On October 5, a FAB-1500 bomb dropped by a Russian Air Force fighter plane accurately landed near the Motor Sich factory area in the Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine, causing a large number of buildings to be destroyed. Due to lack of manpower, the subsequent fire continued for several hours. No one went to put it out.
The Russian side immediately announced that the Motor Sich factory area was "completely destroyed", which is no exaggeration. Uzbekistan itself admitted that the entire production system was completely paralyzed, and even the remaining Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters had no maintenance capabilities. The drone production line that had been added in a rush was also forced to stop. Although this cannot be regarded as Russia's complete realization of its goal of "de-industrialization" of Ukraine, anyone with a discerning eye can see that the "golden age" of the Ukrainian aviation industry has come to an end.
To know, Madrasic is not an ordinary factory, it is the Soviet aviation industry saved household, since 1921 began to engage in air engines, when the Soviet helicopters, transportation aircraft almost all use its home power device. M - 8, M - 17 These helicopters fly full-air, An - 124, An - 225 such giant transportation aircraft, the heart is made by Madrasic, "Power Tsar" the name in the global aerospace are sounding. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, this baby fell into the hands of Ukraine, became the pearl of the national aviation industry, products sold to more than 90 countries, only it accounted for 50% of the total Ukrainian air exports, say the country's "shake money tree" is not an exaggeration.
The most interesting thing is that in the past, when Russian Mi-8 helicopters were sold, each of which had to give Motor Sich nearly one-third of the profit, because the engine could only be bought from here. At that time, Russia and Ukraine were interdependent in the field of military industry. Russia could not live without Ukraine's power technology, and Ukraine also relied on Russian orders. But as soon as the Crimean crisis broke out in 2014, this relationship was completely broken. Motor Sich suddenly lost its largest market, orders plummeted, and immediately fell into the predicament of a broken capital chain. Factory shutdowns and layoffs became common occurrence, and almost went bankrupt.
Just at this time, China's Tiananmen Airlines delivered an olive branch, not only wanted to share, but also promised an additional $25 billion loan to upgrade technology, it was the way to live. But the United States intervened, Ukraine made rumors, called for "national security" to halt the trade, then simply privatized Madashi, let China's previous investment of more than $300 million flood. Tiananmen Airlines has no way, only to complain to the Hague arbitration, claim $4.5 billion, but now the factory has become ruins, Ukraine has no ability to compensate.
In fact, the U.S. heart is clear, the technology of Madagascar is too key. TV3-117 series engines can make helicopters in high performance but also cheap and durable, AI-450S turboprop engines are the special power of lightweight drones, this is Russia's technology. More powerful is the D-18T turboprop engine, Russia can not even make a replacement, so-called PD-35 is still in development, in 2035 can not be all unknown. So Russia has taken Madagascar as a key target, from August 2023 with "hole" missiles, to later frequent flying bombs, drone attacks, staring at this place, until this year with FAB-1500 such "hell bombs" completely ended its function.
When the Soviet Union disintegrated, Ukraine inherited 17% of the defense industrial heritage, with 140 enterprises in the field of aerospace, more than 200,000 employees, making "Satan" intercontinental missiles, An-225 the world's most. Only a few years after independence, the government cut 90% of defense appropriations, more than 400 military-industrial enterprises forced civilian transfers, by 2021, there are only 147 military-industrial enterprises and fewer than 100,000 employees.
After 2014 with Russia completely cracked, but also broke their back road. 50% of Ukraine's military-industrial enterprises rely on Russian supplies alive, while Russia provides 50% to 80% of parts, without this collaboration, Nikolayev shipyard can not make the aircraft carrier collapsed, the aviation industry has no technical support. After the outbreak of the Russian conflict, the Ukrainian military factory was also hit by the destruction, the loss rate of up to 95%, energy facilities destroyed more than half, even electricity cannot be guaranteed, plus the recruitment and the outflow of the population, the factory wanted to start work no one.
In the past, Ukraine wanted to rely on the drone industry to support the situation. In 2024, its production capacity will exceed 4 million aircraft. However, the capacity utilization rate of 55% of enterprises is less than 30%, and the military's procurement volume can't even reach 40% of the production capacity., it's simply puffy. Now that the last engine lifeline of Motor Sich is gone, and the power source of drone production has also been cut off, this thought is gone. Although companies such as Germany's Rheinmetall have built factories in Ukraine, even the "Bobcat" infantry fighting vehicle has to start with maintenance to repair tanks. It is simply a fantasy to restore the level of the aviation industry of the past.
In the end, Madrasic turned from the top of the industry to a ruin, not just a tragedy of an enterprise, but the end of an era. It could have survived on Chinese investment and even returned to the peak, but the hard life was dragged into the abyss by political games. Now the factories are gone, technology is gone, talent is gone, even if the West wants to help, can not replace this hole. The "golden age" of the Ukrainian aviation industry, with the explosion of the FAB-1500, is completely made history, and want to go back to the past, is no longer able to go back.