Today, December 20, Stepan Kubiv, the First Vice Prime Minister/Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine informed about the results of the activities of the military-industrial complex at a final press conference of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine.

"In 2018, we achieved the allocation of UAH 3 billion for reconstruction, modernization and creation of new production capacities at the defense and industrial complex enterprises. In particular, in 2018, the project for the creation of high-precision Vilha missile developed by the Luch engineering bureau which costs about UAH 130 million this year was completed. In fact, serial production of the Vilha missile has been kicked off", Stepan Kubiv emphasized.

The First Vice Prime Minister added that about UAH 800 million in 2018 were disbursed to create a line for the production of solid rocket fuel, which Vilha missile are equipped with. The production was launched at the Pavlograd chemical plant.

Also, according to the First Vice Prime Minister, in 2018, the creation of the production of bullets for small arms of a caliber 9×18 and 9x19 according to NATO standards at the State-funded scientific and production association "Fort" in Vinnytsia was completed. The cost of the project was about UAH 70 million. "This production line can fully meet the needs of the power bloc in Ukraine in bullets of these calibers," Stepan Kubiv said.

The Vice Prime Minister stressed that a contract on the creation of a production facility in Kyiv for the mass production of Neptune cruise missile is expected to be concluded by the end of December 2018.

"The creation of capacities for production of armored vehicles and radar equipment, as well as the restoration of testing grounds for ammunition is  proceeding in parallel", the First Vice Prime Minister added.