Pavlograd Chemical Plant - Recent Developments
As part of the implementation of the State program for the disposal of ordinary types of ammunition, unsuitable for further storage and use, SE "NVO PHZ" has been operating since 1995. During this time, more than 150,000 tons of various types of ammunition were disposed of. The enterprise has developed and effectively uses various resource-saving technologies for the disposal of ammunition, as well as technologies for the elimination of highly dangerous ammunition and explosive materials.
In order to solve the problem of freeing the base in the city of Bryukhovychi from ammunition and rockets, which represent man-made and ecological hazards, SE "NVO PHZ" timely performed the entire complex of work on the removal and liquidation of dangerous ammunition stored at this base. At the same time, in view of for short deadlines, scientific and technical resources and production potential of the enterprise were maximally used, including with the involvement of the engineering and technical infrastructure of the Yavoriv training ground.
The technical and environmental monitoring of the works carried out during the disposal and liquidation of ammunition exported from Bryukhovychi confirmed the safety of the environmental processes carried out by the enterprise, as well as the absence of a negative environmental impact on the environment in the places where the liquidation works were performed, including at the Yavorivsk landfill. where modern means of initiation (non-electric initiation systems of the "Prima-Era" brand) and cartridge emulsion explosives (Era-R brand) of our own production were used.
According to the National Business Rating, SE "NPO "Pavlograd Chemical Plant" is one of the leading enterprises in Ukraine. A comprehensive rating program - National Business - Rating determined the leaders of 2009 among enterprises and heads of companies in Ukraine. Recall that the research is carried out on the basis of official data from the State Statistics. According to its economic indicators, the Pavlograd Chemical Plant turned out to be the undisputed leader among the enterprises of the chemical industry in Ukraine. In total, the National Business Rating analyzed the work of 11 Ukrainian enterprises in 2009, including: Chervonensky Foodstuff Plant, State Enterprise Plant of Chemical Reagents STC “Institute of Single Crystals” of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Konstantinovsky State Chemical Plant, State Chemical and Pharmaceutical Enterprise “Interkhim-1” of the National Academy of Sciences Ukraine and others.
Leonid Nikolayevich Shiman - General Director of the State Enterprise "Scientific and Production Association "Pavlohrad Chemical Plant", by Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 444/2013 [28 August 2013]- for his outstanding personal contribution to strengthening the industrial potential of Ukraine, the introduction of highly efficient modern production technologies, many years of conscientious work received the title of Hero of Ukraine with the award of the Order of the State.
In July 2018 the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the transfer of raw materials from the mobilization reserve for the production of rocket fuel to the Pavlograd Chemical Plant. The implementation of this act will ensure the production of rocket fuel under the "Alder", "Kivsh" and "Cameliya" projects, as well as the production of explosives under the state defense order. "Vilkha" is a Ukrainian missile complex with corrected ammunition. The complex was developed on the basis of the Soviet 9K58 "Smerch" 300 mm rocket salvo system. Ammunition for which began to be manufactured at the "Artem" DAHK. "Kivsh" is an armor-piercing "feathered" [ie, fin-stabilized] subcaliber projectile, the development of which had been underway since the early 2000s, but due to technological problems it had not been implemented until now.
On 31 August 2018, Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman paid a working visit to the Dnipropetrovsk region. As part of the trip, he visited the State Enterprise "NPO "Pavlograd Chemical Plant", where he got acquainted with the work of the plant and met with the staff of the enterprise. Representatives of the Ministry of Defense and Ukroboronprom, the leadership of the region and the city also took part in the working trip.
Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman noted that the Pavlograd Chemical Plant is a strategically important enterprise for Ukraine, and the state must definitely support it. “We discussed priority issues with the management of the plant in order to unite efforts and produce the products that Ukraine needs today in order to assert our independence. It is important for the state to create the right defense and protection mechanisms. Undoubtedly, the Pavlograd Chemical Plant is a strategically important enterprise for Ukraine, and it must be supported, which we will do. It's nice to see young employees who work here. This means that they are not just building our future, they are already strengthening our power today,” he said.
According to the Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman, the defense sector in Ukraine needs to be restored, including the technologies that PCP owns. The plant is needed in this process. Volodymyr Groysman told what the government is doing to ensure timely funding. “Funding does not always go smoothly. Therefore, within the framework of the RNBO, it is necessary to coordinate the work of the entire industrial complex. It's not just missiles, it's weapons. And if there are certain failures in the financing process and in the production cycle, I think that we need to switch to planning not “today for today”, in your case, planning for 3-5 years. It is necessary to clearly understand the production system, the technological process and the needs. We will find the right mechanisms for interaction so that there are no such sagging that we have today,” said Volodymyr Groysman.
First Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Economic Development and Trade Stepan Kubiv reported 21 December 2018 on the start of serial production of ammunition for the domestic missile complex "Alder". The creation of a line for the production of high-precision weapons "Alder" at the design bureau "Luch" in Kyiv has been completed. This means the start of serial production of the Vilkha missile, the Minister said. A fuel production line for "Vilkha" rockets was launched at the Pavlograd Chemical Plant in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. "Project costs amounted to 130 million hryvnias, about 800 million hryvnias were used to create a line for the production of solid rocket fuel, which is being built in "Vilkh ", he said.
