Izhmash to manufacture Vikhr-1 guided missiles for Russian defence ministry

Russia’s machine-building company Izhmash JSC has won a defence ministry tender for the supply of Vikhr-1 guided missiles. Under the contract with the Russian defence ministry worth 13 billion roubles, Izhmash will make Vikhr-1 missiles by late 2015. “It is Izhmash’s biggest state contract for the supplies of high precision weapons for the Russian defence ministry. Izhmash has all the production facilities, qualified personnel and technologies needed to fulfill this order in time and with high quality. We taking this contract very seriously and will do our best to have it fulfilled completely in time,” Izhmash director general Konstantin Busygin said. The Vikhr-1 laser guided missile was developed by the Tula design bureau of instrument-making and passed into service in 1982. The missile is designed to hit armoured vehicles, include those with reactive armour, and low-speed (up to 800 km/h) air targets. Its maximal range capability is ten kilometers, and its firing altitude is up to 4,000 meters. Set up in 1807, Izhmash is Russia’s biggest manufacturer of assault automatic and sniping weapons, guided missiles, and a wide range of civilian products, including fowling pieces, sporting guns, lathes, and instruments. It exports its products in 27 world countries, including the United States, Great Britain, Germany, Norway, Italy, Canada, Kazakhstan, and Thailand.