As part of my duties, I often participate in various exhibitions of military equipment and weapons. I must admit that I feel a special pride in the achievements of our designers, scientists, engineers, and workers, whose ingenuity and hard work have created truly unique means of warfare. However, this pride often has a bitter taste. How could it be otherwise? I know that the latest military equipment is highly sought after by the armed forces. Unfortunately, due to the country's financial difficulties, this equipment often remains in demonstration models rather than being mass-produced. This is what causes feelings of bitterness and resentment.

There was a time when the country's defense industry complex (DIC) was operating at full capacity. Let's recall these figures. During the Soviet era, Russia was home to 82% of the country's defense enterprises, and it is estimated that 79-87% of the country's weapons were produced.

Did we need such a militarized industrial armada after the collapse of the USSR? It seems that any reasonable person would agree that we did not. The composition of the army was different, and the demand for defense industry products had plummeted. Moreover, a number of defense enterprises were unable to keep up with the times and produce innovative weapons that were competitive in the global market.

Life demanded that the "defense industry" be "treated" as quickly as possible. But what happened in reality? The disease was pushed even deeper. Through various cuts and numerous transformations, the defense industry was forced to adapt to new challenges and conditions. As a result, we have almost a decade-long "pause" in the technical equipment of our army and navy.

So, are things really bad for us? Fortunately, no. Despite all the cataclysms of the past decade, Russia still has quite a sufficient "margin of safety" in order to be able to equip the Armed Forces with new weapons and military equipment that meet modern requirements in the future. There is simply no alternative to fully strengthening the domestic defense industry. A strong Russia necessarily implies a strong and well-developed defense industry.

It is gratifying that the realization of all this has now come to those men who are entrusted with the fate of the state. Finally, the country's government has begun to seriously address the issues of the defense industry, whose intellectual, technological, and production potential remains quite high. The rational use of the defense industry's capabilities has the potential to "pull" the entire national economy along with it.

The creation and development of new types of weapons and equipment is not an easy task. It is heartbreaking to see the careless attitude of some soldiers towards these weapons. During the May celebrations marking the 55th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, I had the opportunity to meet and speak with many veterans. When asked about the technical capabilities of the Armed Forces, they all agreed that while weapons are important, they are not the only factor. It is important that those entrusted with it know it well, use it properly in combat, and love and cherish it as their own.

The future of our army and navy, and ultimately, the future of our country, is linked to the development and production of new military equipment. The words of Igor Sergeev, Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, Marshal of the Russian Federation, are a clear indication that this issue is of utmost importance: "The new stage of the military revolution has already begun, and it is crucial for Russia to seize this opportunity. In fact, the country is already close to the point where further delays in the full-scale modernization of the Russian Armed Forces' weapons system could lead to a rapid and "critical" increase in Russia's military and technological lag behind the West. This is particularly dangerous given the increasingly intense international military and technological competition in the coming years.

Let's all listen to this conclusion.

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