WE ARE YOUR MAGAZINE

You are holding in your hands the 31st issue of Military Parade magazine, which marks the first five years of our staff’s dedicated and creative efforts. This dedication has helped to steer us safely through these tumultuous economic times. The five years of efforts to provide reliable information concerning the many arms of the Russian defense industry, along with its military-technical cooperation with other countries, have already borne fruit. Over this short period of time, this magazine, the only defense publication of its kind in Russia, has gained a firm foothold and won the recognition from business, industrial and military leaders in more than 80 countries from around the world.

Our readers note that Military Parade is successfully fulfilling its main task — promoting Russian-made armaments and military equipment on world markets which, in turn, creates and preserves jobs in the defense industry sector, as well as promotes the research and development of high technologies. Today, our magazine not only provides reliable information about new weapon systems and military equipment developed in Russia, but also provides room for discussion the Russian government’s military policy. This includes subjects which deal in-depth with sensitive areas of military-technical cooperation, including the modernization of armaments, personnel training and retraining, supplies of spare parts, and the search for partners for joint projects and potential investors.

The other major achievements of Military Parade Ltd. (a publishing house established through the Military Parade magazine), which I would like to mention, include the publication of a seven-volume catalog, Russia’s Arms, which offers ample and trustworthy information about armaments presently in service with Russian armed forces.

Over the past five years (thanks again to the efforts of our magazine staff), the publishing house has produced advertising booklets, pamphlets, and various other literature, ordered extensively by the leading exporters of Russian armaments, as well as dozens of design bureaus and industrial enterprises.

We believe that our magazine’s achievements would have been impossible without support from the Russian government, the Ministry of Defense, and the major state enterprises that promote Russian-made armaments and technologies on international markets: Rosvoorouzhenie, Promexport, and Rossiiskiye Tekhnologii.

Military Parade also receives much support from members of its Military-Industrial Council, from general and chief designers of Russia’s major companies, and chief executives of the largest industrial enterprises producing state-of-the-art equipment, including products made under conversion programs using dual-use technologies.

We believe that the magazine’s 5th anniversary will serve to help its staff to further promote the all-round development of the Russian defense industry’s research, technical and production potentials, restore its former ties with partners in related industries and in the Commonwealth of Independent States, as well as promote Russia’s high-quality and competitive products and services on international markets.

We are expressing our heartfelt thanks to all those who have sent us greetings and congratulations on our jubilee. We are always ready to discuss any suggestions aimed at improving the quality of our magazine’s content. In turn, we wish all those involved in the Russian defense industry success in their efforts toward building a strong tomorrow in Russia’s future.

Military Parade is available through subscription and mail order distribution. It is also distributed at international exhibitions and sold both retail and wholesale. The magazine’s own site on the Internet provides its world-wide distribution.

We believe that Military Parade will continue to be a reliable partner and objective mouthpiece for all those who strive for an early restoration and the stable development of Russian economy. We are always ready for cooperation. We are your magazine!

Yuri Antipov, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Military Parade Ltd.

I would like to congratulate the staff and readers of Military Parade on its 5th anniversary.

Your staff has produced a periodical which delivers, in a professional and competent way, the achievements of the Russian defense industry. Relying on the high reputation of Russian designers, Military Parade has successfully popularized the many unique armaments and military equipment produced through dedicated research and development efforts.

Your magazine attracts the attention of a large number of Russian and foreign specialists, and helps make potential customers interested in the achievements of Russian industry. I would also like to mention your magazine’s recent tendency to extensively cover the conversion of the Russian defense industry to civilian production.

Military Parade makes a major contribution to the revival of defense research and production, which have always been the pride of Russian economy.

I wholeheartedly wish your staff future success in delivering these publications to the reading public.

Yegor Stroyev, Chairman of the Council of the Federation of the Russian Federation’s Federal Assembly

I would like to extend my congratulations to the Military Parade staff on your magazine’s 5th anniversary. Your magazine’s concept — the publication of concise and consistent information for Russian and foreign readers about cutting edge military equipment, support for Russian defense industry enterprises, and the promotion of their products on foreign markets — has been successfully brought into life.