The television program " Trails of War " announced 03 May 2019 the information that the State Enterprise "Scientific and Production Association "Pavlograd Chemical Plant" carries out the restoration of large-caliber rockets for the Armed Forces. In addition, the enterprise produces new fuel for corrected rockets of the domestic "Alder" complex. To restore the projectiles to the MLRS, they are first disassembled, then work is carried out to extract the old rocket fuel, later the new one is packed, and the projectile is assembled back. The enterprise was carrying out work on the restoration of projectiles for the BM-30 "Smerch" jet systems , and in the future it may start corresponding work for other systems in service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The plant also participates in other programs of the defense-industrial complex of Ukraine to create rocket fuel for more powerful missile systems, such as Sapsan/Grim-2.
By June 2019 the development of several versions of the modified Vilha-M missiles was planned, which, in addition to the increased range, will have warheads of different weights. The R-624M "Vilkha-M" product had a warhead weighing 170 kg and a range of 123 km, work is currently underway to increase the range to 140 km due to the use of a new type of fuel. The new version of the product - R-224M1 "Vilkha-M1" with a warhead of 170 kg on old fuel would be able to destroy targets at a maximum distance of 140 km, and when using new fuel - up to 154 km. For this modification, the use of a warhead weighing 236 kg is provided, respectively, the range will be 108 km and 121 km on a new type of fuel. R-224M2 "Vilkha-M2" will be able to reach a range of 141 km and 202 km with a new type of fuel, while maintaining a warhead weighing 170 kg.
On October 30, 2019, an electronic petition No. 22/077524-?? addressed to the President of Ukraine, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the State Space Agency of Ukraine appeared on the website of the Official Internet Representation of the President of Ukraine, in which residents of the city of Pavlograd, Dnipropetrovsk Region express expressed his concern about the situation at the Pavlograd Chemical Plant (PCHZ) with the disposal of solid rocket fuel left after the liquidation of the Soviet intercontinental ballistic missiles RS-22, the warranty period of which expired in 1999-2001.
The Pavlograd chemical plant was charged with with the disposal of solid rocket fuel left after the liquidation of the Soviet intercontinental ballistic missiles RS-22. Ukraine delt with this problem in accordance with the START-1 international agreement of July 31, 1991. and to the Lisbon Protocol dated May 23, 1992. The Resolution of the Cabinet of Ukraine dated October 29, 2003 No. 1684 approved the "Program for the disposal of intercontinental ballistic missiles RS-22 TRT".
The State Space Agency of Ukraine was responsible for its implementation, and one of the executors is the SE "NVO" Pavlograd Chemical Plant. During the implementation of the program, a production base was created at the enterprise not only for the disposal of TRT, but also for the production of industrial explosives for the mining industry. 4,902.3 tons of solid rocket fuel contained in 163 rocket engine housings were to be disposed of.
In general, disposal was calculated until the end of 2019. Currently, the company notes, 3,100 tons of TRP have already been processed. However, as a result of the constant underfunding of the program, as of October 1, 2019, 38 equipped engine cases with a total mass of 1,802 tons of TRP remained on the territory of the PCZ. This fuel is in an extremely unsatisfactory and unstable condition. "The deterioration of the physical and chemical condition of the fuel is caused by the fact that the warranty periods of storage expired back in 1999-2001."
According to experts, in the event of an emergency situation with only one equipped rocket engine housing, more than 1.84 billion liters of toxic substances may be released into the atmosphere and a negative impact zone with an area of ??more than 7,850 square meters will occur. km In windy weather, it can spread to a much larger area, which will lead to irreversible changes in the environment. At the same time, a real threat is created for the residents of Pavlograd, villages and towns with a total population of more than 4.8 million people. A special danger from seismic impact during the explosion will arise in the mines of the Western Donbas region.
The Petioners stated "Some mistakenly believe that the problem of insufficient financing of the program concerns only the Dnipropetrovsk region. In fact, it has a wider scope - European. Will our government and the Verkhovna Rada be able to see and realize the importance of the problem and take the necessary measures before it is too late, due to political instability? After all, in this situation, time is working against us »
In February 2020, under Presidential Decree No. 59 (referring to Decree No. 59/2020 "On the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine dated February 18, 2020 "On the main indicators of the state defense order for 2020 and 2021, 2022"), the missile program was restored, appropriate orders were given to make changes in defense orders.
The Cabinet of Ministers allocated UAH 133.452 million to the Pavlograd Chemical Plant for the disposal of solid rocket fuel with subsequent use of waste products for the manufacture of missile weapons during the implementation of measures to strengthen the state's defense capabilities. The relevant decision was taken at the government meeting on May 20, 2020.
