Russia’s leading rocket specialist becomes the fourth key defence official to die in three weeks

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Russia’s top rocket specialist has died, the fourth key defense official to die in less than three weeks.

Pavel Kamnev, 85, was the scientific director of the Almaz-Antey Aerospace Defense Concern and the expert who developed the deadly Kalibr missiles deployed by Vladimir Putin in Ukraine.

He was responsible for more than 20 weapons inventions and co-authored more than 300 scientific and technical reports.

“He took an active part in the development of many missile systems,” an Almaz-Antey spokesman said.

Pavel Kamnev, 85, (pictured) was the scientific director of Almaz-Antey Aerospace Defense Concern and the expert who developed the deadly Kalibr missiles deployed by Vladimir Putin in Ukraine.

Pavel Kamnev, 85, (pictured) was the scientific director of Almaz-Antey Aerospace Defense Concern and the expert who developed the deadly Kalibr missiles deployed by Vladimir Putin in Ukraine.

On December 25, General Alexei Maslov, 69, a former commander of Russian ground forces with close ties to Ukraine, died.

On December 25, General Alexei Maslov, 69, a former commander of Russian ground forces with close ties to Ukraine, died “suddenly” the day after Vladimir Putin abruptly canceled a trip to the tank company where he was working as ambassador. international sales.

Last week, the inventor of the

Last week, the inventor of the “best rockets in the world” Angara, Vladimir Nesterov (pictured), died at the age of 74.

Nosterov's loss followed the 'sudden death' of Alexander Buzakov (pictured), 65, the managing director of Admiralty Shipyards, in charge of building new submarines armed with lethal Kalibr missiles.

Nosterov’s loss followed the ‘sudden death’ of Alexander Buzakov (pictured), 65, the managing director of Admiralty Shipyards, in charge of building new submarines armed with lethal Kalibr missiles.

He worked until his death as scientific director of the arms giant Almaz-Antey and president of the experimental design office at Novator, where the Kalibr missiles were created.

A video shows that Vladimir Putin made him a Hero of Labor in 2016.

He praised Putin for the “highest appreciation” of his missile-making work “so that our country can live in peace and security.”

He spoke before his Kalibr missiles were used to decimate infrastructure and civilian targets in Ukraine.

Last week, the inventor of the Angara “world’s best rockets”, Vladimir Nesterov, died at the age of 74.

Kamnev (pictured) was responsible for more than 20 weapons inventions and co-authored more than 300 scientific and technical reports.

Kamnev (pictured) was responsible for more than 20 weapons inventions and co-authored more than 300 scientific and technical reports.

Pictured: Russia's top rocket specialist Pavel Kamnev and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Pictured: Russia’s top rocket specialist Pavel Kamnev and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Video shows Kamnev being named a Hero of Labor by Vladimir Putin in 2016

Video shows Kamnev being named a Hero of Labor by Vladimir Putin in 2016

Kamnev praised Putin for the

Kamnev praised Putin for the “highest appreciation” of his missile-making work “so that our country can live in peace and security.”

In the photo: Kamnev worked until his death as scientific director of the arms giant Almaz-Antey and president of the experimental design bureau of Novator, where the Kalibr missiles were created.

In the photo: Kamnev worked until his death as scientific director of the arms giant Almaz-Antey and president of the experimental design bureau of Novator, where the Kalibr missiles were created.

He was the mastermind behind Putin’s dreams of Russian exploration of the moon and outer space.

He was chief designer of the light and heavy versions of the Angara, but during the last years of his life he was haunted by a criminal case brought by Putin’s authorities for alleged fraud and embezzlement of more than £57 million.

He praised the Angara as the “best rocket system in the world” and was seen internationally as a leader in its field.

Nesterov’s loss followed the “sudden death” of Alexander Buzakov, 65, the general director of Admiralty Shipyards, in charge of building new submarines armed with deadly Kalibr missiles.

And on December 25, General Alexei Maslov, 69, a former commander of Russian ground forces with close ties to Ukraine, died “suddenly” the day after Vladimir Putin abruptly canceled a trip to the tank company where he worked as a international sales ambassador

In the photo: General Alexei Maslov, former commander-in-chief of the Russian ground forces, died in Moscow at the age of 69.

In the photo: General Alexei Maslov, former commander-in-chief of the Russian ground forces, died in Moscow at the age of 69.

1673342885 238 Russias leading rocket specialist becomes the fourth key defence official

In the photo: Vladimir Nesterov, developer of the Angara space rocket system, has died at the age of 73.

Pictured: Alexander Buzakov, CEO of Admiralty Shipyards, in charge of building new submarines armed with deadly Kalibr missiles, has died at 65.

Pictured: Alexander Buzakov, CEO of Admiralty Shipyards, in charge of building new submarines armed with deadly Kalibr missiles, has died at 65.

Pictured: Russian Kalibr cruise missile (file photo).  Kamnev's Kalibr missiles were used to decimate civilian and infrastructure targets in Ukraine.

Pictured: Russian Kalibr cruise missile (file photo). Kamnev’s Kalibr missiles were used to decimate civilian and infrastructure targets in Ukraine.

Pictured: Russia's Kalibr cruise missile is fired from a ship

Pictured: Russia’s Kalibr cruise missile is fired from a ship

Buzakov was healthy the day before he died and “nothing had been heard about Maslov’s health problems” before he died, Telegram channel Redacted No. 6 said.

At NATO, Maslov worked alongside Dmitry Rogozin, an official close to Putin who was abruptly ousted in the summer as head of the Russian space agency, Roscosmos.

Putin was scheduled to fly to the Uralvagonzavod plant in Nizhny Tagil, which has been criticized by the Kremlin for not producing enough new tanks for the war in Ukraine.

However, the Russian president aborted the December 24 trip “at the last minute” without explanation, according to local reports.