OREANDA-NEWS. Sergey Shoygu, Russia’s Minister of Defense; Rustam Minnikhanov, Tatarstan’s President; and Sergey Chemezov, CEO of Rostec Corporation, visited OJSC KAMAZ last Saturday.

The head of the military department visited shops of KAMAZ’s automobile plant, Research and Development Center, as well as a proving ground of the Foundry where he saw the latest samples of tactical vehicles made against an order of Russia’s Ministry of Defense. According to Mr. Shoygu, the main goal of his trip is to find out whether KAMAZ is ready to pass on to contracts of a complete life cycle including not only production, but also maintenance of the company’s equipment till its utilization. He also reminded that the military department meant to go over to conclusion of such contracts that year.

In his turn, Sergey Kogogin, General Director of KAMAZ, noted that there was a necessity to introduce some changes in current laws to switch over to the new system of contracts, and the minister of defense pledged his support in response. “Our employees have got strength, capabilities and potential – both for design and for science, and we must do our best so that, in the long run, already in the near future, we may not only perform the state order of the ministry of defense, but also create a large stock for the next twenty years,” noted Mr. Shoygu.

The minister listened to Mr. Kogogin’s speech very attentively at the research and development center of the plant. KAMAZ’s top manager informed that the R&D Center had developed the line of multipurpose Tornado vehicles governmental tests of which were planned to be finished in 2014, and their serial production would be launched from 2015. Tornados will differ from older models in appreciably better running properties, a high level of armouring (perhaps, the maximum, sixth defense class), and the exterior. Mr. Shoygu managed to examine several models from the Typhoon-K line. He also saw three-axle modular vehicles ready for serial production and four-wheel armoured vehicles in the design phase (code-named Young Typhoon). Besides exhibited Typhoons, the minister was shown KAMAZ vehicles of Mustang, Vystrel (Shot), Tiger lines, and other advanced samples of tactical vehicles made against the order of the Ministry of Defense.

Then the governmental delegation went to KAMAZ-Avtosport, the headquarters of the legendary KAMAZ-master team. Its manager, a repeated winner of world-known motor races – Vladimir Chagin – told the minister about peculiarities of racing KAMAZ vehicles thanks to which the team won a lot of triumphant victories.

Later, the high guests were demonstrated capacities of several tactical vehicles in operation on the proving ground of KAMAZ’s foundry. The army vehicles easily overcame embankments, steep ascents and other natural and artificial obstacles.

By the way, during the visit, Sergey Shoygu awarded to Rustam Minnikhanov, Tatarstan’s President, and Ravil Muratov, First Deputy Chairman of Tatarstan’s Government, honorary diplomas for their assistance in carrying out tasks assigned to the Armed Forces of Russia. According to the results of 2012, the region became the winner of the competition among subjects of the Russian Federation for the best preparation of Russians for military service for the sixth time in succession, and Tatarstan’s President was given a challenge pennant of the RF Minister of Defense. Sergey Shoygu noted that not a single region had attained such high results before emphasizing that it was a merit of all officials of Tatarstan and, personally, Tatarstan’s President.