The state program for the rearmament of the army continues, and there are constant reports of the supply of certain types of weapons or equipment. In February of this year, it was reported that in recent years the share of new weapons has grown by 10%. So, in 2008 this figure was equal to six percent, and as of the end of 2012 increased to 16%. In the future, the share of new weapons and equipment will continue to grow. According to current plans, in 2020, the troops will have at least 70% of new weapons and equipment. The first major milestone in the current rearmament will be 2015. It is at this time that it is planned to reach the level of 30%.
When planning the procurement of one or another military equipment, it is necessary to take into account the prospects for its use and the very need for a specific type of weapons. In the current situation, the priority of such an analysis becomes especially relevant, since the overwhelming majority of weapons purchased now are to be used after 2020. The importance of this period in his February speech was emphasized by the chief of the General Staff, Colonel-General V. Gerasimov. According to him, by 2030, a significant increase in the level of existing threats is likely. In addition, by this time, new threats may appear, which also need to be taken into account when drawing up plans.
According to the Chief of the General Staff, in the future, wars and corresponding threats will concern three things: fuel and energy resources, product markets, and living space. In the struggle for access to these resources and markets, the leading countries of the world by the end of the twenties or even earlier will begin to actively use their military potential. The first armed conflicts with similar prerequisites are already being observed. In connection with such new threats, it is necessary to develop its armed forces, since Russia is the largest state on the planet, and also has many deposits of various natural resources.
Taking into account the experience of recent conflicts, it can be assumed that air and missile defense systems will have a special priority in the wars of the future. At present, the Almaz-Antey concern continues to assemble the S-400 Triumph anti-aircraft missile systems, which in the future will become the basis of the country's air defense. These complexes are capable of fighting aerodynamic and ballistic targets at ranges of up to 400 kilometers. According to various estimates, the capabilities of the S-400 air defense system will effectively protect the country's air borders until the end of the twenties. By the end of the current state rearmament program - 2020 - it is planned to purchase several dozen batteries of such anti-aircraft systems.
In the second half of this decade, another system of a similar purpose will join the existing air defense systems of the S-300P and S-400 families. The S-500 "Prometheus" ("Triumfator-M") complex is just being developed, but its creation is probably already approaching the beginning of testing. Several years ago, it was argued that the first S-500s could be on duty at the end of 2013, but further events slightly adjusted these plans. According to the most recent data, "Prometheus" will enter service no earlier than 2015-16. According to available data, the characteristics of this complex will make it possible to combat hypersonic aerodynamic and ballistic targets. Some sources claim that the S-500 will be able to destroy ballistic targets flying at speeds up to 6-7 kilometers per second.
© RIA Novosti, Infographics. Ilya Kanygin / Philip Katz / Alexander Volkov / Denis Kryukov / Maria Mikhailova
Thus, with the entry into service of the S-500 complex, the aerospace defense forces will significantly increase their combat capabilities. They will be able to intercept enemy aircraft and cruise missiles, as well as ballistic ammunition of several classes. However, anti-missile defense with the S-500 complex alone may not be sufficient. For effective protection against existing and prospective threats, a specialized anti-missile defense system is also required, which in its characteristics will correspond to the A-135 and A-235 missile defense systems or even surpass them.
On May 14, the press secretary of the President of Russia D. Peskov said that at present the country's leadership and the command of the armed forces are discussing the issue of creating new anti-missile defense systems, as well as the prospects for breaking through the enemy's missile defense system. Naturally, the details of these top-level discussions have not yet become public, but the very fact that such a meeting is being held speaks volumes. Probably, we can already say that in the near future the discussions will spill over into the beginning of a new project.
The state of the existing anti-missile systems currently leaves much to be desired, and in the future it will only get worse. Therefore, in the very near future, it is required to create a new complex, which can be put on duty before the warranty periods of the available anti-missiles run out. Obviously, it is too early to talk about the characteristics and timing of the creation of the new complex, but a meeting in the highest echelons of power already allows us to make some assumptions.
The latest statements by the country's leadership and the Ministry of Defense serve as a fairly transparent hint that in the future Russian manufacturers of weapons and military equipment will continue to create new systems, including anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems. In light of the threats of future decades and taking into account the appearance of recent wars, it is this direction of the defense industry that can radically influence the course of an armed conflict or even prevent it.
