money-rich Russia

So where would you want the money to go? I’d like to see the PAK-FA finally get off the drawing boards and into the air sometime this decade.

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Putin gives thumbs up to modern Russian army
Friday, November 17, 2006

MOSCOW – Reuters

Russia’s army and navy have recovered from post-Soviet under-funding and poor morale and are now ready to modernize, President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

The Kremlin has poured time and money into reforming its conscription-based military, one of the biggest in the world, whose image has been tarnished by sinking submarines, bullying and soldiers begging on the streets for extra money.

“The period of patching together and basic survival is finished. The army and navy have increased in power, strength and self confidence,” Putin was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying at a meeting with leaders of the armed forces. “The army will be strong and modern.”

Putin said he had earmarked an extra 5 trillion roubles ($188 billion) for military spending, 80 percent of which would be spent on upgrading equipment.

And by 2008 Putin wants professional soldiers to make up 70 percent of the Russian army and take the burden away from conscripts, the most vulnerable members of the army, as well as quicker promotion for officers who have proved themselves in “hot spots” such as Chechnya.

“We should promote them and use their war experience to train young personnel,” he said.

Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said that in the first 10 months of the year there had been only 473 non-combat deaths among conscripts in Russia compared with 876 in the first 10 months of last year.

Ivanov did not say why the figure had dropped but Russia has tried to root out bullying in the armed forces after a series of deaths reported widely in the media.