Vladimir Putin held a meeting of Military-Industrial Commission

Vladimir Putin visited the Almaz-Antey Air and Space Defense Corporation, where he was updated on promising defense projects and held a meeting of the Military-Industrial Commission.

Vladimir Putin held a meeting of Military-Industrial Commission at the Almaz-Antey Air ad Space Defense Corporation.

The Almaz-Antey Air and Space Defense Corporation is a Russian group of companies that design and produce air and missile defense systems. The corporation comprises over 60 plants, research and production associations, design bureaus and research institutes.

The corporation produces ground and sea launched air defense missile systems and air and ground surveillance radar stations, automated control systems, as well as civilian equipment.

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Opening speech of Vladimir Putin at a meeting of the Military-Industrial Commission.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Good afternoon, colleagues.

The Military-Industrial Commission is meeting at the Almaz-Antey Corporation. Before we start discussing the issues on our agenda today, I would like to congratulate the corporation’s personnel and the other workers in our defense industry on Defense Workers’ Day. As you know, a monument to Kalashnikov was unveiled in Moscow today.

Vladimir Putin at the meeting of the Military-Industrial Commission.

I would like to thank the researchers, designers, engineers and workers who create reliable quality weapons and equipment for their responsible attitude and diligence. I wish new labor achievements, health and well-being to all of you and to your families.

Colleagues, today we will review a number of issues dealing with the development of the Army and Navy armament system and the further consolidation of defense industry organizations.

One of the priority tasks of design bureaus, research institutes and defense companies is the development and production of advanced arms and equipment that determine the combat power of the Russian Army.

Defense Minister of Russia Sergei Shoigu before the meeting of Military-Industrial Commission.

Importantly, it is necessary to keep this production independent of foreign components. For more than two years now, we have been carrying out the program for the import substitution of foreign spare parts and components for military production.

Today I would like to hear your reports on how the industry is implementing the planned import substitution measures.

Another important issue is the creation of a standard database on research and development, the results of intellectual activity and design documentation for military products. As you know, these data have not been systematized and are in the possession of both the state ordering customer and the main executor.

Vladimir Putin at the Almaz-Antey Air and Space Defense Corporation with Director General Yan Novikov.

Meanwhile, this database will obviously enhance the efficiency of the application of the results of ongoing research and development, as well as military and dual-purpose intellectual activities and technologies, particularly through their application in civilian sectors. In addition, it will create favorable conditions for promoting innovative development and enhancing the competitiveness of the defense industry.

Let me remind you that by 2025 the share of high-tech civilian and dual-purpose production should increase from 16 to 30 percent of the total commercial output.

I would like to discuss in detail the modernization of defense industry enterprises.

Vladimir Putin with Director of Almaz-Antey Air and Space Defense Corporation General Yan Novikov.

In May the question of assessing the efficiency of capital investment and its influence on reducing the cost of military output and decreasing the production cycle was raised at the meeting in Sochi.
Judging by the report on implementing state policy on defense industry that the Government submits every year, technical re-equipment is having a positive influence on the economic performance of defense industry enterprises and is enhancing their potential to produce advanced commercial armaments and equipment prototypes.

Overall, the defense industry reports sustainable growth rates that are higher than in many other industries. More precisely, output in the defense industry increased by 10.7 percent in 2016. Year-on-year production increased last year in all sectors, but growth was especially high in the electronics industry (18.5 percent), in the production of munitions and special chemicals (nearly 14.5 percent), conventional weapons (over 10 percent), aircraft manufacturing (9 percent) and shipbuilding (nearly 4 percent).

Vladimir Putin with Yan Novikov at the Almaz-Antey Air and Space Defense Corporation.

It is especially gratifying that production efficiency in integrated companies increased by 8.8 percent on average, while wages grew commensurately, which is a good sign. The majority of integrated companies balance labor efficiency growth and wage growth per worker.

However, labor efficiency at our companies is still lower than at their foreign rivals. Therefore, they need to continue reducing the prime cost of their produce by introducing resource-saving technology, streamlining their capacities and procurement activity, and other measures.

Before we start discussing the items on our agenda today, I would like to mention one more issue.
We have said many times that we need an effective system of fundamental and applied research, under which breakthrough technology will be introduced in production to strengthen national defenses and bolster our economic growth.

