The first Ural exhibition of weapons, military and special equipment, and defense technologies, "URAL EXPO ARMS-99", was held in Nizhny Tagil

The peculiarity of the Nizhny Tagil premiere is that the exhibition, which was of national scale and character, was intended to generate international attention. The significance of the exhibition is reflected in the participation of more than a hundred manufacturers of unique military products from all regions and republics of the Urals, as well as other regions of Russia. The seriousness of the plans and intentions of the exhibition organizers was confirmed by Russian President Boris Yeltsin in his address to the participants and guests, who noted that the exhibits presented were yet another confirmation of the immense potential of the Russian military-industrial complex. "Today, Russia is creating a modern Armed Forces capable of responding to the most serious challenges of our time," the President emphasized. "They must have the most advanced, highly efficient, and mobile equipment. I am confident that Russian weapons manufacturers will meet this important task and continue the glorious traditions of their predecessors."

Everything that we, the journalists accredited at Uralexpo, were able to see was a clear confirmation of the words of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief.

35 enterprises, research institutes, and design bureaus - manufacturers of weapons and military equipment from eleven regions of Russia - exhibited their samples in the so-called ground-based part of the Ural exhibition. Here, we should mention another main difference between the exhibition in Nizhny Tagil. It is not narrowly focused. While Zhukovsky traditionally showcases aviation, and Omsk showcases armored vehicles, our exhibition featured

almost all types of weapons, except for long-range missiles. All of this was made possible by the uniqueness of the Nizhny Tagil test site, which belongs to the Institute of Metal Testing.

In fact, the Staratel test site is unique in Russia. In 1939, it was the site of the first test shot from a 122-mm howitzer of the 1938 model. Today, NTIIM develops and produces equipment that allows for the recording of up to 60 projectile parameters during flight.

Another advantage of a polygon is its size. So, for example, the Perm JSC Motovilikha Plants did not have any problems with showing the Grad multiple launch rocket system in action, despite the fact that the maximum firing range is 42.5 kilometers. There is also a specially equipped helipad at the training ground, from which the famous K-50 "Black Shark" helicopter, the pride of the Kamov company, took to the sky in front of the audience during the exhibition days. The designers have been working on it for 15 years, and as a result, the Russian helicopter surpasses similar helicopters in the world in most parameters. Thanks to its advanced electronic equipment, the Black Shark can be operated by a single pilot, which delighted the foreign guests. Additionally, the KAMOV company has developed a two-pilot version of its leading helicopter, the Alligator. I would like to mention that the Black Shark caused a sensation at the exhibition. A high degree of freedom in flight, hovering and turning in place, moving sideways and "tail" forward - the designers of Western aircraft are still striving for such maneuverability.

On the ground, the Omsk and Tagil T-80U, T-72, and T-90S tanks, as well as the Ural vehicles, demonstrated their mobility and firepower.

"KamAZ", "ZIL", and Uralvagonzavod's technical support and engineering vehicles, nicknamed modern "tachanka" motorcycles from Irbit equipped with machine guns.

All this power attracted the attention of the exhibition guests, including Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Government Ilya Klebanov, Colonel General Sergei Maev, Head of the Main Armored Directorate of the Russian Ministry of Defense, Grigory Rapota, then General Director of the state-owned enterprise Rosvooruzhenie, Alexey Moskovsky, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, and representatives of delegations and media from 27 countries around the world. Additionally, 12 delegations arrived in Nizhny Tagil from the Ministries of Economy and Foreign Economic Relations. These were potential buyers and customers of Russian weapons.

At the exhibition, they were able to see that the core of the military-industrial complex in the Urals and in Russia as a whole has been preserved, and that the Ural armor is still strong. Ilya Klebanov expressed this sentiment simply and clearly. "The rumors about the death of the military-industrial complex are greatly exaggerated," he said. "And everyone is very tired of them." The numbers provide the best evidence of this. Of the 1.6 million workers employed in the industrial sector of the Sverdlovsk region, 250,000 work in the military-industrial complex. In recent years, thanks to the efforts of the governor and the regional government, these enterprises have been getting back on their feet, and specialists are returning to their usual jobs. An example of this is the Vysokogorsky Mechanical Plant and the Uralvagonzavod, which have expanded their workforce by approximately 800 people. This year, the Uralvagonzavod is close to reaching the production levels of 1989. Back then, it produced 2,200 tanks. Considering that just a year ago, this number did not exceed ten tanks, the results are impressive. Most importantly, the military-industrial complex has preserved all the scientific and design personnel who worked on defense projects. The Ural region's achievements at the exhibition are a visible result of their hard work.

What are the results of "URAL EXPO ARMS-99"? The main result is obvious: the Ural and all Russian military-industrial complex enterprises have once again demonstrated their achievements and made a serious bid to regain the positions they have lost in recent years. Are there any more specific results, such as contracts or agreements? Not yet. However, the arms trade is a matter that requires careful consideration. According to Ilya Klebanov's forecasts, the Ural exhibition, with its unique capabilities, could become the largest not only in Russia but also in the world by 2003, as the first exhibition is usually a "prospecting" event, the second exhibition is where potential buyers "are surprised that the manufacturers are still alive," and the third exhibition is where the real work begins. According to the Deputy Prime Minister, the Ural region should find its niche among military exhibitions and focus on specific types of weapons.

Acting in this way, some Ural factories received a number of very profitable orders and signed corresponding contracts shortly after the exhibition. For example, the Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant will supply tank engines to India. The Miass State Rocket Center is designing a launch complex and rockets capable of launching communication satellites, and the Ural Optical and Mechanical Plant is manufacturing a modern suspended laser container for China.

In short, the Uralians continue to create weapons for tomorrow. It would be great if they were in demand not only by our foreign partners.

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