Deep knowledge of modern technologies and practical experience in the development of the defense industry today is high in demand. Specialists in this field are unique; their opinions are considered while developing the defensive concept of the state, adopting federal programs on state defense orders.

One of the recognized scientific authorities in the development of Russia’s aerospace defense shield is Igor Raufovich Ashurbeyli. He is a director and production manager, Doctor of Engineering Sciences, member of two academies - Engineering and Military Sciences, chairman of the Presidium of the Non-Departmental Advisory Council on Aerospace Defense. Under his leadership the latest modifications ​​of air defense missile complexes were made. Among his numerous awards are the Prize for science and technology from the government of the Russian Federation, national award "Person of the Year", other awards and honorary titles.

Igor Raufovich devoted to the defense-industrial complex more than 20 years. As soon as he graduated, the young professional was engaged in the development of special software and became the head of the industrial association "Socium". Then, as the head of the "International Bureau of Information and Telecommunications", he operated a broad range of information and telecommunication businesses. For ten years Igor Ashurbeyli was CEO of the “Almaz” Scientific Production Association named after Academician A.A. Raspletin (which in time was re-named the Almaz-Antey State Special Design Bureau), and in recent years he is the supervisor of the OJSC “Design Bureau-1”.

“He is a true patriot and a believer in the strong state”, the Chairman of the State Duma Committee for industry, Sergei Sobko, says. “During the difficult “zero” years it was his talent and organizational skills which helped to revive the strategic enterprise “Almaz”. After years of the ill-considered reforms in the country and the funding shortfall of the defense industrial complex “Almaz” was really on its beam ends”.

Here's how one of the leaders of "Almaz", Nikolai Polyashev, reviewed that time: "We were thrown into the wild market, like puppies to the cold water. Our outstanding scientists, engineers had to produce, figuratively speaking, cooking pots at the defense plants. All this was called conversion - production of dual-use goods. The Ministry of Defense did not pay for its orders”. 

Many people thought that there were no way out already. But there was a man who thought otherwise. And this man was Igor Ashurbeyli.

The Chairman of the State Duma Committee for Industry, Sergei Sobko, is sure: “It was not an accident. Indeed, from the beginning of his working career Igor Raufovich cast in lot with technical equipment and new technologies, which worked primarily towards the defense industry that time. The new leader had to make enormous efforts to change things for the better, to propel “Almaz” once again to the top in the country. Due to well-informed decisions, good management the enterprise again revived outrush of engineering and design ideas.

Under the leadership of Ashurbeyli the latest modifications the ​​air defense missile systems S -300 "Favorite" were created, the development of the Air Defense Missile Complex S-400 “Triumph” was completed, the state tests conducted and the “Triumph” was brought into service in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. The S-400 “Triumph” has unique military characteristics, and thus, huge export potential. The enterprise itself increased its profits by ten times, improved social conditions of the employees.

It was under the leadership of Ashurbeyli when “Almaz” became a company with a worldwide reputation. Its production, especially the S-300 "Favorite" and the S-400 "Triumph", is unrivalled.

“His basic concept of creating the integrated system of air and missile defense AD-ABM (IS IMD AD-ABM) of the fifth generation has been approved by the Russian government”, continues Sergei Sobko. “In 2010, under his leadership, technical projects of the IS IMD main components were successfully completed and adopted by the state commissions: the systems "S-500", "Vityaz", "Morpheus" and others”.

Today Igor Ashurbeyli still keeps abreast of the AD-ABM development, now as a scientific director of OJSC “Design Bureau -1”. Since 2011 he is the Chairman of the Presidium of the nonprofit partnership “Non-Departmental Advisory Board on Aerospace Defense” (NAB ASD). Among its members there are six RAS academicians (Russian Academy of Science), 40 doctors and 35 candidates of sciences, as well as more than 200 leading scientists, experts from eight research institutes and the same amount of military and civilian universities, from 31 defense enterprises. Leading experts and analysts are ready to consider his authoritative opinion.

At these days colleagues and friends congratulate Igor Raufovich Ashurbeyli on his 50th anniversary. Sergei Sobko writes in his address: "The country should begin immediately the researches in the field of the defense weapon of the sixth generation. And here we need the tandem of the industry and the academic science academia, a breakthrough in the fundamental research. We need the new, creative solutions in the field of the domestic element base, composite materials, powerful lasers, nanotechnology, which would not lead us on a deadlock path in pursuit of technology of the West. Your knowledge, talent, organizational skills are, more than ever, in demand".

The executive director of the Non-Departmental Advisory Board on Aerospace Defense, Colonel-General B. Cheltsov also noted in this greetings the Igor Ashurbeyli’s merits for the defense industry: “The Non-Departmental Advisory Board on Aerospace Defense created by your initiative aims its efforts at the elaboration and testing of the promising ideas that promote sustainable development of the defense industrial complex of Russia and strengthen the country's position at the international level. The active work of NAB ASD during the last decade largely accelerated the awareness by the state of the ASD prior development. Due to your scientific authority only over the past year and a half the Master Agreements on cooperation between the Advisory Board and 14 leading public and scientific integrated structures of the military-industrial complex were concluded. Together, we got such a high scientific potential, which allow playing an important role in the development of scientifically based positions while developing and realizing strategic solutions and concepts in the field of high performance aerospace defense system of the country".