One possible form of this is a modern innovative techno polis or technology park, which will have conditions for creative activity by both young and experienced researchers. Personnel for this park can be recruited from the research platoons, which have proved their worth, from research institutes, corporation design bureaus and other related institutions. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has updated me on these ideas. I consider them to be interesting and promising. We must think about implementing them.

And now let us get down to work.

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PHOTO:

Head of the Federal Security Service Alexander Bortnikov (left) and Finance Minister Anton Siluanov before the meeting of Military-Industrial Commission.

Presidential Aide Andrei Belousov (left) and Secretary of the Security Council Nikolai Patrushev before the meeting of Military-Industrial Commission.

Head of the Foreign Intelligence Service Sergei Naryshkin (left) and Minister of the Interior Vladimir Kolokoltsev before the meeting of Military-Industrial Commission.

Presidential Aide Vladimir Kozhin (left) and Director of the Federal National Guard Service and Commander-in-Chief of the National Guard Viktor Zolotov before the meeting of Military-Industrial Commission.

Putin visited corvette Sovershenny

Vladimir Putin toured the new Russian Project 20380 Corvette Sovershenny moored in Ajax Bay near Russian Island, where the Eastern Economic Forum is being held.

Vladimir Putin toured the new Russian Project 20380 Corvette Sovershenny.

The captain showed the vessel’s equipment and armaments to Vladimir Putin .

The Sovershenny corvette is the first ship under Project 20380 built at the Amur Shipyard. The ship is intended for patrolling, fighting against surface and underwater ships of the enemy and supporting amphibious operations in the close-in sea zone. It was laid on the slipway on June 30, 2006.

Subsequently, the construction was stopped because of the lack of funding.


In 2009, Vladimir Putin, who was Prime Minister at that time, visited the Amur Shipyard, where he decided to raise funds for its completion using the most modern technologies. The ship was floated out on May 22, 2015. The transfer of the corvette to the Russian Navy’s Pacific Fleet took place on July 20, 2017.

After touring the ship, the President instructed the captain to draw up a list of problem areas to start work on the further improvement of this type of ships.

The President was accompanied by:

• Deputy Prime Minister and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District Yury Trutnev
• Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov
• Governor of the Primorye Territory Vladimir Miklushevsky
• Governor of the Khabarovsk Territory Vyacheslav Shport.

PHOTO:

New Project 20380 corvette Sovershenny.

Corvette Sovershenny.

Vladimir Putin on board of the new project 20380 corvette.

Vladimir Putin visited corvette Sovershenny.

Touring the new Project 20380 corvette.

Vladimir Putin watching a really BIG GUN :)

Touring the new Project 20380 corvette Sovershenny.

Vladimir Putin with Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov while touring the new Project 20380 corvette Sovershenny.

Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Vladimir Putin with Governor of the Khabarovsk Region Vyacheslav Shport while touring the new Project 20380 corvette Sovershenny.

Vladimir Putin and Governor of the Khabarovsk Region Vyacheslav Shport on board of corvette Sovershenny.

President met with permanent members of Security Council.

Vladimir Putin chaired a working meeting with members of the Security Council.

Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The discussion focused on current domestic matters. There was also an exchange of opinions on international issues in the context of participation in the G-20 summit and the extensive bilateral contacts planned on the sidelines of the summit.

The conference was attended by:

• Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev,
• Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko,
• State Duma Speaker Vyasheslav Volodin,
• Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Anton Vaino,
• Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev,
• Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov,
• Foreign Intelligence Service Director Sergei Naryshkin,
• Special Presidential Representative for Environmental Protection, Ecology and Transport Sergei Ivanov.

PHOTO:

Vladimir Putin at the beginning of the meeting with permanent members of Security Council.

Before a meeting with permanent members of Security Council.

Putin held a Commission for Military Technical Cooperation.

Vladimir Putin held a meeting of the Commission for Military Technical Cooperation with Foreign States.

Vladimir Putin at a meeting of the Commission for Military Technical Cooperation with Foreign States.

The Commission’s results for 2016 and the main areas of military technical cooperation for 2017–2019 were the items on the agenda.

Before the meeting, Mr Putin congratulated Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on his birthday and presented him with a collection of poetry by Russian poet and diplomat Fyodor Tyutchev (1803–1873).

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President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Colleagues,

This is the Commission for Military Technical Cooperation’s first meeting this year. I propose that we review the 2016 results and discuss the upcoming tasks in this area.

