JSC NPO Spetsmaterialov

JSC NPO Spetsmaterialov
TypePrivate (Joint-stock company)
IndustryDefense
Founded1993; 33 years ago (1993)
HeadquartersVyborgsky District, Saint Petersburg
Key peopleMikhail Silnikov, CEO
ProductsCombat helmet
Body armor
Ballistic eyewear
Police equipment
RevenueIncrease ₽2.02 million (2019)
Number of employees
455
Websitewww.npo-sm.ru

JSC NPO Spetsmaterialov, (Russian: АО «НПО Спецматериалов») or NPO SM, is a Russian arms manufacturer headquartered in Vyborgsky District, Saint Petersburg, Russia. It produces a variety of products, ranging from combat helmets and Body armor to Police equipment and anti-ramming barriers. It is considered a leader in the Russian military Protective equipment industry.

The company's main customers are the Russian Ministry of Defense, Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, Russian Federal Security Service, and the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service. Its products are also exported to 35 countries.

NPO SM has been sanctioned by the United States Department of the Treasury since June 12, 2024.

History

Originally a part of the Soviet Ministry of Defense Industry as a laboratory led by Mikhail Vladimirovich Silnikov, it was later reorganized in 1993 as a private company following the Dissolution of the Soviet Union.

On March 31, 2026, the staff of NPO SM were awarded the Order of Alexander Nevsky by Vladimir Putin. The award was presented by St. Petersburg governor Alexander Beglov.

2020 Criminal investigation

In November 2020, numerous Russian outlets began reporting that the Investigative Committee of Russia had opened a criminal case against NPO SM over allegations that NPO SM had purchased more than 40,000 Chinese riot helmets in order to fulfill state contracts from the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, while misrepresenting the helmets as domestically produced models. The Investigative Committee estimated the cost of damages at 48 million rubles. Mikhail Silnikov, CEO and general designer at NPO SM, denied the allegations and claimed that similarities to Chinese models were simply due to shared design origins. Ultimately, the case did not move forward and the Russian government continued to do business with NPO SM.

Role in the Russo-Ukrainian war

Mobilized Russian soldiers wearing the Kolpak-20 helmet, an NPO SM product. (2022)

Seeing the massive shortages of personal protective equipment in the Russian military, NPO SM began to mass produce body armor and combat helmets of dubious quality. One of these products, the Kolpak-20 helmet, was especially controversial due to the fact it used surplus WW2-era SSh-40 steel helmet shells as its main component. The product was discontinued in 2023 following media ridicule and outrage.

After the 2022 Russian mobilizations began, NPO SM was selected as the contractor to fulfill the needs of the approximate 8,000 mobilized St. Petersburg residents. A fund of 15 billion rubles (around $235 million at the time) was authorized for this purpose by St. Petersburg governor Alexander Beglov. This move was widely criticized as corruption, as NPO SM was the largest donor to Alexander Beglov's campaign in the 2019 Saint Petersburg gubernatorial election.

References

  1. 1 2 "Организация АО "НПО СПЕЦМАТЕРИАЛОВ"" (in Russian). Retrieved October 14, 2026.
  2. 1 2 "Руководитель «НПО Спецматериалов» Михаил Владимирович Сильников награжден знаком «За заслуги перед Выборгским районом»" (in Russian). Saint Petersburg City Administration. April 7, 2026. Retrieved October 14, 2026.
  3. ↑ "НПО Спецматериалов" (in Russian). Archived from the original on October 15, 2026.
  4. 1 2 "«НПО Спецматериалов» открыл цех по выпуску изделий из СВМПЭ" (in Russian). March 23, 2023. Archived from the original on October 15, 2026.
  5. 1 2 "ОТ СБАЛАНСИРОВАННОГО РАЗВИТИЯ – К ВСЕОБЩЕЙ СВЯЗНОСТИ" (in Russian). Archived from the original on April 12, 2026.
  6. 1 2 "НПО Спецматериалов заподозрили в поставке МВД китайских шлемов под видом своей разработки" (in Russian). November 10, 2020. Archived from the original on July 14, 2025.
  7. 1 2 "Ключевые клиенты компании "Спарта"" (in Russian). Archived from the original on October 14, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Russia-related Designations; Publication of Russia-related Determination; Issuance of Russia-related General Licenses and Frequently Asked Questions". United States Department of the Treasury. June 12, 2024. Archived from the original on October 16, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Александр Беглов передал коллективу «НПО Спецматериалов» орден Александра Невского и прикрепил его к знамени предприятия" (in Russian). Saint Petersburg City Administration. March 31, 2026. Retrieved October 14, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Орден Александра Невского вручен коллективу «НПО Спецматериалов» в Петербурге" (in Russian). April 1, 2026. Archived from the original on April 17, 2026.
  11. ↑ "СК возбудил дело о мошенничестве с ущербом на 48 млн руб. после поставки полиции китайских шлемов" (in Russian). November 11, 2020. Archived from the original on June 28, 2025.
  12. 1 2 "МВД три года покупало китайские шлемы под видом российской разработки" (in Russian). November 11, 2020. Archived from the original on October 16, 2026.
  13. ↑ "НПО "Спецматериалов" отрицает китайское происхождение шлемов "Колпак"" (in Russian). November 13, 2020. Archived from the original on June 6, 2023.
  14. 1 2 "НПО "Спецматериалов" отрицает китайское происхождение шлемов "Колпак"" (in Russian). October 14, 2022. Archived from the original on October 15, 2026.
  15. 1 2 "Скандал вокруг «НПО Спецматериалов» не помешал Беглову провозгласить Петербург центром оборонной промышленности страны Об этом сообщает "Рамблер". Далее" (in Russian). January 17, 2023. Archived from the original on October 17, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Своевременный «эрзац». Защитный шлем «Колпак 20»" (in Russian). October 10, 2022. Archived from the original on September 1, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Броня бойцов служить устала. Спецматериалам Петербурга устроили испытание фронтом" (in Russian). February 13, 2023. Archived from the original on August 23, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Частичная мобилизация в Санкт-Петербурге" (in Russian). October 30, 2024. Archived from the original on March 13, 2024.
  19. ↑ "Связанная с Бегловым НПО «Спецматериалы» зарабатывает на гособоронзаказе за счет частных предприятий" (in Russian). October 17, 2022. Archived from the original on October 17, 2026.