The director of the SE "Scientific and Production Association "Pavlograd Chemical Plant" Leonid Shiman was concerned that the state had not provided funds for the operation of the enterprise and the programs it implements this year. As a result, the plant had to lay off a large number of workers. "The Pavlograd chemical plant is currently in a critical state - since the beginning of the year, we have not received funding, the state defense order of 2020 does not yet provide money for the implementation of the company's programs... Funding for the plant has been stopped, we were forced to lay off 687 people since the beginning of the year. If the money does not arrive in the near future, we will lay off another 190. The question is, how much will it cost the state to restore production?" he commented.
Ruslan Korzh, deputy general director of the Ukroboronprom DK for aircraft and rocket engineering, commented 13 April 2020 on the situation that arose at this enterprise, to the question of the ArmyInform journalist. "The decision to dismiss a certain number of employees at the Pavlograd Chemical Plant was made a few months ago, this is not news. Indeed, it is associated with a decrease in the amount of funding. In the short term, in my opinion, the situation at this enterprise is under control and will not affect the performance of state and export contracts. However, in the long term, it is necessary to restore the amount of funding under the ammunition development program,"" Ruslan Korzh said.
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, the NSDC and the Government decided to deploy work programs and create new jobs. This was stated by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Arsen Avakov, 06 June 2020, during a working visit to the plant. Avakov said that the management of the plant introduced a separate control over compliance with environmental safety, both at the plant and in the production area.
"Several months ago, we had a situation when the Pavlograd Chemical Plant almost stopped working. A large number of people were laid off because a number of programs were closed. It was not done professionally, mistakes were made by local leaders and leaders in Kyiv. I have known the problems of this enterprise since 2014. The Cabinet of Ministers and the NSDC decided to launch programs for the creation of solid fuel for Ukrainian missile systems "Alder", "Neptun" and others. In addition, the Government has separately allocated funds for the disposal of rocket fuel, which is what this plant also does," said Arsen Avakov.
The minister added that the main task is to ensure that Promin KB, Pavlograd Chemical Plant and a number of other defense enterprises are able to produce missile systems capable of defending Ukraine's sea and land borders. Arsen Avakov said that after the visit, he will report to the President of Ukraine what problems there are in production and how they can be solved. "It is also necessary to solve the issue of Pavlograd mines separately. The government is looking for a solution so that these mines will be operational in the near future," added the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The director of the plant, Leonid Shiman, noted that in February 2020, the missile program was restored by Presidential Decree and changes were made to the defense order. "Currently, we plan to recruit about 540 workers. And in the coming weeks, we will resume the production of missile systems for the needs of the Ministry of Defense. This applies to "Vilkha M", "Typhoon" and operationally - tactical complexes "Thunder". Of course, such high-precision weapons will significantly strengthen the military capability of the Armed Forces, and in the future, we want to expand production and increase the staff to one and a half thousand workers," Leonid Shiman emphasized.
Shiman added that when all programs at the plant are launched in full, the enterprise will need approximately one and a half thousand new employees. "Because 76 buildings and structures, in which 76 technological processes will be placed, are being launched at once," he noted. "As a result (processing) there is pure octogen, which can be used to equip any combat parts of missiles or to equip any new rocket fuel. About 180 tons of such a product can be extracted from the stages we have. From them you can make approximately 2,500 combat units, for example, for "Vilkha", - said the head of the NGO "Pavlograd Chemical Plant".
By June 2020 Ukraine was developing a project to modernize the Soviet S-300 medium-range anti-aircraft missile system. This is reported by the Ukrainian military portal. The works are carried out by a number of Ukrainian enterprises, including the Design Bureau "South" and the State Enterprise "Pavlograd Chemical Plant". The director of the Pavlograd Chemical Plant, Leonid Shiman, told about the research work on the possibility of re-equipment, extension of the service life of products and modernization of the anti-aircraft guided missile (ASM) in the story "VILHA PASTOR" or the Missile Program of Ukraine, the program of the 5th channel "with my own eyes", in which work was carried out on the 48D6 engine from the 5V55 air defense system of the S-300 air defense system.
It was reported in June 2021 that the Pavlograd Chemical Plant , which produces equipment for rocket engines, received 156.8 million hryvnias in net losses last year. The company claimed that the Ministry of Defense ignores the presidential decree on the creation of new types of missile weapons and ammunition. In particular, the Ministry of Defense delayed the decision to order the production of Vilha, Vilha-M, Grim and other missile systems. The chemical plant noted that they could not get financing from the ministry, so the production facilities of the enterprise were idle, and the professional staff had been laid off.
In July 2021 the private company "Rubin-2017" tested its own 155-mm projectile for the 2S22 "Bohdana" self-propelled artillery system. The company "Rubin-2017" together with the SE "Pavlograd Chemical Plant" successfully conducted regular tests of a high-explosive fragmentation projectile. As part of the static tests of the new projectile, the high-explosive and fragmentation effect, as well as safety in the event of a fall from a height, were checked. The projectile for "Bohdana" is made of Ukrainian steel, equipped with an explosive produced by the Pavlograd Chemical Plant and does not include any imported components.
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