Kremlin Authorizes Big Businesses To Buy Anti-aircraft Systems
- 28.05.2026, 20:12
To fire off drones.
Russian authorities have approved a mechanism allowing private companies to purchase large-caliber weapons to protect their facilities from drone attacks. As RBC sources connected to the Russian Defense Ministry told RBC, sources connected to the Russian Defense Ministry said the issue is anti-aircraft artillery systems, turrets, as well as radar, special vehicles and electronic warfare (EW) complexes. "In order to promptly provide everything necessary for the units of mobile fire groups being formed, the relevant decisions have recently been taken at the state level," one of the interlocutors explained.
The topic was raised on May 26 at a meeting with Vladimir Putin by the head of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP), Alexander Shokhin. He complained that large enterprises need not only 7.62 mm caliber assault rifles, but also more serious means: "various REB systems, laser installations and other calibers." Shokhin also asked that reservists, who are now frequently moved from place to place, be assigned to the facilities. According to RBC's sources, new mobile fire groups are already being formed in most regions of European Russia - from reservists, volunteers from regional BARS units, and employees of private companies. In order to reduce the time of provision of fire groups, the weapons purchased by private companies will be immediately transferred to military units involved in air defense of industrial and civil infrastructure, one of the interlocutors of the publication noted.
Previously, private companies could only purchase passive protection equipment through the open market or the Ministry of Industry and Trade. In order to provide the personnel of security companies with light small arms, purchases were made through the Rosgvardiya.
In the meantime, the Pantsir-SMD-E anti-aircraft missile system has already been installed on the roof of Moscow's Nordstar Tower skyscraper (42 floors). A video of a helicopter lowering the SAM system onto the building was published by military analyst Yan Matveev. Z-channel "Military Informant" explained that the complex is focused on fighting drones: its combat module holds up to 48 small-size missiles "Gvozd" (range of 7 km) or standard 95Y6 shells (up to 20 km). Nordstar Tower is one of the tallest buildings in Moscow, where Rosneft has leased almost half of the space.