Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, made a statement a few months ago that in 2012 the total amount allocated for the purchase of weapons will amount to 880 billion rubles. However, recently there was a message from Sergei Ivanov, Deputy Prime Minister, stating that the planned equipment costs of the Armed Forces will exceed those previously announced by 17% and amount to more than 1.7 trillion rubles. It is not hard to guess what caused such a significant increase in planned costs. Note that this year the state defense order amounted to about 550 billion rubles.
In total, for the next three years, re-equipment is planned for the army, navy and other military formations for a total amount exceeding 4 trillion rubles. The corresponding project has already been sent for approval to the Cabinet of Ministers. The spending on financing the state defense order will amount to: more than 2 trillion rubles. in 2013 and more than 2.5 trillion in 2014. The total planned expenditures in the next years will amount to more than 6 trillion rubles, 60% will be spent on the purchase of weapons and military equipment and equipment for the needs of the army.
Information about the full composition and number of military equipment that will replenish the ranks of the Armed Forces did not appear in open sources. Only a few of them were reported in the press. In particular, the Air Force will be armed with MiG-31, MiG-29 and Su-27 fighters, Su-34 bombers, and Su-25 attack aircraft next year. It is planned to begin delivery of a new Su-35S fighter. In 2012, it is planned to modernize ten MiG-31BM interceptor aircraft, which will receive an upgrade of onboard equipment, which will significantly improve the artificial intelligence of equipment. The Voronezh airbase will soon receive 6 Su-34 bombers purchased in 2011 as part of a defense order; in 2012, their number will be replenished with another 10 aircraft. Helicopter technology was not ignored either. In 2012, 20 Ka-52 Alligator and Mi-28N Night Hunter helicopters, more than 30 representatives of the Mi-8 family designed for the transport of troops, and five Mi-26T helicopters for transporting heavy cargo will join the ranks of the Armed Forces.
The Navy will receive reinforcement in the form of two Project 955 class Borey submarines, armed with Bulava ballistic missiles and the Yasen project 885 class submarine. There is no information about surface ships yet. In the near future, the finalization of Project 677 submarines of the Lada class, carried out at the Rubin Central Design Bureau, will be completed. This promise was made by the Director General of the Bureau. True, they will enter the Navy only after 2013.
The question remains unclear with the procurement of armored vehicles. Nikolai Makarov, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, at a recent meeting in the Public Chamber, noted that while the issue of purchasing infantry fighting vehicles and tanks is not being worked out. This is due to the fact that there are no new combat platforms designed for this type of equipment yet. The industrialists promised to resolve the issue with them in 2012, but it is not yet clear whether they will be in time by the appointed date.
The contracts mentioned above were concluded on a long-term basis, so there is no doubt about their performance. Difficulties appeared only under one-year contracts for small volumes of equipment. Disagreements arise between representatives from the military department and industrialists about the possible cost of the ordered equipment and technology. Anatoly Serdyukov, Minister of Defense, guaranteed more than twenty percent profit for enterprises for their own products, and one percent for components. But when concluding legally formalized contracts, problems arise that must be resolved by the end of December. This must be done so that in January enterprises can purchase the necessary materials and components and start working on projects.
Dmitry Medvedev promised that in the event of a further delay in the state defense order, the issue of dismissing the leadership of defense enterprises and employees of the Ministry will be considered. The head of state clarified that the layoffs will affect precisely those who are directly "responsible for the state defense order." However, it is clear that there are in fact a huge number of people involved in this area, and it is almost impossible to determine which of them really puts a spoke in the wheel to the fulfillment of the state defense order. Therefore, if sanctions are applied, then, according to the established tradition, "heads will fly" from everyone, including the innocent. True, the situation in the industry, which is working to ensure the defense of the state, will not correct this.
It is still unclear how and by whom the correct expenditure of such a huge amount allocated for the state defense order will be controlled. Recall that it will amount to more than a trillion rubles. It is clear that many will want to bite off such a "tidbit". What percentage of this money will go to kickbacks and all kinds of corruption schemes? How much will actually be spent on the purchase of equipment, weapons and equipment necessary for the army? These questions remain unanswered so far. The situation will become clear only at the end of 2012, when the issue of the defense budget for 2013 will be decided.
