The machine manufacturing and military industrial complexes of Russia need radical restructuring over the next few years, said Sergei Chemezov, the general director of the government-owned corporation “Rostechnology” and chairman of the Russian Union of Manufacturers, reported Interfax Agency of Military News.  Without extensive modernization, the defense complex cannot maintain its current strength for more than five years, Chemezov said in an interview with Nezavisimaya Gazeta, as reported by the news source.  Chemezov stated that without necessary boosts to the machine building industry, Russia will be unable to achieve real outputs in weapons and military technology, as well as duel-use and civilian technologies.  He named aging equipment, the loss of qualified personnel, a lack of resources towards industry modernization and development, and the loss of cooperative ties with suppliers among the biggest problems facing the industry, which he said all lead to declining production.   

Chemezov was quoted as saying that the acquisition of new machinery is problematic because “foreign firms are not inclined to sell truly modern and innovative equipment to Russia.”   Chemezov said that to revive the industry, long-term planning and realistic economic projections over the next 10, 15, and 20 years are needed, reported the news source.   

This information was originally published on February 22, 2008.  (www.militarynews.ru).