LOCATION: Votkinsk, Udmurt Autonomous Oblast
Address: 2 Ulitsa Kirova, Votkinsk, Udmurt Oblast 427430
Telephone/Fax: (34145) 6-51-49
Email: zavod@vzavod.ru
{Entered 1/23/2008 AL}
HOMEPAGE: http://www.vzavod.ru/
ADMINISTRATION:
Director: Viktor Tolmachev
{Entered 1/23/2008 AL}  

BACKGROUND:
The Votkinsk Machine Building Plant was one of the largest manufacturers of solid-fuel missiles in the Soviet Union. It was engaged in production of RT-21M (NATO designation SS-20) Pioneer, R-400  (NATO designation SS-23) Oka, RS-12M (NATO designation SS-25)  Topol, and RS-12M Topol-M (NATO designation SS-X-27) missiles. The Russian government decided on 27 February 1998 to start construction of a plant for dismantlement of ICBMs in Votkinsk, Udmurtia, in summer 1998.[1] The go-ahead decision implemented a 26 December 1997 directive signed by then-Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin.[2] The facility was set to dismantle about 400 RS-22 (SS-24, "Scalpel") and RS-12M (SS-25, "Sickle") solid-fuel ICBMs.[3] Construction of the plant, financed by the United States through the Cooperative Threat Reduction (Nunn-Lugar) Program, was estimated to take from eighteen months to two years, after which the plant would have operated until 2013. [1] Responding to environmental concerns, Udmurtia State Council Chairman Aleksandr Volkov said that the dismantlement technology to be used at the plant, reportedly developed by the U.S. firm Lockheed Martin, will reduce the ecological damage from burning fuel to zero.[4,5] In addition, the United States was set to fund construction of a solid-fuel rocket engine elimination facility close to Votkinsk through the Cooperative Threat Reduction (Nunn-Lugar) Program, however, this project did not move forward due to opposition from local authorities in Udmurtia.[6]

ACTIVITIES:
As of 2007, the Votkinsk Machine Building Plant remains the leading enterprise in the serial production of the Topol-M  (NATO designation SS-27) ICBMs for the Russian military. [7] The enterprise is also cooperating with the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology on the Bulava SLBM project (NATO designation SS-NX-30) and is engaged in the production of the Iskander-M (NATO designation SS-26) short range ballistic missile. [7, 8, 9] Almost a half of the facility’s resources are reportedly devoted to the production of civilian goods, including household items, equipment for the nuclear, oil, gas, and mining industries. Votkinsk also took part in manufacturing the Start-1 space launch vehicle, a project headed up by the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology. For recent developments, please, see Delivery Vehicle Facility Developments.

Sources: [1] "Russia to build ballistic missile utilzation plant," ITAR-TASS, 27 February 1998.
[2] "Tverdotoplivnyye rakety budut utilizirovat v Votkinske," Permskiye novosti, 4 January 1998, p. 2, in East European Press Service, 30 January 1998.
[3] "Strategic missile destruction plant to go under construction in June," Interfax, 27 February 1998.
[4] Igor Krotov, "Utilizirovat rakety budut na amerikanskiye dengi," Krasnaya zvezda, 25 April 1998, p. 3.
[5] Alfred Artamov, ITAR-TASS World Service broadcast, 23 February 1998, in "Missile Destruction Industry To Be Created in Votkinsk," FBIS-UMA-98-054.
[6] Paul Walker, "Nunn-Lugar at 15: No Time to Relax Global Threat Reduction Efforts," Arms Control Today, May 2006, http://www.armscontrol.org/act/2006_05/nunnlugar15.asp/.
[7]Viktor Yesin, "No Cause for Panic: Work Goes on--Strategic Missiles Will Be Placed in Formation," Nezavisimoye voyennoye obozreniye, 24 August 2007, OSC Document CEP20070827548007.
[8] Vladimir Gundarov and Viktor Myasnikov, "The Bulava Affair: Missile's Third Warhead Did not Reach the Target," Nezavisimoye voyennoye obozreniye, 20 July 2007, OSC Document CEP20070724436006.
[9]Nikolay Poroskov, "Complexes of Full Value: Russia Is Beginning to Replace the Nuclear Shield," Vremya novostey, 27 June 2007, OSC Document CEP20070627358005.
[10] "Ot perestroiki k uspekhu," city of Votkinsk municipal website, http://votkinsk.ru/index.php?pg=slovz&str=peres/.
{Entered 7/22/98 FW; Updated 1/23/2008 JQ}

Comments or questions? Contact Anya Loukianova at MIIS CNS: Anna.LoukianovaATmiis.edu
 
 
 

This material is produced independently for NTI by the Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has not been independently verified by NTI or its directors, officers, employees, agents. Copyright © 2003 by MIIS.

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