MOSCOW, July 25. /TASS/. Sozvezdiye Group (part of Ruselectronics Holding Company within the state hi-tech corporation Rostec) is testing new "soft touch" coating for military hardware whose texture resembles soft rubber, Sozvezdiye CEO Alexei Bocharov told TASS on Wednesday.

"We have changed the tinge of our hardware: this will be soft touch, military green but the main thing is that the texture of this finish resembles soft rubber coating by tactile impressions. We have come a long way of agreeing this technology with the Defense Ministry of Russia and now we are holding final tests and some finishing touches have remained. Our products should surpass customers’ expectations, including by their design, should look nice and be ergonomic and pleasant while the coating should preserve its external outlook and functional characteristics," Bocharov said.

Rostec considers this experience as interesting and is ready to use it in the manufacture of other military hardware, the hi-tech corporation said.

"No doubt, this is interesting experience and if it proves to be positive, Rostec is ready to extend it to other types of military products. But it is necessary to take into account that the use of coatings, their color and quality are strictly standardized. Any changes are possible only upon agreement with the customer, if the relevant technical requirements are formulated and the item successfully confirms its characteristics during trials," a Rostec representative told TASS.

With regard to the coloring, these can be tests for the military hardware’s optical signature, the coating’s resistance in various conditions of operation, including at extremely high and low temperatures and so forth. "The task is difficult but can be solved," he said.