[quote]
[t]http://s016.radikal.ru/i335/1011/b8/ea204a386394.jpg[/t]
The collapse of the Soviet Union and its daunting military machine spelled the beginning of a process of decay for Russia's armed forces. Now, major reforms are underway to put the military back on track.
Russia has revealed details of ambitious plans to spend over US $600 billion on upgrading its army over the next 10 years.
And there's a new man in charge as well – Russia's former envoy to NATO, the formidable Dmitry Rogozin, will now put his valuable experience to good use as he spearheads a major revamp of the country's military.
RT's Tom Barton has been to see for himself why changes are needed to Russia’s military forces, and opened his report with a question which haunts the country’s top brass: can Russia’s armed forces still truly be called the pride of the nation?
“The Russian armed forces certainly are falling behind and have fallen behind some of their larger rivals,” believes Matthew Clements, Eurasia Security analyst.
New equipment is a priority. There is also a dire need for reforms in organization, recruitment, training, pay and military doctrine.
The government has promised $640 billion over the next 10 years to buy new weapons. However, Russian arms manufacturers are no longer what they used to be.
“Our army now is in need of contemporary, modern equipment, and if the Russian defense industry can’t yet provide us with what we need, we’ll buy it abroad,” stated First Deputy Minister of Defense, Aleksandr Sukhorukov.
New purchases include the land assault ship, the Mistral, bought from France; lorries from Italy, and flying drones from Israel.
Drones have proved a particular problem. The defense ministry has been dismayed by the performance of a Russian company tasked with designing and building them.
“I asked them what was their problem and what prevented them from producing good vehicles,” recalls Aleksandr Sukhorukov. “The enterprise’s bosses found plenty of excuses, such as the absence of engines, gliders, etc. But I know how much money they received and I saw the rubbish they produced,” the First Deputy Minister complains.
However, not all new Russian-made weapons are falling below standard.
The SU-34 fighter bomber is widely considered an exceptional aircraft.
But few have been delivered so far, and the older models they were to replace are starting to fail.
“Although Russian designers come up with some excellent hardware, for instance, in terms of fighter and combat aircraft, sometimes the industry has trouble in maintaining these at a high level and actually producing them in the kinds of numbers that the armed forces need,” Matthew Clements believes.
And the reforms still have angry opponents too both in and outside the armed forces.
Many of them argue that the re-armament is going just fine and that buying foreign weapons undermines Russia’s military independence.
“We are becoming dependent on foreign suppliers of spare parts for military equipment, on foreign military personnel training, on foreign supplies of specific fuels and lubricants and other substances needed for the new equipment,” Konstantin Sivkov, Doctor of Military Sciences, explained to RT.
“Nonsense,” say other observers, citing the fact that in 2008, Russian forces pushed the Georgian army out of South Ossetia in just five days.
But experts were dismayed at how outdated and clumsy the Russian army looked when faced with real opposition.
It reinforced the need for serious change.
The money being thrown at the problem is vast, but regiments of roubles on their own will not be enough. Most at the defense ministry now know that before the armed forces are ready for modern conflict, a long and very demanding war for reform must be won, both in the corridors of government and in Russia’s military-industrial complex.[/quote]
Via RT.com [url]http://rt.com/news/russia-military-reform-123/[/url]
[editline]3rd January 2012[/editline]
I think the Russian armed forces are fairly modern but they could use some improvement in comparison to other European armies such as Germany, France and the UK.
They could rather use the 600Bn to root out their god damn corruption problems, repair/create infrastructure and fix the problems in their society. But no - put more money in the war machine so you can jam your military penis in the neighboring countries.
And now to watch as the US military flips the fuck out about this
snip
[QUOTE=Milkie;34030319]I thought it was 400Bn to buy new tech until 2020. There was an article about two years ago on that.[/QUOTE]
They're adding 600Bn more, along with a 65% budget increase for 2013. So, 1.2Tn over the next decade and the 100Bn annual budget?
oh shit we got competition
[editline]3rd January 2012[/editline]
oh nevermind it's over the next decade, not annually
still the king baby
snip
[QUOTE=Paravin;34030313]They could rather use the 600Bn to root out their god damn corruption problems, repair/create infrastructure and fix the problems in their society. But no - put more money in the war machine so you can jam your military penis in the neighboring countries.[/QUOTE]
Would you rather have a penis large enough to wave into other countries or a police state?
[editline]3rd January 2012[/editline]
[QUOTE=Milkie;34030363]But the RT.com article didn't say 600Bn more. I don't think Gosduma is such batshit insane to spend trillions on this.[/QUOTE]
It says they're spending that much more then they already were.
[QUOTE=Paravin;34030313]They could rather use the 600Bn to root out their god damn corruption problems, repair/create infrastructure and fix the problems in their society. But no - put more money in the war machine so you can jam your military penis in the neighboring countries.[/QUOTE]
Excuse me Princess, we're talking about Russia here. Not the US.
[QUOTE=Mr. Someguy;34030352]oh shit we got competition
[editline]3rd January 2012[/editline]
oh nevermind it's over the next decade, not annually
still the king baby[/QUOTE]
You still have competition, Russia seems to do more with money then US does, while not throwing endless piles of money into a money hole project that will never take off.
