Alexander Chirkov, the plant's chief manufacturing engineer, told the prime minister that the Votkinsk plant had 23 shops for special purpose manufacturing. While Mr Putin was in the machine assembly shop, Mr Chirkov told him that it was established in 1984 and had 250 employees working in it.

The shop is manufacturing coupling sections and warhead platforms for Topol-M, Yars, and Bulava missile systems as well as bodies for Iskander missiles. The average age of the plant's workers is 30 and the average monthly salary is 22,000 roubles.

While speaking with the plant's workers, Mr Putin expanded on the plant's future and whether it would receive long-term orders.

"This is why we have come here today. Your plant is one of the leading enterprises in Russia's defence industry. Even during the crisis you didn't have a decrease in any of your performance figures. And today we will discuss the plant's development programme. I believe that about 1.5 billion roubles will be invested in it in the next three years and between 7.9 and 8 billion will be set aside later on. Considering the whole of the business process, the total amount will be even greater. I'm now referring to cooperation [between various enterprises]. We also need this cooperation to ensure the plant's uninterrupted operation. Everyone knows – and especially you – that the Votkinsk plant is one of the key enterprises in Russia's defence industry. And it will receive a large order under the new state armaments programme."

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The prime minister also toured an exhibition at the plant.