Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and UVZ General Director Oleg Sienko presenting awards to tank biathlon winners.

"Tank biathlon-2016", held in Alabino, came to an end. He summed up a justified and well-deserved result: our tanks and crews are practically out of competition.

The first competitions, which were proposed to be held regularly in Alabino in 2013 by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, were held with the participation of crews from only three countries: Kazakhstan, Belarus, and Armenia. In 2016, participants of the previous years met again at the biathlon and new ones arrived, from almost two dozen countries. There are 121 teams in total, and their total number was three and a half thousand people. Compared to 2015, their number has doubled.

No tank claims.

Oleg Sienko, in an interview with the press, noted that the general level of professionalism differs markedly from the degree of preparedness that the military demonstrated in past years. He also expressed hope that in the future the corporation will be able to present crews with drivers working for UVZ. He noted that the teams had no complaints about tanks, which is very important. When the market is full of competitors' products, this fact serves as an additional positive recommendation for the corporation for the product on the market, especially during its promotion.

In the rivalry of the army, the Sakhalin crew of the 39th separate motorized rifle brigade won. Its commander, Major General Ruslan Dzeitov, was rightfully proud of the victory, as he proved by deed that his crew was one of the best in the world. The big country Russia honored the winners of the international army games "ARMI - 2016". They were greeted with congratulations and words of gratitude not only by friends and relatives, but also by the leaders of the regions, noting their skill and fighting spirit, their ability to win.

The gratitude of the command was generous, as always: UAZ-Patriot jeeps have already become a traditional prize, which is given by the Uralvagonzavod corporation as the first among the best. The head of the corporation, Oleg Sienko, expressed his personal gratitude to the champions and personally handed over the keys to the cars.

Oleg Sienko has been the head of NPK Uralvagonzavod for seven years. He has been awarded government awards more than once, has medals and orders (“For Merit to the Fatherland”), has topped the list of the best managers in Russia three times (review of the Kommersant publication), winner of numerous awards in his industry.

It was he who stood at the beginning of the development and launch in the workshops of the Uralvagonzavod corporation of a production line for debugging and serial production of the Armata tank, as well as other novelties of both military and civilian equipment.

The world's elite snipers

"Tank Biathlon" managed to gain great popularity in a short time not only in our country, but throughout the world, attracting the press and spectators to the stands and to TV screens. This is not just a tournament, but part of a lot of painstaking work in the preparation of large-scale military games "ARMI-2016". They demonstrate the strength, morale and power of the army and give an idea of ​​the leadership among the military at the international level.

Tanks go to biathlon from training grounds that are directly connected with Uralvagonzavod. Being a supplier and manufacturer of tanks, its engineers, technologists, and first of all, the leader Oleg Sienko, are in constant contact with the military, introducing all the achievements of modern science and technology into the production chain.

The games require careful preparation, its course and scope can be assessed if you know that only at the preliminary stage 70,000 soldiers and specialists of various levels, including tank crews, were involved. There were more than 3,000 of the latter at the qualifying exercises.

The number of participants in the qualifying stage of the competition increased due to changes in the rules of the Games, which was noted by the head of the combat training department of the Ground Forces Evgeny Poplavsky. The changes affected both the relay race and the race itself: the number of target shooting has increased, and adjustments have been made to the competition conditions for BMP crews.

In total, there are 23 types of disciplines in the program of the Games. All types of troops were preparing for them, and throughout Russia, as well as on the three seas (Black, Baltic and Caspian), military units from marines and paratroopers competed. Snipers competed in Kazakhstan.

Oleg Sienko noted that the production of modernized T-72B3 tanks produced by UVZ, which were prepared specifically for increased loads, was timed to coincide with these games. Compared to the previous car, the tank received the most important thing - a powerful engine of 1130 hp. With. (was 840). Also installed in the car: an automatic transmission system, a panoramic device with thermal imaging for the commander and a traffic control system that can tell you in time when a particular node is in critical mode.