[QUOTE=Paravin;34030313]They could rather use the 600Bn to root out their god damn corruption problems, repair/create infrastructure and fix the problems in their society. But no - put more money in the war machine so you can jam your military penis in the neighboring countries.[/QUOTE]
Why would the politicians want too route out the corruption that they themselves are benefiting from?
Exactly, if you already have forgotten - they invaded Georgia, they've still got their military fist up Chechnyas ass and they continue to do blunt military exercises in the Baltic sea, which in [b]no[/b] way threatens the Baltic countries.
[QUOTE=Paravin;34030313]They could rather use the 600Bn to root out their god damn corruption problems, repair/create infrastructure and fix the problems in their society. But no - put more money in the war machine so you can jam your military penis in the neighboring countries.[/QUOTE]
It's worked wonders for the United Sta-
...Oh. :saddowns:
[QUOTE=carcarcargo;34030407]Why would the politicians want too route out the corruption that they themselves are benefiting from?[/QUOTE]
Good point.
[QUOTE=kaze4159;34030318]And now to watch as the US military flips the fuck out about this[/QUOTE]
They'll just pull 600Bn USD out of their ass and spent that on military advantages.
[quote]Russia has revealed details of ambitious plans to spend over US $600 billion on upgrading its army over the next 10 years.[/quote]
I hate when they do that.
So 60 billion a year.
[quote]According to SIPRI, Russia's annual defense spending stands at about $52 billion[/quote]
Thanks for the sensationalist bullshit guys
[editline]3rd January 2012[/editline]
As a side note, that is almost as much as the F-35 has cost the United States
[QUOTE=Contag;34030456]I hate when they do that.
So 60 billion a year.
Thanks for the sensationalist bullshit guys[/QUOTE]
You're being dumb.
They're spending an extra 600Bn, along with the 65% military budget effective 2013 according to articles dating last year.
SIPRI'a military spending database has not been updated since 2010 according to Wikipedia.
Kind of funny how you note the F-35 money hole, when Russia has made its own Stealth fighter which apparently out performs the F-22 in dogfights and can carry more fuel giving it more range too. Which only costs $50Mn per fully functional aircraft.
The problem with the modern Russian military is that they invest in things that don't require modernization, say for instant the T-90A MBT, which is a modern tank that is capable of taking on Abrams and Challengers, etc but they are investing in developing a new tank to replace it. I think they should Modernize the Airforce's Mig 29s, work on the Navy and get better equipment and training for their ground forces. However at least the Russian high command is wise on what they spend on, unlike America where they throw money into holes. Also the Russians are better off just installing Kontact ERA on some T-80s plus some other modernizations to get a new MBT if they need one so bad.
[QUOTE=Paravin;34030313]They could rather use the 600Bn to root out their god damn corruption problems[/QUOTE]
How would you use money to make politicians and government officials less corrupt? Pay them off? :v:
snip
Great, money spent on more useless shit so the leaders can keep waving their cocks all year long.
When the money could be spent on so much better things. Especially since it's in Russia
[QUOTE=booster;34030533]Great, money spent on more useless shit so the leaders can keep waving their cocks all year long.
When the money could be spent on so much better things. Especially since it's in Russia[/QUOTE]
Russia has a actual rogue country (Georgia) on it's borders though and they still have to be alert, having modernised equipment reduces the risk of KIA.
[QUOTE=Paravin;34030313]They could rather use the 600Bn to root out their god damn corruption problems, repair/create infrastructure and fix the problems in their society. But no - put more money in the war machine so you can jam your military penis in the neighboring countries.[/QUOTE]
Boy this sounds really familiar. Wonder what particular North American country this relates to!
[QUOTE=booster;34030533]Great, money spent on more useless shit so the leaders can keep waving their cocks all year long.
When the money could be spent on so much better things. Especially since it's in Russia[/QUOTE]
Modernization means better quality standards for their military meaning the men are less likely to get killed.
[QUOTE=Governor Goblin;34030599]Boy this sounds really familiar. Wonder what particular North American country this relates to![/QUOTE]
The USA doesn't threaten Canada or Mexico.
[QUOTE=Paravin;34030654]The USA doesn't threaten Canada or Mexico.[/QUOTE]
To be fair the DEA funds and arms drug lords in Mexico.
why do they need this
it's not like russia's going to get in any significant wars any time soon
(right?)
[QUOTE=Paravin;34030654]The USA doesn't threaten Canada or Mexico.[/QUOTE]
It threatens Mexico, but even then, it threatens pretty much the entire world.
The United States is generally a international security threat.
[QUOTE=kaze4159;34030318]And now to watch as the US military flips the fuck out about this[/QUOTE]
Isn't the US the biggest weapon exporter in the world?
[editline]3rd January 2012[/editline]
[QUOTE=Ale994145;34030570]Russia has a actual rogue country (Georgia) on it's borders though and they still have to be alert, having modernised equipment reduces the risk of KIA.[/QUOTE]
Yes sure keep telling yourself that.
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