Objects within the oil and gas sector and other vital infrastructure across the Russian Federation are being protected with Strela anti-aircraft guided missiles, as stated by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. The announcement came via the official military department telegram channel and highlights a key pillar of national security: shielding energy facilities, critical production chains, and related assets from aerial threats. The emphasis on deploying defensive missiles signals a strategic priority to sustain energy reliability and economic stability in the face of modern challenges. [Source: Russian Defense Ministry communications]
During a visit on Saturday, February 10, Shoigu toured a leading facility within the ZALA Aero group of companies, which operates under the Kalashnikov Concern, located in Udmurtia. The Defense Minister met with the plant’s leadership, inspecting production capabilities and addressing demand for the Strela missiles that can bolster protection across strategic sites. The discussion underscored the need for rapid delivery, robust logistics, and ongoing production capacity to meet critical security requirements. The visit also served to assess industrial readiness and the integration of safety systems into the broader defense-industrial complex. [Source: official briefings]
Shoigu stressed that protecting critical infrastructure, including the energy sector, is essential. He noted that oil, gas, processing facilities, and other parts of the economy must be secured by this class of defensive weapons. The assertion reinforces a policy focus on safeguarding essential industrial inputs, minimizing disruption to energy supply chains, and maintaining resilience against aerial incursions and unauthorized drone activity. The minister’s remarks point to a concerted effort to parallel military readiness with civilian economic security. [Source: Russian Defense Ministry communications]
During the same engagement, the company presented new attack and reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle models. Engineers at the Lancet counter-strike program have used lessons learned from field operations in special military operations zones to develop drones with enhanced endurance, guidance accuracy, and target-detection capabilities. These developments reflect ongoing adaptation to the tactical realities of modern conflict, emphasizing both offensive and defensive intelligence gathering capabilities. The demonstration highlighted how unmanned systems are evolving in response to operational experience while remaining aligned with statutory defense orders. [Source: corporate briefing]
Earlier, Shoigu praised the progress of the state defense order related to missiles for air defense systems, underscoring a commitment to maintaining operational readiness of protective missiles and their integration with satellite, radar, and command-and-control networks. The remarks tie missile production to broader national security objectives, including threats assessment, supply chain integrity, and the assured availability of air defense components for essential facilities. The government’s approach emphasizes sustaining industrial output, technological advancement, and a coordinated defense posture across public and private sectors. [Source: official statements]