The consolidation of the defense industry of Russia: historical experience and contemporaneity

In the face of the increased external threats and competition between the countries for the creation of a new economy, Russia’s national security and its breakthrough are of particular relevance today. In this regard, the debate on development priorities has intensified in the scientific community. The purpose of the research is to substantiate the fact that consolidating the defense industry is Russia’s first priority. The paper analyzes both Russian and international (Western) research on this issue, demonstrates the current level of defense industry development, investigates the 1930s Russian practices of creating a powerful economic base through the rapid acceleration of the defense industry, and proves the necessity and possibility of Russia’s breakthrough in the modern context while revealing the crucial role of the defense sectors. The research is based on the principle of historicism and general scientific methods such as analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction. The author substantiates the advantages of the priority development of the defense industry in the critical, difficult period for the country, considering Russian historical experience, basic facts, and various records of the State Archives of Voronezh region and the State Archives of Public and Political History of Voronezh region that have been introduced. This is a pioneering study that deals with the establishment of the powerful economic base by means of the rapid acceleration of the defense industry in the 1930s on the basis of regional materials. Particular attention is paid to the Central Black Earth region since industrial centers have appeared in this traditional agrarian area. The emphasis is placed on Voronezh region that has had the highest industrial production indices in the period under review. The author concludes that it makes sense to use past experience despite the change in the modern world.