President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev has attended the opening of a center for the disposal of ammunition of the “Araz” plant under the “Ufug” Production Association of the Ministry of Defense Industry.
By a decree of the head of state, the enterprises subordinated to the Ministry of Defense Industry, which was established in 2005, have embarked on a process of major overhaul. In an effort to update the fleet of vehicles and equipment of these enterprises, the latest process equipment has been purchased in a number of developed countries around the world. To date, the Ministry has various production sites. The establishment of the center for the disposal of ammunition of the "Araz" plant in Shirvan is also evidence of the development the Ministry of Defense Industry has achieved in recent years. The unused ammunition of all types stored at military bases becomes unusable after the expiration of the service life provided by the manufacturer. Therefore, there is a need for its disposal. In most cases, the ammunition is destroyed openly by blasting or burning, which pollutes the atmosphere and creates environmental problems. Taking into consideration the dangers involved, disposal is carried out by a more advanced and secure method. To this end, an ammunition disposal center has been established at the "Araz" plant in Shirvan. The plant will also operate a center for stuffing ammunition. Artillery mines of various calibers will be stuffed by pressing, while bombs by melting. Due to the fact that mines and bombs are filled with explosives, the center is classified as a high-risk industrial site. To ensure technical and fire safety, all measures have been taken in accordance with existing regulations. In order to create a full-cycle production of ammunition for small arms, a site for the production of blasting caps, one of the main components of ammunition, has also been put in place at the “Araz” plant. There are plans to produce five types of “Berdan” blasting caps.
The head of state examined a layout of the center for the disposal of ammunition.
Defense Industry Minister Yavar Jamalov informed the President that the center was established jointly with the Polish company "Jakush". It covers an area of 12 hectares. The center consists of 24 sites, which are located at a safe distance from each other and are surrounded by a security fence. To implement the disposal process there are 20 modular containers, a transformer substation, storage facilities for explosives of various disposal products, a disposal camera, a compressor, a site for the assessment of the technical condition of ammunition, etc.
Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev watched a film about the disposal center.
The center is intended for demilitarization of different caliber armor-piercing projectiles, artillery mines, grenades, jet mines, fuses, signal and tracer cartridges by means of separation into constituent parts, pressing and melting of ejection and explosive components, their accumulation, reshaping and packaging.
President Ilham Aliyev launched the center.
It was noted that the center is fitted with appropriate process equipment to deactivate explosive components and ignition fuses. The ammunition delivered for disposal is grouped by types and then placed in warehouses for temporary storage. Then each type of ammunition is sampled for technical assessment at a laboratory. The examination and the process of initial assessment are carried out in a special room using a magnifying device. Depending on the type and size of the ordnance, the disposal process is carried out in a variety of containers using equipment which takes into account all safety requirements, is automatically controlled and has armored chambers with external control.
The Commander-in-Chief watched the process of disposal.
After the retrieval of explosives, the obtained material will be used as a secondary raw material. A total of 5,000 tons of ammunition are to be disposed here during the year. According to the project, the center employs 62 people. Local experts will be employed in all sections of the enterprise. They have attended courses organized by leading specialists of "Jakush" and been trained to use the equipment installed at the sites. The enterprise uses environmentally friendly disposal methods based on waste-free technologies.
Then, President Ilham Aliyev arrived at the center for stuffing munitions of the "Araz" plant in Shirvan. The Commander-in-Chief watched a film about the activities of the center.
It was noted that the total area of the center is 4,000 square meters. It operates special equipment for filling 60-, 82- and 120-mm mines with explosives.
The head of state launched the center.
While reviewing the workflow, President Ilham Aliyev was informed that the center carries out filling of 60-mm mine shells with TNT by pressing and 82- and 120-mm mines with a mixture of explosives (TNT and TNT-dinitronaphthalene). The center is fitted with the necessary production and test equipment. The production floor operates four lines. To carry out auxiliary work, preparation and filling, safe working sites have been established. The first line has process areas for disassembly and preparation for the filling of 60-mm mines, the second line is intended for disassembly and preparation for the filling of 82- and 120-mm mines, the third conveying line is meant for 120-mm projectiles, and the fourth for 60- and 82- mm munitions.
The President was informed that the center can ensure the filling and assembly of 20,000 60-mm, 40,000 82-mm and 40,000 120-mm mines in a one-shift operation mode each year.
The section for the preparation of caps at the "Araz" plant is intended for the primers of different kinds. The filling, dosing, testing and packaging of capsules are carried out automatically using the most sophisticated process equipment. The center is expected to produce 40 million capsules in a one-shift operation mode each year.
