Perestroika and Change in Soviet Weapons ... - The Black Vault

21
Plans for the use of defense capacity have been developed for (1)
processing equipment for the gonurilcomplex, (2) equipmnt for
light industry, and (3) complex goods for cosmrs. Party Secretary
Baklanov, who is responsible for oversighit of defense industry, conveniently
mentioned these three plans in a single sentence "It is
already possibles to say that the defense complex's scientific, and production
potential as starting to work soundly on increasing consumer
goods production, as well as production of the latest equipment for
light industry, and on the processing sectors of the apo in-dustrial crn -
plex." A plan for medical equipment may also have been formulated
since deflense industry has been charged with increased production of
such good.. Additionally, the projete reduction in procurement of
defense equipment has inspired, a more cmrhnveplan, this last
plan may attempt to consolidate the various accumulating demand. on
the defense production sector and match them with the capait that
will be freed by declining military demand.
To help clarify the evolution of the policies on conversion, the following
chronology attempts to array events as they occurrd; however, since
some of the timing attributed to this behavior became evidlent a year or
more after the event, some of the chronology is only approxiate.
An October 1987 Central Committee conference on the food poesn
secto of the agroindustrial complexI led to the subsequent development of
a ~ copeesv ln-hc included defense industry, for icesn
output in the 1988-96 period. Apparently as a consequencie of the decisions
taken, at that time, the Ministry of Machine Buiding for Light and
Food idustry and Household Appliances ( IMin ishchmash) was dis
bande on March 1, 196, and 220 of its plants tansetrred to defense
industry miistries,6 although the decision had apparently alred been
made the previous November. Party Secretary V. Filimonvv of the disbanded
ministry realized that something was afoot as early as November
1967. *When they telephoned me back in November and said that it was
not expedien to hold a Party meeting on problems associated with
restructuring in our branch, I realized that some decision wee being
prepared. with respect to our ministr."G The deputy minister of the Ministry
of Defense Industry confirmed this chronolocr. 'The decision on
Musics Temvisi, OVrw#Wj - =6at Decmber M3 IM6 (S-BOV-WB25,
Doosbel 4 21, 166W p. 42).
ftGeo fo thed Peopis Off thu Mhisy Prodacm UneW Soudebkaos Bm4aum
Februay 10, 19f68, I FBJBOV-06-Mg Februa 13,1969. p. 82).
50AIming hr a flnaktimusko Seeata Recess, Febray S&, 196 p. 3 (FRIS
80V4S.461, arch 2,19UK pp. 61-4). The disbanded ministry poeseeced 260 fateriss,
but a* 220 howe Spied in the trannfar. The adii 40 may have omdn activiies.
Gltpctap from Aholie N~niwty,* Pmus1% Maoch S, 1968 p. 1 (P318.80V44-
047. Maoch 10, 1968 p. 57).