“What secrets lie behind these walls?” That’s the question many ask when they first see the Zvezda Plant. The Zvezda Plant in St. Petersburg is a powerhouse of Russian engineering. It has a rich history dating back to 1932.
Initially, the Zvezda Plant focused on building various types of machinery. However, since 1945, it has specialized in high-speed diesel engines. These engines are vital for shipbuilding and railway transport. They also serve small energy needs.
The Zvezda Plant also manufactures heavy ship gearboxes. These gearboxes can handle power up to 20,000 kW. The plant is a key part of Russia’s defense-industrial complex. It supplies vital equipment to maintain the military efficiency of several important forces. These include the Russian Navy, the Russian Strategic Missile Forces, and the FSB Border Service.
Zvezda is a designated supplier of Russian weapons and hardware. It is the main supplier of ship diesel engines for the Russian Defense Ministry. About 90% of Navy and Border Service high-speed ships use Zvezda diesel engines.
The unique design of Zvezda’s diesel gear units allowed for the creation of a high-speed passenger fleet. This fleet supported intensive passenger transport on inland waterways in the USSR and the Russian Federation. Engines from the Zvezda Plant also enabled the creation of a high-speed fleet of coast guard patrol boats and naval forces.
Light engines from the Zvezda Plant were widely used in passenger trains across the USSR and Eastern Europe. For over 60 years, highly efficient emergency backup diesel generator sets from the Zvezda Plant have provided energy security. They protect gas transmission facilities, oil pipelines, communication centers, and important government facilities.
PJSC Zvezda is unique in Russia. It designs and manufactures high-speed marine diesel engines with a capacity exceeding 500 kW. These engines have minimal weight and dimensions. Over its history, Zvezda PJSC has developed and commissioned over 200 engine modifications.
Currently, Zvezda PJSC continues to provide essential components for promising Navy ships. These include patrol, reconnaissance, and landing ships. Examples include the Project 20380 Corvette and the Project 21630 Buyan.
Zvezda’s expertise in gearboxes has made it the lead developer for the Navy. They developed the RRD12000 universal two-speed reverse-gear transmission for the Project 20380 corvette. The company also created a unique design of disk inclusion units. They are working on reverse gears for other projects like the BDK Project 11711.
Zvezda is ready to develop reverse-gear transmissions for power up to 15,000 kW. This includes combined diesel-gas-turbine units. The company also retained a unique technology for developing and manufacturing diesel engines with low magnetic performance.
In 2014, Vnesheconombank and OJSC Zvezda signed an agreement to fund a project. This project aimed to set up manufacturing of new generation diesel engines. These engines would meet the needs of the Russian Defense Ministry.
In 2018, the Ural holding Sinara became the main shareholder of the company. In 2019, the Zvezda Plant delivered a long-awaited engine for the Karakurt small rocket ship. This fulfilled the terms of a settlement agreement.
A fire occurred at the Zvezda Plant in December 2022. The fire spread over 200 square meters. However, officials claimed it was on nearby territory. The Zvezda Plant remains a vital part of Russia’s industrial and military infrastructure. Its history is one of innovation and contribution to the nation’s capabilities.