Kronstadt

The Kronstadt Group brings together a number of Russian enterprises specializing in the development and production of high-tech and science-intensive products and solutions necessary for the creation, development and safe operation of complex equipment in the air, on the sea and on land.

The Kronstadt Group is part of AFK Sistema, being a representative of a large cluster of innovative enterprises aimed at ensuring domestic high-tech production. The company's offices and R&D centers are located in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Products

The Kronstadt Group is the lead contractor for the creation and updating of navigation information databases for electronic cartographic support of inland waterways (GDP) using signals from the domestic GLONASS navigation satellite system . A database has been created to compile and update electronic navigation maps for sections of the GDP of the Russian Federation with a total length of 52,657 km out of the existing 60 thousand km. In 2016, it is planned to carry out work on the creation of 4,380 km and the renewal of 4,830 km of sections of GDP of the Russian Federation.

2023

Detention of an employee on charges of leaking data on Russian drones

On September 15, 2023, it became known that an employee of the Kronstadt company, which specializes in developments in the field of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), was detained in Moscow on suspicion of draining confidential data.

The Kronstadt website says that the company creates and manufactures equipment, software and complex solutions for unmanned aircraft and the defense industry. Kronstadt's developments include the Orion reconnaissance and strike drone, the Sirius attack drones and the Thunder heavy UAV. The company also designs onboard equipment and target loads for drones, software and hardware complexes for navigation and control, etc.

In Moscow, an employee of the Kronstadt company was detained on suspicion of draining confidential data

According to RIA Novosti, the detainee worked in Kronstadt as a network engineer. The name of the suspect in the interests of the investigation was not disclosed, but it is noted that he had access to "some important information" about the company. The man posted the stolen confidential data on the Github portal.

The Kronstadt security service, allegedly, promptly revealed the offense and was able to prevent the leakage of information constituting a commercial secret. In connection with the incident, a criminal case was initiated under Part 2 of Article 183 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (illegal disclosure or use of information constituting a commercial, tax or bank secret). This offense is punishable by a fine of up to 1 million rubles, or correctional labor for up to two years, or forced labor for up to four years, or imprisonment for the same period.

The former network engineer of the Kronstadt company did distribute confidential information while on duty. On the site github.com he posted personal and technical accounts constituting trade secrets, as well as valid passwords for them, - reported in Kronstadt[1]

The threat of bankruptcy

In mid-August 2023, it became known that the Turbodjet Micro company intends to go to court with a demand to declare bankrupt the Russian manufacturer of military and civilian unmanned aerial vehicles Kronstadt.

According to CNews, TurboJet Micro, which specializes in the supply of components for drones, has been cooperating with Kronstadt since November 2022. General Director of Turbojet Micro Nikita Burdyug said that the drone manufacturer has a debt to the company in the amount of more than 3 million rubles, which was formed due to unpaid equipment supplies. What kind of products Kronstadt ordered is not specified. Turbojet Micro supplies engines for UAVs, spare parts, paints, batteries, etc.

"TurboJack Micro" intends to go to court with a demand to declare bankrupt "Kronstadt"

Kronstadt, according to the company itself, develops and manufactures equipment, software and complex solutions for unmanned aircraft and the defense industry. In addition to the drones themselves, these are onboard equipment and target loads, navigation complexes, ground control points, etc. As noted by CNews, from May 2023 to mid-August of the same year, nine claims for debt collection totaling 774.4 million rubles were sent to Kronstadt. The largest of them was filed by the Most company, which is engaged in the design and construction of bridges, roads and the metro: the plaintiff demands to recover 716.5 million rubles from the defendants. In other statements, we are talking about relatively small amounts: for example, Turbodget Micro requires 4.7 million rubles. In "Kronstadt" the situation is not commented on in any way.

Kronstadt acts as a defendant for non-payment of the delivered goods. They save up debts, apparently, the company does not have the right amount of money, - said Burdyug.[2]

2022

Sistema's withdrawal from Kronstadt Group capital

On May 4, 2022, it became known that PJSC AFK Sistema completely withdrew from the capital of the RTI Group and Kronstadt concern.

"The corporation reduced its stake in the RTI Group concern and in the Kronstadt company below the control in July 2021, and subsequently completely withdrew from the capital of these companies," Interfax reported with reference to the statement of AFK Sistema[3]

Conversion of the Dubna plant to work in 3 shifts

The Russian plant for the serial production of reconnaissance and strike drones in Dubna will work in three shifts. This was announced at the end of June 2022 by the deputy general director of the company-owner of the enterprise - the Kronstadt group Aleksei Belykh at a meeting with employees of the Dubnensky Machine-Building Plant (DMZ).

According to him, in connection with the increase in production, Kronstadt continues to recruit personnel, and offers applicants partial compensation for rental housing, assistance with transport, overalls and voluntary medical insurance policies. For young specialists and workers without experience, the company is implementing mentoring and training programs, said Aleksei Belykh.

