is constantly deteriorating and requires urgent action.
It is planned to invest over 50 billion rubles in the rehabilitation of the enterprise. 38 billion is planned to be borrowed from VEB Bank with repayment until 2023. Of this amount, 27 billion will be required in 2015, and in 2016 and 2017 it is planned to use 4 and 7 billion, respectively. Deputy head of the URCC P. Popov noted that the possibility of subsidizing the interest rate on the loan at the state expense is being considered. It is supposed to attract subsidies for 9 billion rubles.
An additional 10 billion will be invested by the Center. Khrunichev independently. From 2016 to 2025, it is planned to conclude several long-term contracts for the construction of several modifications of the Proton and Angara launch vehicles, as well as the Briz-M upper stages. Taking into account the company's own investments, investments in the rehabilitation program should exceed 56 billion rubles.
In addition to investing finance, it is planned to carry out a number of organizational and production transformations. Thus, it is planned to organize a full cycle of production of new carrier rockets "Angara" at the Omsk PO "Polet". Rockets "Proton" and upper stages, in turn, will be produced only in Moscow, without the participation of Omsk specialists. In addition, it is necessary to optimize the production areas of the Center in Moscow and Omsk, which will improve their performance. Thanks to such transformations and the concentration of production at two sites, labor productivity will almost triple by 2018.
Currently, some of the Moscow production facilities are not used. More than half of the area of the Moscow plant of the Center. Khrunichev is planned to be transferred to the management of state banks by 2018. It is assumed that such a step will make it possible to get rid of unused areas and thereby get rid of the costs of their maintenance, as well as receive money for the development of other capacities. Currently GKNPTs them. Khrunicheva has workshops with a total area of 341, 3 thousand square meters. m. By 2018, this parameter will decrease to 123, 1 thousand square meters. m.
Financial problems force the company to abandon the production of some of its products. GKNPTs them. Khrunicheva will continue to build launch vehicles, but will refuse to manufacture part of the spacecraft and modules for the ISS. Like some other measures, such steps are intended to optimize the production process.
In addition to production sites, the changes will affect the Salyut design bureau. In the near future, it is planned to transfer all the documentation of this organization to digital format. It is planned to switch to modern computers of domestic production, designed to speed up work and increase their efficiency. In addition, Salyut's engineers will soon move to a new building. All the proposed measures that will be applied to the design office will help optimize the development process for new projects, as well as simplify testing and other work.
The new general director of GKNPTs them. Khrunicheva A. Kalinovsky believes that the proposed plan will help the company to get out of the crisis and regain lost ground. In the future, the renovation and improvement of the Center will allow it to once again become one of the leading rocket and space enterprises in the world. Booster rockets under construction by the Center. Khrunichev, are used to launch Russian and foreign spacecraft, and such cooperation with other countries should continue.
The main type of products is GKNPTs im. Khrunichev are the Proton launch vehicles of interest to both domestic and foreign organizations. Nevertheless, the Russian rockets have a competitor: the Falcon 9 launch vehicle of the American company SpaceX. According to P. Popov, deputy general director of the URSC, in the future, the Proton missiles will be able to compete with the American design in terms of price. If SpaceX is able to create a launch vehicle with a launch cost of about $ 55 million, capable of injecting a payload into a geotransfer orbit, it will become a leader in launching spacecraft weighing up to 4.5 tons. Nevertheless, ORKK and GKNPTs them. Khrunichev with the existing Protons will be able to compete with the Falcon 9, albeit with some reservations.
Certain risks for the Russian space industry are borne by the American project of the Falcon Heavy launch vehicle with a declared launch price of $ 81 million. Because of such missiles, according to P. Popov, a new pricing format may appear on the market. Nevertheless, in this case, the Russian space industry will be able to enter the market with lucrative offers, but this will require investments in the development of new technology.
The ability of Russian launch vehicles to compete with foreign counterparts is cause for optimism. However, in order to regain positions in the international launch market and expand its influence on the Russian space industry, it is necessary to restore the potential of a number of leading enterprises. GKNPTs them. M. V. Khrunicheva is currently in an extremely difficult situation and needs urgent financial recovery. The proposed program for the rescue and development of the enterprise should be adopted as soon as possible. Its first results will be visible in a few years.
