The diversified growth strategy is one of four reference strategies that have been actively pursued by companies operating in open markets since the middle of the last century. Today, this task at the state level has been set for defense enterprises, where the production process is fundamentally different from civilian production. The article discusses the directions of the defense industry diversification. The author's approach to the classification of strategies for diversified growth in relation to the defense industry enterprises is proposed. A review of regulatory legal acts on the use of the term "Defense industry enterprises diversification" is carried out; the author's interpretation of the definition is given. Current problems of the production of high-tech civilian and dual-use products by enterprises of the Sverdlovsk region are considered; the project approach to diversification management is proposed.