Russia Reopens Soviet Weapons Lab, What It Can Test Hints at Kremlin’s Ambitions

Russia is building up military infrastructure in what appears to be preparation to defend its interests in the resource-rich Arctic region.

The move suggests that Russian President Vladimir Putin is preparing to ward off potential encroachment by NATO.

The Central Scientific-Research Institute for Precision Machine Engineering, which is located just outside of Moscow, makes weapons for Russia’s military.

Last week, the company said it reopened a Soviet-era laboratory in order to test weapons in extreme Arctic conditions, Reuters reported. The weapons maker is known as TsNIITochMash, according to the news agency.

The facility was shut down in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union.

The industrial laboratory has since been restored to be capable of simulating extreme conditions — such as extreme cold, heat and wet weather — so Russia can test military equipment.

The facility recently received state certification, which will enable it to begin weapons testing soon, Reuters reported.