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The history of "Gorizont" JSC started in July 1966 when the "Gorizont" State Union Planning and Design Bureau under the Ministry of Aircraft Industry was set up by the resolution of the USSR Government.
In accordance with the order of the minister of Aircraft Industry a new design bureau comprised a number of departments of GiproNIIaviaprom and Fakel design bureaus, AT Scientific and Research Institute, Universal and Dzerzhinetch Plants. As a result, the newly-established organization included 17 design departments, each one specializing in a certain field of missile armaments. On the whole, the design bureau was mainly involved in research and anti-missile weaponry development in the interest of domestic air defence forces up till the beginning of the 1970s.
Besides the main departments a number of support divisions was set up. Valeriy Il’itchev was appointed director general and chief designer of the enterprise. He held the post for more than 20 years and did a lot for the enterprise formation and successful operation.
The staff of the design bureau amounted to 950 people. The majority of departments were housed on the premises of GiproNIIaviaprom, and some – on the premises of Avangard Plant.
In 1967 under the resolution of the Board of the Ministry of Aircraft Industry the enterprise got into possession the production premises of GiproNIIaviaprom (in the city of Khimki, Moscow region), on which there were some dilapidated building and workshops. Within a few months a new multi-stored building was constructed. Later it became a pilot plant of "Gorizont" Experimental and Design Bureau.
By the end of the 1960s the world saw a rapid development of missile armaments, ballistic missiles in particular. Thus, the designers were forced to make more powerful counterweapons. The "Gorizont" specialists took an active part in such projects.
The enterprise developed the support means for the Aldan A-35 air defence system (prime developers – "Fakel" and "Novator" Engineering Design Bureaus) with the A-350Zh and A-350R anti-missiles to defend Moscow. The system was successfully tested in 1969. Moreover, at the turn of the 1960s Gorizont took part in developing the Azov system engaging ballistic missiles (prime developer – "Almaz" Scientific and Production Association) and the Amur A-135 multi-channel firing system (prime developer – "Vympel" Design Bureau).
In 1969 "Gorizont" State Union Planning and Design Bureau was transformed into "Gorizont" Union Plant. The enterprise grew and expanded the scope of its activities. Design work was conducted in a number of specialized departments. Boris A. Dubov, first director general of the pilot plant, held the post till 1978. Under his leadership assembling, tool-making and transport departments, foundry, administrative and laboratory facilities were constructed and put into operation.
In 1972 "Gorizont" Plant was given the order to start working in the area of airborne weaponry development. In December 1972 under the order of the minister of Aircraft Industry the Plant embarked on making pilot samples of airborne weapons. The specialists were divided into teams, concentrating their efforts in certain areas and at the same time closely cooperating with each other. The division, developing airborne weapons, comprised four departments. They gave life to a wide range of products such as standardized missile holders, bomb-holder actuators, passive countermeasure sets, containers for transporting missiles and other types of cargo. In the mid-1970s the unguided projectiles of 130 mm caliber were designed. Many designs of the enterprise are supported by certificates of authorship.
At the beginning of the 1970s the development of unmanned air vehicles (UAVs), often called “robot-planes” was encouraged. Such vehicles are designated both for military intelligence gathering and purely civil tasks such as ground relief, object and fire designation. First the vehicles were equipped with photo-cameras, and later – with video cameras. Upon mission completion, the UAVs return to the area of their permanent location, decreasing the speed and activating the parachute system.
"Gorizont" Design Bureau developed UAV ground set facilities. They managed to make mobile systems that took little time for getting ready and launching UAVs. The project was a great success, and later Gorizont designed a lot of ground set facilities for the following UAVs:
· The Raise, Strizh, Strish-2 operational-tactical reconnaissance UAVs (the Tupolev Design Bureau);
· The Ptchela-1, Ptchela-2 tactical battlefield surveillance UAVs (the Yakovlev Design Bureau);
· The Dyatel high-speed reconnaissance UAV (Kulon Scientific and Research Institute, Serial Design Bureau of Sport Aviation, Lutch Design Bureau);
· The Korshun strike UAV (joint project of some design bureaus and scientific-research institutes);
· The Dal’ unmanned interceptor (Experimental Design Bureau and the Lavotchkin Design Bureau).
The "Gorizont" designers were the first to create unique airborne mining systems that made it possible to set mining obstacles by means of planes and helicopters. The design of bomb containers, cluster dispenser units and control equipment was perfected.
The enterprise further expanded the scope of its activities, accumulating experience in the field of airborne armaments. To perform semi-actual modeling special facilities were installed on the premises in the cities of Priozersk, Ahtubinsk, Leninsk, Severodvinsk, Pheodosiya.
Moreover, modern laboratory and test facilities facilitated work on the defence products under development and civil products as well.
The Plant took part in the project of making guided satellites, naval and ground equipment.
Eight-stored engineering and design block (12 thousand m2) was constructed and equipped within two years time, and occupied by the specialists of the design bureau by the end of 1973.
Alongside with military developments the plant designed a number of civil products and equipment for the national economy. In the mid 1970s the machine for packing and marking eggs was designed at the enterprise and put into serial production at the Artem Plant (Kiev). At the same time the enterprise designed some milling equipment used up till now after minor upgrading.
Within the framework of space-exploration programme "Gorizont" was a prime developer of ground equipment set and refueling system for Buran shuttlecraft. The work began at the turn of the 1970s and in about five years all the equipment was designed, manufactured, tested and put into service as part of the spacecraft.
In 1978 Vladimir I. Spiridonov was appointed director general of the plant. This successor was Igor A. Eramov.
During the 1980s the design bureau and the pilot plant saw a number of structural and staff changes. In 1987 Boris N. Glazhyrin took a post of chief designer of "Gorizont" Plant. The following year Boris M. Tarasov took a post of director general. He was the advocate of further enterprise reconstruction and reequipping, improvement of working environment, operation of technical services and control laboratories.
Since the end of the 1980s the enterprise ever more concentrated on developing agricultural equipment, which permitted to reduce storage and processing wastes.
In 1989 the pilot products with the use of microwave energy appeared. Together with some other agricultural equipment they were demonstrated to the government people at the All-Russia Exhibition Center.
In 1990 the plant was renamed into Moscow Experimental and Design Bureau "Gorizont". It continued making civil products, considering the latest innovations of science and technology.
In 1993 the enterprise was transformed into a joint stock company. In the 1990s in spite of economic difficulties and unstable situation in the country the staff of the enterprise never stopped working and strengthening cooperation with organizations and ministries of various branches of industry.
A large group of the specialists was decorated with high government orders for devoted work and great achievements.
Yuri V. Solomatin took a post of director general of the joint stock company.
In accordance with Decree of the RF President No. 591 of May 9, 2004 "Gorizont" JSC became part of Tactical Missiles Corporation JSC.
For over its 50-year history the enterprise has gained much expertise in the field of developing equipment for various branches of industry. Nowadays the staff of the enterprise and the production facilities make it possible to manufacture advanced defence and civil products.
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