September 19 Russia will be celebrating Gunsmith’s Day for the first time

The main celebration will be held in Izhevsk and Tula. The most famous Russian enterprises, which established arms traditions in Russia are located in Izhevsk and Tula. Now these enterprises are parts of ‘Rostec’ corporation.

The awarding of 41 executives of ‘Rostec’ enterprises will also be timed to this date.  “We could preserve and develop the potential of Russian industrial-military complex, - said ‘Rostec’ Director General Sergey Chemezov. – Today our enterprises produce modern armament, which provides security of our country and is in demand all over the world”. 

In Izhevsk a solemn meeting and a soiree in Russian State Drama Theatre will be held. On September 21 the celebration for the employees of the ‘Concern Izhmash’ OJSC (which produces the world famous AK-47, ‘Saiga’ shotguns, used by the U. S. police and biathlon sporting rifles) will take place. The employees will attend the performance in the State National Theater of Udmurt Republic.

In Tula the Gunsmith Walk of Fame will be laid. A solemn meeting and a party will be held in the Tula State Museum of Weapons. The concert and the fireworks show will take place at the city stadium.

Today Russia ranks second in the global armament market. ‘Rostec’ enterprises produce 25% of all Russian military-industrial products, while ‘Rosoboronexport’ which is a part of ‘Rostec’ is the only state mediator on import and export for the whole wide range of products and technologies of double purpose.

Russian military products export for the first half of 2012 exceeded $6,5 bln. It is 14% more compared to the same period of the previous year.

‘Rostec’ was established in November 2007 to support Russian industry in developing, producing and exporting high-tech industrial products. The corporation includes 22 directly managed companies and 17 holdings, of which 12 are in the defence sector and five in civil industry. In total ‘Rostec’ comprises about 600 companies. The corporation has its headquarters in Moscow, and has a presence in 60 of Russia’s regions. It exports its products to 70 countries.

Celebration info

This day was not a random choice. In historical sources such profession as gunsmith was mentioned for the first time in September 1508. Gunsmith (special court rank) was in charge of the duke’s armament, purchasing and producing weapons and supplying troops with them. Moreover on September 19 Russian Orthodox Church honors Archangel Michael - protector of the army of God. In Izhevsk Archangel Michael is considered as the protector of gunsmiths.

 It was the most famous designer of the ‘Concern Izhmash’ OJSC Mikhail Kalashnikov, who in 2010 proposed to celebrate Gunsmith’s day. In December 2011 the former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev signed the decree on the establishment of this holiday in recognition of the outstanding contribution of the designers of weapons, which provide defense and independence of Russia, strengthening of its positions in the world and development of its export potential.

Press Service:

Antonina Gribanova

+7 (967) 053 85 68

agribanova@apostolmedia.ru