During the preparation of the 2016 Games, Oleg Sienko repeatedly received convincing evidence of the reliability and accuracy of tanks manufactured by the Uralvagonzavod corporation. Tanks under the control of crews from Russia and Serbia, India and Kuwait, Mongolia and Iran, Nicaragua and Greece and other countries easily took on obstacles: concrete walls and fords, climbed the escarpment, accurately shot at targets. In total, according to the conditions of the competition, it was necessary to walk from three to five kilometers, shooting at targets. The final result included taking into account the time for which the distance was covered, and the accuracy of shooting. The Russian military noted that the Chinese and representatives of Kazakhstan became the strongest rivals for them.

The winners of the current season of the Games received awards and keys to ATVs, cars, and other valuable prizes from the hands of Sergei Shoigu and Oleg Sienko. But the organizers promise that there will be more awards next season. Colonel-General Oleg Salyukov, Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces of the Russian Federation, noted that representatives of any country will be able to participate in the Games, and equipment can arrive from abroad.

Durability and ruggedness

At least thirty specialists of the corporation took part in the process of preparing the event in shifts. The senior military leadership and team leaders noted the high-quality work of Uralvagonzavod and the excellent management of its leader Oleg Sienko. Independent experts and heads of foreign delegations agreed that the level of biathlon training deserves the highest praise and maximum appreciation, and without their work, the transition to the next stage would be impossible.

They note the improvement in the quality of equipment and its maintenance, they are impressed by the maneuverability of the tanks, as well as the irreducible level of productivity. The success of the management (and this is reflected in the personal success of Oleg Sienko and the team he selected) is that all the obstacles, problems or discrepancies that arise in the course of work did not cause senseless disputes, but were eliminated in the shortest possible time.

Armored vehicles produced by the corporation have proved themselves from the very best side, attracting the attention of an increasing number of representatives of foreign firms and organizations. They demonstrated at the training grounds the power and coherence of control systems, reliability, unpretentiousness in conditions close to combat. A member of the Mongolian team noted that the equipment is easy to operate and does not require complex repairs if necessary.

Much cheaper than similar tanks

Almost all participants in the competition - from soldiers to generals - noted the high reliability of tanks manufactured by Uralvagonzavod. Oleg Sienko also spoke about a very significant detail: our vehicles are six or seven times cheaper than foreign tanks of the same level. This is if we talk about the T-72B3 tank. Another model - the T-90 - is supplied to our army at a price that is 5 times lower than on the foreign market.

Oleg Salyukov also stressed that the military has repeatedly expressed gratitude to the specialists of Uralvagonzavod for the equipment - Oleg Sienko personally and the entire team as a whole. He singled out such a remarkable moment: the technique is mastered very quickly. For example, in the tank biathlon, the Azerbaijani team in target shooting showed the best time on the 72b3 tank, which indicates excellent qualities: ease of use and an excellent control system.

Oleg Sienko also noted the potential of tanks, saying that the T-72 and T-90 are much higher in terms of survivability on the battlefield, in terms of combat endurance and potential, than tanks produced in other countries. And the price-quality ratio of the Uralvagonzavod corporation is unrivaled.

Further work is devoted to the service

Noting the successes achieved, the head of the corporation emphasized in conversations and interviews with the press that the company's concern in the future lies in the field of after-sales service, since such an important export item as military equipment, including flamethrower and artillery, should not be left without attention. The most important thing for those who purchase it is the possibility of service.

The high technical characteristics of the tanks, the export potential of the corporation was appreciated and noted by the coach from Mongolia Gantsukh Erdenetsogsh, lieutenant Batkhtsu Batgisrgal and the crew commander. Oleg Sienko, General Director of UVZ, confirmed that one of the security components of armored vehicles is their mobility.

Russian participants and winners in biathlon expressed special gratitude not only to Oleg Sienko as an excellent leader, but also to the entire UVZ team. They noted the simple elegance, reliability and strength of the equipment, the victory came due to the skill of the crews and the quality of the armored vehicles. They also noted with satisfaction that if earlier Chinese tanks were ahead of ours in speed, now Russian vehicles left them behind.

About Army Games 2016 in numbers

• Armament units - more than 700.
• The consumption of fuels and lubricants is about 16 thousand tons.
• Ammunition spent - 150 thousand.
• The audience is over half a million.
• More than 7 thousand participated in the competitions of mechanics-drivers.

