Analysts: Russian Defense Science Needs New Control Tools

21.11.2011 Russia needs a system of national research centers working for defense industry; that would help to create a new control tool for scientific process, said Ruslan Pukhov, director of Analytic Center of Strategies and Technologies.

He made that statement at the session of Public Committee, when presidential loyalists convened to discuss problems and prospects of Russian defense industry. Among attendants were deputy defense minister Alexander Sukhorukov, presidential envoy Oleg Govorun, Governor of Tula region Vladimir Gruzdev, Director General of RU-COM business group Mikhail Abyzov, deputy chairman of parliamentary committee for defense industry Mikhail Babich, and Russia's ambassador to NATO Dmitry Rogozin.

According to Pukhov, Russian defense industry still has a task to eliminate scientific and technological lag accumulated in 90's and early 00's. All current achievements in development of new armaments are based on Soviet scientific background, said the analyst. In post-Soviet period that development almost stopped; moreover, in recent years there is no progress even despite growing financing, the expert noted. As for him, creation of such background is virtually "a mechanism increasing competitiveness of nations and states in the current world".

This is a tool improving national economy's competitiveness, says the head of the analytic center. "This is the most important and valuable thing a country has, more essential than all natural resources and gold reserves", Pukhov said.

As for him, absence of meaningful results in scientific and research works with growing funding indicates that creation of a new mechanism to control scientific process must become the country's main task.

"Today, Russia does not have such effective tool. Ministries cannot control this process due to lack of human resources. And scientific institutes, in fact, have turned into machines destructing budget without adequate payback", pointed out Pukhov.

According to him, foundation of a new science-promotion mechanism would imply establishment of new powerful and competent structures to control accumulation of technological background. "Without that, we would have neither new arms, nor civil airplanes, nor ships, nor space".

"This must be a system of state-led national research centers drawing up development tasks for research institutes. Adoption of appropriate laws regulating activity of those centers must become a key objective. By the way, reform in applied aeronautical science has particular priority", Pukhov said. In his turn, presidential envoy Oleg Govorun said interests of national manufacturers must be considered in the area of arms imports. Deputy chairman of parliamentary committee Mikhail Babich said defense-oriented companies must update and develop production.

"Their [defense companies'] high capabilities may serve as a technical basis for development of all sectors of national economy. Defense companies must work with profitability at least 15%", Babich said.

Answering the RIA Novosti's question why some companies receiving high profits channel them for dividend instead of production development, Babich said that "the governmental authorities should come to terms with industrialists and persuade them to invest in modernization".

"One of leverages could be government's purchase of shares from private companies. Just like a state-led company has recently purchased 25% shares of Degtyarev Zavod (Kovrov)", explained the politician.