President Vladimir Putin has signed Russia’s updated military armament strategy, his spokesperson confirmed on Monday.
Russia’s previous state armament program, which is said to have cost the nation around $1 trillion, sought to overhaul 70 percent of the armed forces’ Soviet-era hardware by 2020.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the Russian president had signed the updated 10-year program before the New Year, Interfax reported on Monday.
“This is a secret presidential decree so I can’t disclose anything,” he told reporters.
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin told the Kommersant business daily Monday that the updated 2018-2027 program was amended based on assessments of the country's military operations in Syria.
Around 19 trillion rubles ($340 billion) would be allocated on the new rearmament program, Kommersant reported last year, with priority given to developing nuclear deterrence, precision-guided munitions and a vertical take-off and landing jet.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
