January 16, 2013. An eminent designer of Russian armored vehicles Leonid Kartsev, who was the Chief Designer of Ural Transport Machine-Building Office (part of Uralvagonzavod (UVZ) Scientific & Production Corporation) for more than ten years, was awarded the Order of Honor. The Russian tank industry’s living legend received the order for his contribution to the industry’s development and on the eve of his 90th birthday, the corporation’s press officer reports.

The long-service employee is currently being treated in hospital due to not feeling well; the order was given to him by Colonel-General Sergey Mayev, who was the Head of Russian Defense Ministry’s Main Army Tank-Automation Command for many years, and who is the Chairman of Voluntary Association for Assistance to Army, Air Force and Navy (DOSAAF) Central Council as well as UVZ BOD member today. The awarding ceremony was also attended by the representatives of Ural Transport Machine-Building Office and UVZ Special Vehicles Division.

Kartsev is a true cult figure for the corporation. He headed the Nizhniy Tagil design office (known as Ural Transport Machine-Building Office/UKBTM today) in 1953-1969. He supervised the development of 26 types of armored vehicles, 9 of which were put to large-scale production, including combat vehicles Т-54А, Т-54Б, Т-55, Т-55А, Т-62, Т-62А, Т-62К and their modified versions as well as the world’s first tank destroyer IT-1. To date, these tanks represent the striking force of many states around the world.