There have been some changes to the Commission’s membership. We will discuss this too, later. I hope that our colleagues will work effectively. I count on this, and I wish you success.

Regarding the 2016 results, Russia confidently held the second place in the world in 2016 in terms of military exports, which came to more than $15 billion. I remind you that we had a result of $14.5 billion in 2015. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) estimates that Russia accounts for 23 percent of global arms exports. The United States is substantially ahead, with 33 percent, and after us come China, with 6.2 percent, France, with 6 percent, and Germany, with 5.6 percent.

Thanks to their well-coordinated work, Russia’s defence industry companies not only performed with success on the competitive global market, but surpassed their target objectives. This is the case, above all, for companies such as MiG, NPO Mashinostroyeniya, Almaz-Antey, and Russian Helicopters. Their results are good, even excellent. MiG surpassed its target objectives by 118 percent, Rosoboronexport by 101 percent, NPO Mashinostroyeniya by 155 percent, Almaz-Antey (air defence systems) by 185 percent, and Russian Helicopters by 327 percent.

There is stable demand for Russian military exports and we export to 52 countries around the world. Last year, we signed new contracts for a total of $9.5 billion. Our defence industry’s export portfolio thus remains at the $50-billion level.

We plan to increase Russia’s presence on the global arms and military equipment market, enter new markets, expand our product range, and improve our arms’ quality characteristics. Last year, we signed 18 international contracts in the military technical cooperation area.

Russia’s arms are showing just how reliable and effective they are in the fight against terrorism in the Syrian Arab Republic and throughout the Middle East.

The use of aviation and air defence systems in real combat conditions is giving our flight, engineering and technical crews invaluable experience. The same is true for those enhancing our air defence systems and developing military goods. I want to thank them for their active work and for responding rapidly to feedback coming in when the military goods are in use. Our military goods are being put to use with success not just in combat conditions, in battle, but in humanitarian aims too.

For example, our newest mine clearing systems have been used to clear mines in Aleppo and Palmyra, and our equipment has been used to neutralise terrorists’ chemical weapons. Our mobile field hospitals, field kitchens have proven their effectiveness, as have our engineering systems, which help to restore civilian life and restore electricity and water supply to towns.

Let me note that we must continue to constantly analyse the experience we gain through practical use of our defence technology and improve our military training methods. This approach will help to develop ties within the military technical cooperation system and improve the quality of our defence industry’s goods.

Let’s start work.

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Link: http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/54089

PHOTO:

Meeting of the Commission for Military Technical Cooperation with Foreign States.

Meeting of Federal Security Service Board.

Vladimir Putin took part in an annual expanded meeting of the Federal Security Service (FSB) Board to discuss the FSB’s results for 2016 and the priority tasks for ensuring Russia’s national security.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Good afternoon.

These annual FSB Board meetings give us a chance to meet and not only thoroughly analyse and review the results of the agency’s work over the period, but also to discuss at length all important national security issues in general and outline the priorities for the immediate future and the longer-term.

The FSB plays a key part in protecting our constitutional order and our country’s sovereignty, and in protecting our people from threats at home and abroad.

Let me say from the start that last year’s results were positive and show good development. This concerns your work to counter terrorism and extremism, a series of successful counterintelligence operations, your efforts to combat economic crime, and other areas.

You ensured a high standard of security for major public events, including the State Duma election and regional and local elections.

I would like to thank both the executives and staff for their conscientious attitude towards their work and their timely and efficient performance of their duties.

At the same time, demands on the quality and results of your work grow constantly. The global situation has not become any more stable or better over the past year. On the contrary, many existing threats and challenges have only become more acute.

Military-political and economic rivalry between global and regional policy makers and between individual countries has increased. We see bloody conflicts continue in a number of countries in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. International terrorist groups, essentially terrorist armies, receiving tacit and sometimes even open support from some countries, take active part in these conflicts.

At the NATO summit last July in Warsaw, Russia was declared the main threat to the alliance for the first time since 1989, and NATO officially proclaimed containing Russia its new mission. It is with this aim that NATO continues its expansion. This expansion was already underway earlier, but now they believe they have more serious reasons for doing so. They have stepped up the deployment of strategic and conventional arms beyond the national borders of the principal NATO member states.