Design features of offensive defense

If at the last year’s Games Belarus and China, represented by their crews, shared the victory with Russia, then at the 2016 games our team was out of competition, and this, of course, is not only the merit of the military, but also a reflection of the fact that the corporation under the leadership of Sienko constantly working to improve product quality.

All teams competed on Russian T-72s and infantry fighting vehicles, only the Chinese used their own equipment. Belarus also used its armored vehicles, also produced by the corporation, in some types of competitions.

Chinese technology, as mentioned above, surpassed our tanks in speed. This year, Chinese specialists arrived in their modernized Type 99 machine, which is equipped with elite units. Also in the Chinese army is the Type 96B, the design of which uses many of the technical findings of the tanks of the Soviet period. One of the Chinese military experts said that they are not inferior to the technology of Russia or the United States.

He is probably not familiar with such novelties of technology as the Armata, as well as the T-90. These machines are also produced by a corporation headed by Sienko. The use of a laser active protection system can disable electronic systems, depriving their crews of the ability to see.

The weapons that the combat vehicles have are impressive: a 125 mm smoothbore gun with a coaxial machine gun, a 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun. The T-99 tank is also armed with the most modern firing system.

And although Chinese tanks are equipped with the latest military technology, their cost is an order of magnitude higher than ours, they are expensive even in order to mass-produce it for the Chinese army. Therefore, Oleg Sienko rightly believes that they fall out of the list of competitors, especially since they do not surpass cars made in Russia.

The very good training of our crews was also noted by the head of the corporation. He said that if last year our team easily won the competition, then at the current biathlon it was not an easy task to wrest victory from the hands of rivals. Sienko also noted that such a victory spurs competition, making the tasks of production workers more interesting, encouraging them to creative breakthroughs.

About the incentive to upgrade

The fact that the Games within the framework of army competitions are becoming more and more popular is undeniable, and their results are a measure for the decisions that many armies of the world make in their development. The Belarusian team can serve as an example. She competed on Russian vehicles and managed to get ahead of the Chinese in the semi-finals. Their modernized version of the machine - T-72BM was produced at Uralvagonzavod back in those days when Oleg Sienko was not the head of the enterprise. The new development of the plant, a thermal imaging device for aimed fire, is its main innovation, which helped to go through all the stages of the difficult path of competition almost “excellently”.

Sienko has repeatedly focused on the fact that, despite the widespread opinion that the modernization of armies, and especially tanks, is unnecessary, they will be a relevant component in all armies of the world for a long time to come. Therefore, new samples and modernization of machines already in production are once again becoming the main priorities of the corporation. They receive worldwide recognition and new orders: an order for 200 vehicles has been placed in Algeria. The country is also considering the possibility of buying a license to assemble tanks on its own territory.

Recent events in the countries of the Middle East have clearly shown that a tank is indispensable on the battlefield even in the presence of serious losses due to the use of anti-tank weapons. In addition, the tanks get a run-in in combat conditions, clearly demonstrating their reliability: when an American anti-tank missile hit the T-90, the tank suffered little damage and was quickly restored.

This fact is well understood by Sienko as the head of the corporation, constantly keeping control over how the machines are modernized in order not only to meet world standards, but also to get ahead of them.

Excellent technique for craftsmen

The world level of tank building by 70% is an indicator of the work of UVZ. CEO Oleg Sienko says that the corporation is not going to cede the championship. He personally takes part in the development of this project. He also stressed that the car, on which he personally accelerated to a speed of 80 km / h, does not tolerate neglect or inept attitude. This car is not for those who just joined the army for military service, but for professionals in their field. For those to whom the army has become a daily job, who are passionate about their work and know how to handle equipment.

It is worth talking a little about technology that can not only protect or destroy, but also build. For example, a new excavator has been developed, which the Chinese are interested in. It is being prepared for serial production next year and its cost is an order of magnitude lower than similar foreign products. And what is important, Sienko stressed, all components are made in Russia.

Another trading partner important for UVZ is India. The corporation has signed a memorandum stating that the products will receive promotion and support in India. And not only military, but also civilian equipment. A trial batch of wagons has already been sent to a distant country, of which a lot will be required for the railway development program.

For the domestic consumer, Uralvagonzavod delivered tram cars to the capital, significantly reducing the price - by 20%.

Sergey Petrov