Russia has almost concluded reformation of its Armed Forces and they are ready for any modern challenges, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said at the Defense Ministry today, RIA Novosti reports.
He noted that the military were receiving mostly advanced weapons and vehicles in 2008-2011. Their share increased from 10% to 16%. Intensity of military training increased threefold. The president noted need to form a single information space for the military.
Medvedev said that military authorities showed high skills in accomplishing tactical and strategic goals. He pointed out such threats as the US missile shield in Europe, stating that Russia needs to be prepared to establish own European missile shield by 2017-2018.
Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov confirmed tensions in the military sphere and noted risks of Russia being pulled into military conflicts. New forces are striving for regional leadership, which is a threat to balance and strategic stability.
The president emphasized that improvement of defenses by 2020 will be achieved by additional financing which should reach at least 2.8% of the GDP. Military financing remains a state priority.
Serdyukov reminded that part of finances will be spent on building the Bulava missiles, which will be adopted in October 2012.
Medvedev noted that the situation on disagreements on prices for the state defense order of 2011 should not happen again.
The president expressed confidence that improvement of the social status of servicemen and military pensioners will be realized. He reminded that low-rank officers had wages increased threefold, average military pensions 1.6-fold.
Dmitry Medvedev said that 65,000 servicemen will receive housing, 132,000 received apartments in 2009-2011. About 300 billion rubles were spent on their accommodation. Up to 60,000 servicemen still need housing. Housing will be built for about 65,000 servicemen in the next 2 years.
Medvedev said that presidential cadet centers need development. New ones will open in Tyumen, Krasnodar, then Tomsk, Moscow, Saint-Petersburg, Vladivostok.
