An Igla missile may have been successfully smuggled to the US - as revealed by this week's sting operation - but security seemed pretty tight when I arrived at the plant where they are made.
The local Federal Security Service chief ruled that journalists should be barred from the premises of the Degtyrev factory.
We were only able to film outside the huge iron gates.
Many aircraft have been shut down by Stinger missiles, and nobody ever seemed to hold it against them
David Lipsman
Chief engineer
The Igla 18 in detail
"What did you expect? We produce the best anti-aircraft missiles in the world, and there are things which are best kept behind this gate," said chief engineer David Lipsman, under the stony gaze of two machine-gun-toting policemen.
"We have had intruders here, but they all got shot by security".
His manner lent itself to any interpretation, from slightly ironic to dead serious.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3154723.stmrecent related articles here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=70328
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