OAK: brave new world or return to the past?
Five months ago, on February 20, the long-awaited creation of Russia’s new Unified Aircraft Co.

Five months ago, on February 20, the long-awaited creation of Russia’s new Unified Aircraft Co. (OAK, in its Russian acronym) became official when President Vladimir Putin signed a decree ordering the immediate amalgamation of all Russian aircraft building enterprises into one large group. This move is the culmination of a trend in the Russian defense industry to form large consortiums–such as the Almaz-Antei Air Defence Enterprises or the Tactical Missiles Corp.–to create some economies of scale and increase efficiency. According to Putin, OAK has been created to “maintain the scientific-industrial potential of Russia’s aircraft manufacturing complex and to ensure the country’s security and defense capabilities.”