Moscow Region factory for the production of strike drones goes to work in 3 shifts

DMZ became the property of Kronstadt in July 2021, a new drone production plant was built by Kronstadt next to DMZ in record time - from April to December 2021. Both enterprises form the Center for Unmanned Aircraft, the task of which is to produce both unmanned vehicles themselves and ground control points.

The center produces the Orion drone, the option for the armed forces is the Pacer. Designed to order. Ministry of Defence Russia Equipped with a radar station, capable of carrying from three to six bombs of KAB-50, UPAB-50, FAB-50 or guided missile Kh-50. It is noted that Orion drones are used during a special military operation on. To Ukraine Drone can carry up to 200 kg of combat load and be in the air for up to 24 hours.

Earlier in 2022, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu was presented with the first flight sample of the Orion drone with a satellite antenna. The new equipment will allow the device to be used outside the radio visibility of ground control points.^[4]

2021

AFK Sistema is no longer a majority shareholder

Since July 2021, AFK Sistema is no longer the holder of a controlling stake in Kronstadt.

Construction of a strike drone plant in Dubna

In mid-April 2021, Kronstadt announced the start of construction in Dubna near Moscow of a specialized plant for the serial production of unmanned aerial strike vehicles. The company calls this plant the first of its kind in Russia. It is scheduled to be built by November 2021.

Investments in the project are estimated at more than 4 billion rubles. Kronstadt noted that the company will provide more than 1,500 people with permanent work and will send more than 900 million rubles of annual tax deductions to budgets of different levels. It is assumed that it will be environmentally friendly and silent production with an area of ​ ​ about 45,000 square meters. m.

Kronstadt announced the construction of the first strike drone plant in Russia

The general director of Kronstadt, Sergei Bogatikov, explained that it was decided to build the plant in Dubna, since this is a "famous science city," where industry and production are well developed, and enterprises significant for the country are located.

As a high-ranking source in the military-industrial complex told RIA Novosti, "the new production will close the needs for Foreigners drones both from the Ministry of Defense and other customers.

The Kronstadt company is also developing an unmanned complex of group use Lightning and heavy attack UAVs Grom.

The medium-altitude attack unmanned vehicle of long flight duration "Pacer," also known as "Orion," was developed by the company "Kronstadt" by order of the Ministry of Defense. The device can be in flight for up to a day. Its maximum takeoff weight is 1100 kg, its combat load is up to 200 kg. "Orion" is capable of using small-sized guided missiles and adjustable aerial bombs against ground targets.

The company itself added that the drone market is the most modern and booming industry in the world. It focuses on all advanced technical solutions and new technologies, it pays increased attention to the first persons of the state.^[5]

Sale of Kronstadt Technologies to Sitronics

On February 16, 2021, Sitronics JSC, a provider of high-tech solutions for business and the state, announced the acquisition of a 100% stake in Kronstadt Technologies JSC, the maritime business of the Kronstadt group of companies. Read more here.

2018: Memorandum of cooperation with PJSC "Il" in the field of unmanned transport systems

On June 9, 2018, a memorandum was signed on the creation of a joint working group PJSC "Il" (Transport Aviation Division UAC) and the Kronstadt Group. The main goal is research and development in the field of transport unmanned aircraft systems (T-ALS).

Combining the competencies and potentials of the research divisions of the two companies will make it possible to jointly develop promising projects in the field of unmanned aircraft systems and pay special attention to unmanned cargo transportation.

The objectives of the first stage of joint work are to create a roadmap for activities: a list of research areas, criteria for their selection; analysis of existing solutions on the market. A possible result of the work will be a project to create a specialized transport aircraft. The creation of a demonstrator, for example, based on the IL-112 aircraft, is also being considered.

From the Kronstadt Group, the Center for Advanced Research will be involved in general work. For its part, PJSC Il is creating a specialized Center for the development and creation of functional demonstrators of promising aerospace technologies in Zhukovsky, which will become the main platform of the working group.

Today, the civilian market for unmanned systems is formed by small-class devices that perform mainly aerial survey tasks. The niche of freight traffic can be occupied by large drones. There are many drivers leading the market to the use of unmanned air cargo - the development of technologies has already made this task technically feasible, consumption is growing, at the same time cooperation between countries is increasing, some of them are interested in the development of their peripheral regions. Thus, the most urgent need for the development of air cargo in the Russian Federation exists in regions with underdeveloped road transport infrastructure: the Arctic zone, Siberia, the Far East.

"Modern realities are such that unmanned aerial vehicles are no longer exotic. They are used for photo and video shooting, for target designation and even for solving shock tasks. The whole world is following the path of automation of processes and minimizing human participation in the operation of equipment, so it is in our interests to create a transport drone that could solve the problems of cargo transportation to remote areas with difficult availability. And given the active development of the Arctic, it can be assumed that aircraft capable of transporting up to several tons of cargo from one point to another in autonomous mode will be extremely in demand, "commented the Vice President for Transport Aviation of PJSC UAC, General Director of PJSC Il Aleksei Rogozin.

Notes