Russia to spend RUR 22 trillions for arms – Popovkin

11.03.2011 Realization of State Arms Program (SAP) 2011-2020 will cost Russian government RUR 22 trillions, reports Izvestia on March 11.

Over 70% of the new arms program is meant for advanced hi-tech equipment. Portion of batch procurement of modern and perspective arms in SAP-2011 exceeds analogous parameter of SAP-2015 on 15-20%, pointed out deputy defense minister Vladimir Popovkin in the interview to Izvestia.

The program holds to the same priorities: balanced development of strategic arms system; packaged deliveries of modern and perspective weapons (primarily to alert units); creation of basic information control systems providing use of precision weapons; establishment of scientific and technological potential for development of newest arms; maintaining of existent weapons in combat-ready status.

According to Popovkin, given that Russian armament park has not been renewed since 90's, its larger part gets obsolete. Advanced arms make about 20% in strategic nuclear forces and not more than 10% in general purpose forces, while in European armies this parameter makes 30-50%.

However, arms renewal rates will reach the level of 70% by 2020 in accordance with SAP schedule, promised Popovkin.

Meanwhile, Russia is not interested in imports of foreign weapons and equipment (particularly, landing craft, unmanned aerial vehicles, and sniper rifles) which happen only with a view to liquidate backwardness of Russian defense industry, said the interviewee.

One of essential conditions to provide Russian Armed Forces with state-of-the-art weapons can be a special agency like American DARPA studying new scientific theories in order to apply them in defense industry, added Popovkin.