MOSCOW. April 19 (Interfax) - Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu inspected a machine-building plant in the city of Omsk, where he was informed about a 2.5-fold increase in the output of Solntsepyok heavy flame throwing systems and the production of upgraded T-80BVM tanks with extra protection for the special military operation in Ukraine, the Defense Ministry said on Friday.
"The enterprise director reported to Gen. of the Army Sergei Shoigu that, in accordance with his order, armored hardware receives enhanced protection while being prepared to be sent to the special operation zone," the ministry said in a statement.
Shoigu was told that T-80BVM tanks of the new modification are equipped with a Nakidka radar-absorbing camouflage system and a protective shield as they are assembled on the plant's conveyor belt, the statement said.
"The enterprise ships all armored vehicles already equipped with an extra turret protection module. The next batch of armored hardware has been prepared to be sent to the Armed Forces. Tanks have been loaded onto flat railcars and are ready to be transported to the special operation zone," it said.
"When we launched a large-scale program to create additional protection for tanks, we were searching for alloys and technical solutions. We have done all that. Now it is necessary to accelerate the pace of production," the ministry's statement quoted Shoigu as saying.
"The defense minister was informed that the enterprise raised its production of TOS-1A Solntsepyok heavy flame throwing systems by 2.5 times over the past year," it said.
"The output of heavy flame throwing systems grew due to the expansion of production capacities, the transition to round-the-clock operations in two shifts and the growth of staff. More than 1,200 new workers have joined the plant since 2023," it said.