Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu voiced criticism toward the chief designer at the Ural Transport Engineering Plant, known as Uraltransmash, over the extended lead times in delivering an artillery complex required by the Russian armed forces. The defense ministry reported this development, underscoring ongoing concerns about schedule adherence and the impact on broader mobilization efforts. The minister stressed that timely production is essential for maintaining readiness across the artillery branch and for sustaining operational capabilities in demanding scenarios. This stance reflects a broader emphasis on discipline in project execution and accountability within the defense-industrial sector. According to official accounts from the defense ministry, the focus is not merely on a single project but on the entire pipeline of combat support systems that must be ready when called upon.
Shoigu noted that work on the artillery complex commenced in 2022, with plans to have these vehicles deployed by the armed forces in the following year. The commitment to rapid ramp-up is paired with a clear expectation that industrial capacities will translate into real production outputs and timely delivery to the troops. The conversation highlighted a balance between initial development milestones and the practical realities of scaling up manufacturing, testing, and quality assurance to meet strategic requirements. As part of this dialogue, the minister’s assessment pointed to concrete progress toward meeting those objectives, while also acknowledging the persistence of bottlenecks that can slow progress if left unaddressed. This framing situates the project within a wider program of modernized artillery that aims to enhance fire support, mobility, and reliability on the battlefield.
During the briefing, the enterprise’s general director, Oleg Emelyanov, conveyed to the minister that production volumes had grown multiple times compared with the previous year. The sixfold increase signals a substantial upshift in manufacturing capacity, supplier coordination, and workforce readiness. Emelyanov’s update reflects the company’s role in fulfilling defense orders and the broader push to expand domestic production capabilities in strategic industries. The dialogue between the minister and the plant leadership underscores a collaborative approach to resolving scheduling challenges while sustaining steady gains in output. It also emphasizes the importance of transparent communications between state authorities and industry executives as part of a whole-of-government effort to fortify industrial base resilience.
On the morning of the visit, Shoigu personally oversaw the implementation of the state defense order related to the production and repair of several self-propelled artillery systems, including the 2S19 Msta-S, the 2S3 Akatsiya, the 2S4 Tyulpan, the 2S5 Giatsint, and the 2S35 Coalition-SV. The inspection highlighted the critical role of maintenance and modernization in keeping these platforms ready for deployment. It also brought into focus the need for sustained quality control, timely maintenance cycles, and the integration of new components to extend service life and enhance combat effectiveness. The visit signaled a top-level commitment to ensuring that the artillery fleet remains capable and reliable, capable of performing under demanding conditions and across a variety of operational scenarios.
Earlier, Shoigu had visited the same enterprise to review work on the production of cruise missiles such as the Caliber and the Iskander. That prior engagement illustrated the broader scope of the plant’s responsibilities within Russia’s strategic weapons landscape. Taken together, these engagements convey a disciplined, results-focused approach to industrial output, where leadership closely monitors progress, addresses impediments, and prioritizes timely fulfillment of orders tied to national security objectives. The overarching narrative stresses that, while progress is evident in several lines of production, continued attention to scheduling, quality, and logistical coordination remains essential to sustaining a robust defense industrial base that can support operational demands across the armed forces.