TsNIIMash


TsNIIMash is a Russian rocket and spacecraft scientific center, dealing with all phases of development from conceptual design to flight test. It specializes in the development of long range ballistic missiles, air defense missiles, and propulsion units the defense industry. It was established in 1946.
The name TsNIIMash is an initialism for Central Research Institute of Machine Building.

History

Originally called NII-88, the entity was established on May 13, 1946, located at what was then called Kaliningrad, Moscow Oblast, northeast of Moscow. Based on his Plant No. 88, Dmitriy Ustinov had successfully lobbied to control post-war research and development of rockets in late 1945.
Impressed by his work in Germany on the analysis of the V-2, Ustinov appointed Sergey Korolev chief designer of section 3 on long-range missiles, later called OKB-1. In 1956, OKB-1 was removed from NII-88 to become an independent bureau.
Helmut Gröttrup headed a group of German scientists working for the Soviets at Branch 1 of NII-88 located on Gorodomlya Island. Their job was to help reconstruct a Russian Version of the V-2, called the R-1, after which they were returned to Germany.
The facility was also spied on by American U-2 spy planes in the late 1950s.
It was renamed Central Research Institute of Machine Building in 1967.

Activities

TsNIIMash performs the following activities:
On 21 July 2018, FSB raided offices of TsNIIMash and Roscosmos Research and Analytical Center and arrested ten employees suspected of passing classified hypersonic Russian missile technologies to Western intelligence agencies. Arrested are accused of high treason.
A senior researcher Sergey Meshcheryakov suspected of treason was put under house arrest in July 2019.