It is gratifying that Military Parade has in the past few years focused more on military-political problems, the reform of the Armed Forces, and the conversion of the defense industry to civilian production.

As a man who has devoted many years of his life to journalism, I understand how much energy your staff has put into each issue to make it so popular, not only among specialists, but also among the general reading public.

I wish the Military Parade staff even greater success in the future!

Gennady Seleznyov, Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation’s Federal Assembly

I wholeheartedly congratulate the Military Parade staff on the magazine’s 5th anniversary!

Over the years the magazine has gained popularity and prestige in Russia and abroad, and has become a unique source of reliable information about the defense industry, the development of armaments and military equipment, as well as about military policy and reform within the Armed Forces.

Your magazine has drawn attention from not only specialists, but also the general reader to various aspects pertaining to the development of military equipment, military-technical cooperation, and the Armed Forces as a whole.

I am confident that Military Parade will continue making a great contribution to the preservation and development of the best traditions of the Russian defense industry, as well as assist in the promotion of Russian-made armaments and military equipment on foreign markets. This is an invaluable contribution towards the creation of new jobs and the development of cutting edge technologies.

I wish the Military Parade staff good health, continuous inspiration, and many new achievements in maintaining high standards of scientific and defense related journalism.

Yuri Maslyukov, First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation

It gives me great privilege to be able to congratulate the staff of the Military Parade magazine on its 5th anniversary.

Military Parade deserves the respect and popularity it has achieved in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation due to the relevance and objectiveness of its publications. Technological achievements in the development of state-of-the-art armaments and military equipment, so brilliantly publicized by your magazine, reveals the great hidden potential of the Russian defense industry.

I hope that the Military Parade magazine will continue promoting the respected tradition of Russian-made armaments on the international market, and further assist Russia’s economic revival, as well as help strengthen its defense initiatives.

Along with my congratulations, please accept my wishes of good health, continued motivation, happiness and overall well-being for your entire staff.

Igor Sergeyev, Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, Marshal of the Russian Federation

BEST MAGAZINE PROJECT IN MY LIFE

In the winter of 1992, when I was an adviser in the Russian government, I addressed a memo to a deputy prime minister in which I wrote about the need for a specialized publication in Russia to give moral support for the Russian defense industry, as well as promote Russian-made armaments and military equipment on international markets.

This was to be the Russian defense industry’s first corporate magazine.

But those were difficult years. The government was negotiating with the West for the restructuring of Russia’s huge foreign debt, while forced to hand out humanitarian aid. Naturally, the government had no money for a new magazine.

However, a year later I met a businessman, Victor Bondarenko, who immediately supported my idea. We put together a team of people who shared our views and found the necessary funds. The first issue of the magazine was made impromptu. There was an aura of secrecy over many subjects which we wanted to write about in our magazine. Yet we solved those problems by setting up a competent Board of Directors.

The presentation of the first issue of Military Parade, held in the large press center on Zubovsky Boulevard, was attended by the military attaches of almost all foreign embassies in Moscow, as well as chief executives of defense industry research institutes, design bureaus and plants. Press center veteran staff joked: «The last time we had so many people here was during the meeting between Leonid Brezhnev and Richard Nixon.» The magazine bagan a promising start in life.

I headed Military Parade magazine for almost two years. Later, I established the Natsionalnoye Obozreniye (National Review) publishing house where I took part in the launch of several more magazines. Yet, Military Parade will forever remain for me one of the best journalist projects in my life.

I congratulate all staff workers and readers of the magazine on its 5th anniversary and wish it to continue to develop the best traditions of Russian journalism.

Ye. Shashkov, Editor-in-Chief and Director General of Military Parade from 1993 to 1995

The Editors of Military Parade magazine would like to thank its readers for their many kind telegrams, letters and faxes on the occasion of the magazine’s 5th anniversary. Unfortunately, we are not able to publish all of them, but we would like to print some of them here.The 5th anniversary celebrating the first issue of Military Parade is a remarkable event not only for your staff, but also for all those involved in the development of Russian arms. Please accept my sincerest congratulations on your magazine’s jubilee, and wishes for its continual success and prestige in all Russian regions.