They are provoking us constantly and are trying to draw us into confrontation. We see continued attempts to interfere in our internal affairs in a bid to destabilise the social and political situation in Russia itself.

We also see the recent serious flare-up in southeast Ukraine. This escalation pursues the clear aim of preventing the Minsk Agreements from going ahead. The current Ukrainian authorities are obviously not seeking a peaceful solution to this very complex problem and have decided to opt for the use of force instead. What is more, they speak openly about organising sabotage and terrorism, particularly in Russia. Obviously, this is a matter of great concern.

The events and circumstances I have mentioned require our security and intelligence services, especially the Federal Security Service, to concentrate their utmost attention and effort on the paramount task of fighting terrorism.

We have already seen that our intelligence services dealt some serious blows to terrorists and their accomplices. Last year’s results confirm this: the number of terrorism related crimes has decreased.

Preventive work has also brought results. The FSB and other security agencies, with the National Antiterrorist Committee acting as coordinator, prevented 45 terrorism related crimes, including 16 planned terrorist attacks. You deserve special gratitude for this.

You need to continue your active efforts to identify and block terrorist groups’ activity, eliminate their financial base, prevent the activities of their emissaries from abroad and their dangerous activity on the internet, and take into account in this work Russian and international experience in this area.

The murder of our ambassador to Turkey was a terrible crime that particularly highlighted the need to protect our citizens and missions abroad. I ask you to work together with the Foreign Ministry and the Foreign Intelligence Service to take additional measures to ensure their safety.

You must also work to take our counterterrorism cooperation with partners abroad to a new level, despite the difficulties that we see in various areas of international life. It is a priority, of course, to intensify work with our partners in organisations such as the UN, the CSTO, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

It is in our common interests to restore dialogue with the US intelligence services and with other NATO member countries. It is not our fault that these ties were broken off and are not developing. It is very clear that all responsible countries and international groups should work together on counterterrorism, because even simply exchanging information on terrorists’ financing channels and sources and on people involved in or suspected of links with terrorism can substantially improve the results of our common efforts.

Our priorities include firmly suppressing extremism. Security methods must go hand-in-hand with constant prevention work. It is essential to prevent extremism from drawing young people into its criminal networks, and to form an overall firm rejection of nationalism, xenophobia, and aggressive radicalism. In this context, of great importance is open dialogue with civil society institutions and representatives of Russia’s traditional religions.

Counterintelligence services also face greater demands today. Operational data show that foreign intelligence services’ activity in Russia has not decreased. Last year, our counterintelligence services put a stop to the work of 53 foreign intelligence officers and 386 agents.

It is important to neutralise foreign intelligence services’ efforts to gain access to confidential information, particularly information concerning our military-technical capabilities.

This makes it a priority to improve our system for protecting classified information comprising state secrets, particularly with agencies going over to an electronic document circulation system.

I would like to note that the number of cyberattacks on official information resources tripled in 2016 compared to 2015. In this context, each agency must develop its segment of the state system for detecting and preventing cyberattacks on information resources and eliminating their consequences.

The public expects greater results in such key areas as economic security and the fight against corruption. I ask you to be particularly thorough in monitoring the funds allocated for state defence procurement (a subject I have spoken about before), major infrastructure projects, preparation of big international events, and implementing federal targeted and socially important programmes. Regrettably, we still see many cases of state funds being embezzled or misappropriated.

Reliable protection of our state borders plays a big part in ensuring our country’s comprehensive security. The priority here is to close off channels through which members of international terrorist and extremist groups enter Russia, and put a firm stop to all forms of smuggling, from weapons to drugs and various bio-resources.

Of course, we must continue the work to develop border infrastructure where it is not yet sufficiently developed, particularly in the Far East and in the Arctic.

Colleagues, let me stress that we will continue to bolster the FSB’s central and regional branches and ensure you have the most advanced arms and equipment. We will also continue to give attention to social provisions for FSB personnel and their family members.

I wish you success in protecting our national interests and the security of our country and our people. I am confident that you will continue working towards your targets with dignity.

Thank you for your attention.

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Link: http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/53883

VIDEO:

PHOTO:

Director of the Federal Security Service Alexander Bortnikov.

Vladimir Putin with Alexander Bortnikov at a meeting of the Federal Security Service board.

Vladimir Putin at a meeting of the Federal Security Service board.

Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation.