On June 20, 1957, by a decree of the Council of the Minister of the USSR, a new enterprise of the defense industry was founded. The Izhevsk Radio Engineering Plant, which was being created in those years, was needed by the country for the production of various electronic components of weapons. 55 years have passed since that time, the plant changed its name several times, but not only did not stop working, but also became one of the largest enterprises in the defense industry.
Construction of the plant 1957
In workshops 80s
An interesting story is connected with the creation of the plant. Initially, a sewing factory was built near the Izhevsk pond. However, a number of factors of foreign and domestic policy forced the country's military leadership to insist on changing the profile of the enterprise under construction. As a result, the already partially built garment factory turned into factory # 444, where it was planned to "sew" radio-electronic equipment for controlling anti-aircraft guided missiles. The first workshops of the plant were built and equipped already in 1958. In 58, the plant received its first task - to master the serial production of K5I-1 control units for anti-aircraft missiles. In the autumn of the same year, the enterprise was renamed into Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant (IEMZ). By the end of December 1958, the plant employees assembled an initial batch of K-5I blocks and handed it over to the customer. The next year, 1959, was marked by the continued construction of production facilities, a change in the structure of workshops and departments, as well as a sharp increase in production rates. So, for the 59th year, the number of IEMZ workers almost doubled and reached the mark of one and a half thousand people. As for the only product so far - blocks K5I-1 - 1904 units were produced in 1959. In the sixties, the Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant entered with new workshops, new employees and new positions in the product range. In 1960, the production of telemetry equipment for anti-aircraft missiles was mastered.
SAM "OSA"
SAM "TOR-M1"
Preparation for field testing
The following years were marked by the completion of the construction of new workshops and the development of new products. The production of a number of systems was started not only for anti-aircraft, but also for ballistic missiles. In particular, the equipment for the emergency detonation of 8K11 and 8K14 missiles was manufactured in Izhevsk. A little later, in 61st, plant # 444 was ordered to start producing several elements of the Krug military anti-aircraft missile system. To carry out these works, it was necessary to expand production capacity and build another workshop. The production of blocks for the Krug air defense missile system significantly spurred the pace of the plant's development. So, for the period from 1961 to 1965, the total volume of IEMZ products increased by four and a half times, and the list of manufactured products consisted of more than 70 thousand positions, the staff of the enterprise totaled almost six thousand people.
Shipment of equipment
SAM on the march
2000s
In the second half of the sixties and early seventies, the development of the Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant received a new impetus. The enterprise was given a task to produce almost all the electronics of the Osa anti-aircraft missile system, both the missile and its ground part. To ensure the production of ordered components, two more workshops and several special departments had to be created. Throughout the seventies, the main product of IEMZ was equipment for the Osa air defense missile system, but by the end of the decade the enterprise began to prepare for the release of new electronics. At this time, a new anti-aircraft complex "Tor" was being designed at the Moscow Research Electromechanical Institute. Its production was planned to be deployed in Izhevsk, so IEMZ employees took part in the development to some extent. In 1981, the first prototype of the Torah was assembled, and a few years later, Izhevsk workers began to manufacture serial anti-aircraft systems. The development of new products for the military air defense entailed the termination of the assembly of the Osa complexes. Since 1980, the 9K33M3 "Osa-AKM" air defense system was assembled at IEMZ, and in the 88th their production ended. On the basis of the design of the Osa-AKM air defense missile system, the Saman-M1 target complex was created, designed to launch training targets during training firing with anti-aircraft missiles.
SAM OSA AKM
RK Tor-M2E (9K332MK) at MAKS-2009
SAM "Tor-M2K"
Since the mid-eighties, the Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant has launched the production of several modifications of the "Tor" complex, including the newest "Tor-M2". The plant manufactures electronics for combat vehicles, as well as other elements of their towers. Several years ago, a variant of the complex called "Tor-M2E" with a wheeled chassis produced by the Minsk MKTZ was presented.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the plant, which had recently received the name "Kupol", had to look for ways to survive and develop civilian products. Already in 1992 IEMZ produced the first batches of equipment for the oil industry. Later, the range of non-military products was expanded with climatic equipment, primarily heating systems, special equipment for the nuclear industry, etc.
In 2002, the Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant, due to its specialization and extensive experience in creating electronics for anti-aircraft systems, changed its legal status. The Federal State Unitary Enterprise became an open joint stock company and became part of the Almaz-Antey Air Defense Concern. As part of the concern, the Kupol plant, together with other enterprises, completed the creation of the Tor-M2 complex and is further developing this family of domestic short-range air defense systems.