A. Volkov, Chairman of the State Council of the Udmurt Republic

Over a relatively short period of time your magazine has won popularity and respect both in Russia and abroad. In these difficult times you have carved a unique niche for yourself among defense related magazines. Military Parade is distinguished among other publications for its high quality, respectability and consistency. Your magazine features extensive articles pertaining to aviation and aircraft building, while acquainting readers with the achievements of the Russian defense industry. This contribution has helped to promote Russian-made military equipment on foreign markets. The Kamov Company and your magazine have built a friendly cooperation through the past five years which, I hope, will continue to endure.

S. Mikheyev, President and General Designer of the Kamov Company

Since the first issue of Military Parade, you have greatly succeeded in attracting the attention of scientists, engineers and other specialists with an unbiased coverage of the present state of the Russian Armed Forces, as well as focusing on the development and production of state-of-the-art armaments and military equipment and military-technical cooperation.

Within a short period of time the Military Parade staff have won a dedicated audience, which in these difficult times inspires respect for their true professionalism.

G. Voronin, Chairman of the Russian Federation Committee on Standardization and Metrology

You are still very young; we are more accustomed to congratulate our friends on their 50th anniversary. But you have just turned five, and you have already accomplished so much for those who are 50!

The prestige your magazine has gained among specialists, Russian arms makers and readers is certainly well-deserved. You have cut out a window to the rest of the world, through which information flows about Russian-made armaments which have always been renowned for their reliability and exceptional efficiency. We look forward to each new issue of your magazine. For us it is always an anticipated event!

A. Kuteinikov, General Designer and Chief of the Malachite Central Design Bureau for Marine Engineering

The Military Parade magazine has won a leading position within the Russian journalist and advertising market. It greatly pleases me that the magazine offers new creative material, while extending the ways the subjects are presented. This approach has done much to increase your popularity and reputation among defense publications. It is gratifying that your magazine does not confine itself only to matters related to the defense industry. It covers — in a highly professional and competent manner — vital aspects of Russia’s national security, present reforms in the Armed Forces, strategy, as well as always intriguing military history.

Yu. Baluyevsky, Chief of the Main Operations Department of the General Staff Colonel-General

Your magazine’s highly professional publications help promote Russian-made armaments abroad, which helps to preserve the proud tradition of research and development within our many Russian industries.

I. Kornitsky, President of the Optronika Financial and Industrial Group

Military Parade is a respectable tool for picturing the vast achievements of Russian scientists, engineers, workers and technicians in the development of armaments and military equipment. Your past publications devoted to the Buk-M1 and Buk-M1-2 air defense missile systems, weapon control systems for MiG-31 and Su-27 aircraft, and the latest radar equipment have made a great contribution for familiarizing the public with our institute’s accomplishments.

Yu. Bely, Director of the Tikhomirov Research Institute of Instrument-Making

Your magazine successfully presents an ideal combination of content and form: by featuring the many outstanding achievements of the Russian defense industry, it displays excellent design and high quality. Your continual hard work has yielded great results in the promotion of high-quality Russian-made equipment on foreign markets. Congratulations!

M. Nagibin, Director General of Rostvertol JSC

Over the past five years, Military Parade has gained great prestige among the chief executives and staff of the Russian defense industry, as well as among our foreign trading partners.

Your well-presented articles provide the necessary information and advertising for Russian arms producers which promotes the technological development of the Russian economy, while guaranteeing a more efficient military-technical cooperation with other countries.

A. Shlyakhtenko, Chief and General Designer of the Almaz Central Marine Design Bureau

Five years is not a long time, but over this short time your magazine has gained high prestige, while succeeding in becoming a real mouthpiece for the Russian defense industry. Unique materials published in your journal, together with the superb quality of its design, have no equal in the Russian media today. But what is more important is Military Parade’s contribution to defense industry enterprises in increasing high-quality defense exports. Congratulations!

V. Olevanov, Director of the Salyut Machine-Building Plant