Reform of the military-industrial complex became the main topic of Dmitry Rogozin’s speech to State Duma deputies. The Deputy Prime Minister also explained the problem of the space industry in Russia and announced plans to increase funding for the defense industry. Kommersant FM correspondent Natalya Zhdanova told Andrey Norkin the details.

— First, Dmitry Olegovich scared the deputies, or rather: not deputies, but potential corrupt officials, and then moved on to a more pleasant part, to a report on successes?

— Dmitry Rogozin, in general, presented a rather traditional government report with many figures, describing the merits of Russian military equipment. He began his speech by mentioning an article by Vladimir Putin, which was recently published in Rossiyskaya Gazeta and was dedicated to the military-industrial complex. He said that this is a doctrinal document and that all its points must be implemented. He said that he would devote his entire speech to how the reform of the defense-industrial complex was proceeding.

The deputies were interested in rather specific issues, so I will try to describe Dmitry Rogozin’s speech briefly in order to mention the main points that he spoke about. In particular, he stated that the Bulava, which did not want to fly with us at all, will now enter service with the navy this year, and that all problems have been eliminated. Dmitry Rogozin did not go into details, he said that now, apparently, there would be no problems with Bulava.

In addition, the deputies were interested in what the problems in the rocket and space industry are related to. Dmitry Rogozin stated that in this case we are not talking about any manifestations of corruption, that all problems are associated solely with the lack of proper control in this industry, and now these problems must also be eliminated. In addition, he said that they would increase funding in the defense industry.

According to him, economic growth in this industry is much higher than in industry as a whole. And in the coming years, within ten years, investments in the defense industry will increase 3.5 times. At the same time, 75% of the funding will be used to purchase new equipment. Dmitry Rogozin promised that in the next ten years there will be a total modernization of the industrial park, and that all technological equipment must be audited.

And these are the plans for the next decade. Dmitry Rogozin said that by 2020, 20 trillion rubles will be allocated for the weapons program. I will also mention his statement that in the near future Russia will refuse to purchase foreign equipment for airborne troops and infantry. And that now their own enterprises, in particular, the Kurgan Machine-Building Plant, are producing their own analogues, which will go into service with the Russian army.

— And regarding corruption, did they somehow react to his statements that this should somehow be equated with assisting the enemy?

— In the spirit of Rogozin, such a statement was made that corruption should be equated with the defense industry, with procurement in the defense industry, almost with high treason.

— Did this make any particular impression on the deputies?

“If this had been said by someone else, perhaps someone would have been surprised, but from Rogozin, in principle, such a statement was quite expected.

“Now, apparently, there will be no problems with the Bulava”