Defense Ministry Saves $748M by Disposing Unused Property

The Defense Ministry has saved more than 25 billion rubles ($748 million) by transferring unused property to regional and municipal authorities, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Tuesday.

Speaking at the ministry’s situation center, Shoigu said the armed forces held a lot of surplus property that could be either turned into municipal property or sold.

He also said the ministry had been sustaining “colossal losses” from maintaining and guarding the disused facilities, Interfax reported.

In June, the government supported a ministry initiative to invite outside organizations to assist in the sale of its property as part of a ministry decentralization policy.

Work Begins on 6th Missile Boat for Caspian Flotilla

Construction work has begun on a sixth attack missile boat for the Russian Navy’s Caspian Flotilla.

The Zelenodolsk shipyard, based in Russia’s Tatarstan Republic, is building the series of six missile boats under a 2010 contract with the Defense Ministry. All the boats are due to enter service with the Caspian fleet.

The first two missile corvettes – the Grad Sviyazhsk and the Uglich – were floated out on June 22 and August 22, respectively. Another three – the Veliky Ustyug, the Zelyony Dol and the Serpukhov – are under construction.

The sixth boat has been named the Vyshny Volochek, a shipyard official told RIA Novosti. He did not say when the ships would be completed or what the total construction costs would be.

New Special Machine AC-1 “Kalashnikov” Demonstrated for The First Time

The first public demonstration of the new spent in machine AC-1. So on the Day of Innovation concern “Kalashnikov” has demonstrated professional public special machines – AC-1 in caliber 5.45 x 39 mm and AS-2 of 7.62 × 39 mm, originally developed by order of the Federal Security Service to perform special operations.

In the future, automatic speaker can be included in the complex weapons gear soldier of the future called “Ratnik.”

The main feature of the new machine has a circuit diagram layout “bullpup.” According to representatives of the concern “Kalashnikov”, in new developments Izhevsk plant, along with the “classic” layout for the first time will use commercially popular in the special forces scheme “bullpup” in which the impactor and the shop is located behind the trigger.

Russian Army Indicates ‘Cyber-Force’ Plan Underway

A senior Russian military official indicated that Russia is in the process of setting up a special force for cyber warfare.

“If such work is being done, it means it’s probably needed. Everything will be done by deadlines defined by [Defense] Minister, and you’ll know about it when it’s done,” Shoigu’s deputy Oleg Ostapenko said.

Plans to create a military cyber-force were first announced last fall by Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin. A military source told RIA Novosti in July on condition of anonymity that these new troops will come into being by 2014.

Inflatable Tanks Join Drones at Defence Show

Russian Minister of Defence Sergey Shoygu inspected latest military developments at the Ministry of Defence Day of Innovations in Moscow.

In a special pavilion, closed for the press, high-ranking military officials could see new modifications of standard-issue weapons including the AK-74, АК-12, АК-103-3 and the Dragunov sniper rifle (SVDM). There was also a new generation of bulletproof vest displayed which is part of the “Warrior” (Ratnik) gear – the new Russian military combat gear, which is also called “set for soldier of the future” – a complex of more than 50 optical, communications and body armour components. In 2014, the ministry plans to deliver tens of thousands of “Warrior” sets to ground troops, navy and marine forces.

Outdoors, the expo included various armoured vehicles, unmanned drones, planes and helicopters in addition to decoy inflatable tank and missile systems. Also on show was the first prototype of a Russian combat exoskeleton for special military units. The exoskeleton weights 12kg and enables a soldier to carry up to 100 kg of ammunition.

Russia to Participate in First Naval Expo in India

Russia’s Rosoboronexport (ROE) company will participate in the first Indian naval show “NAMEXPO-2013” to be held in Cochin on September 23-27.

“NAMEXPO-2013” has been organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in partnership with the Indian Navy and the Government of Kerala with the support of Defence Ministry and Government of India. According to ROE spokesman the participation in the naval expo will further consolidate the position of the company as export monopoly. “Cooperation with India in naval field has a great geopolitical significance, Russia is participating in the majority of naval shipbuilding projects in this country. Bilateral cooperation is successfully going on in naval aviation and weapons,” ROE spokesman said.

Mass Media Learned About Change of Director of Helicopters of Russia Holding

The Rostec state corporation won’t prolong the contract expiring in September with the general director of Helicopters of Russia holding Dmitry Petrov. About it the “Kommersant” was told some sources in the market.

According to them, Petrov will retire after the MAX international salon which will pass from August 27 to September 1. The basic decision in this respect already “is almost made”, interlocutors of the edition speak.

The candidate of the new head of “Helicopters of Russia” is known — the deputy general director of the Rosoboronexport company under control to “Rostec” Alexander Mikheyev who is responsible for the aviation direction becomes him.

Russia to Finance Chinese Pilots Show at MAKS

Russian President Vladimir Putin has instructed Russian weapon producers to finance the “August First” Chinese pilot group’s performances at the MAKS-2013 airshow that will run in the city of Ramenskoe near Moscow from the 26th of August to the 1st of September.

Russia plans to spend 28 million rubles (about $850,000) for the reception of the Chinese group that will make its performance outside the country for the first time, says Moscow-based daily Komersant citing official sources. According to a source, the Chinese pilots show was approved by Vladimir Putin supporting a request by the Defence Ministry on July 27.

The Defence Ministry will assume airfield maintenance of planes and fueling them at intermediate points of landing. The rest will be distributed among Rostekh, Tactical Missile Armament Corporation and the United Aircraft Corporation. The three corporations said that they were aware of the President’s instructions and were working actively to render sponsorship support.

Russian Defence Minister Congratulates Winners of First All-Army Competitions in Tank Biathlon

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu congratulated winners of the first all-army Tank biathlon competition, which concluded in the Moscow suburbs of Alabino.

The first place in the Tank biathlon competition was won by Russian crew of the Western Military Command. The winners were awarded with a revolving prize – a model of the T-34, as well as with cars. The crew of Belarus, Armenia and Kazakhstan were awarded with medals of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation “For strengthening of military cooperation”.

“I want to specially thank our guests from the Armed Forces of Armenia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, whose participation in the tournament has given it an international status”, the minister said at the closing ceremony. He expressed hope that such competitions will become prominent and will help in the strengthening of ties of friendship and trust between countries.

Russia, Azerbaijan Agree on Oil, Gas Project as Putin Visits Baku

Azerbaijani President Aliyev told reporters after a meeting with Putin that Moscow and Baku planned to continue military and technical collaboration.

According to Aliyev, his country’s defense industry cooperation with Russia is worth $4 billion and keeps growing. Azerbaijan is among the top buyers of Russian arms and other military equipment, which, Aliyev said, is considered the best in the world.

The two countries’ emergencies ministries signed a cooperation plan for 2013-2015, and a new program to train Azerbaijani emergencies staff will soon be worked out, a Russian ministry spokeswoman said.