Russia’s Military Modernization Plan Proceeds at Breakneck Pace With Futuristic Nuclear Defense Shield Ready
On Friday, Russia released the footage of a new modernized missile defense system being successfully tested. The test took place at Sary Shagan training ground in Kazakhstan. The system can hit any objects not only in the atmosphere, but also in space, like for example, satellites. If it intercepts an enemy's nuclear missile, then the warhead doesn't explode. As a result, it's cleaner. On Monday, President Putin opened the 10th series of meetings with the leadership of the Defense Ministry and the military-industrial complex. Four such meetings took place in a week. The main subject is the modernization of the Russian Armed Forces, which is generally going as planned. This year, 60% of the Russian Armed Forces will be equipped with up-to-date weapons and materiel.
Dmitry Petrov is reporting on the subject from Sochi. The ABM interceptor missile tested in Sary Shagan is likely to become a part of the A-235 system covering the central economic district. Its mobile version can be deployed anywhere in Russia. Its specification is classified, but, according to some indications, it can develop a speed of more than 3 kmps, which guarantees the boost phase intercept of ballistic missiles of a potential enemy. But there is every reason to believe that the new interceptor can develop a higher speed. And this means that it can be used in near space too, even before the bus of the enemy missile is activated. It gives an almost absolute umbrella against nuclear attack.
In Kapustin Yar, the missile-men of the Western Military District receive a brigade set of the Iskander-M tactical missile system. It's a good old weapon but modified.
Valery Kashin, General Designer: "We, along with many experts, believe that this weapon is best-in-class in the whole world".
It's the 11th missile formation of the ground forces that has been fully equipped with the newest Iskander systems.
And the Lipetsk Air Center is engaged in pilot retraining. They are taught to pilot new planes, a whole family of Sukhoi: Su-30 SM, Su-34, Su-35, Su-37.
Alan Datiev, Lipetsk air group deputy commander: "This machine has advanced systems that allow the pilot to fly in any meteorological conditions, with any kind of weapons and against any enemy".
Now the Su-57, a fifth-generation fighter, is expected. The Minister of Defense passes on reports on successfully mastering the new equipment to the Supreme Commander-in-Chief.
Defense meetings with the president are traditionally held twice a year, in May and late autumn. Within a few days, the head of state receives the reports of top officers, the heads of defense enterprises and research centers. This is a serious exam for them. But we see only a small part of it. The main work takes place behind the scenes, when the tactical and technical specifications of the newest weapons, the results of their tests and the contracts for the supply of the equipment to the troops are discussed in detail.
Customers are in the military uniform, contractors are in civvies. Though they sit on opposite sides, they actually work together on the same team.
Here's the Tula region governor Alexey Dyumin talking to Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu. It's Tula that supplies the army with the most weapons, from sniper to antiaircraft equipment. The president is just talking about modernizing the military-industrial complex enterprises.
President Putin: "Key indicators of the program must primarily guarantee the strategic deterrence, and efficiently eliminate an external threat, if any. Of course, the implementation of the state armament program depends on the capacities of defense enterprises, scientific and research centers".
This year more than 3,400 units of modern and modernized weapons were delivered to the troops within the defense procurement. The Western Military District received 140 BTR-82A armored personnel carriers and 2 division sets of the Tornado-G multiple launch rocket systems. The Central Military District will receive Ka-52 helicopters, S-400 surface-to-air missile systems, Pantsirs, Tornadoes, howitzers, and large-caliber mortars. It is especially important to note that many systems were already tested in real combat conditions in Syria.
The President also summed up the results of the Zapad 2017 joint strategic exercises. They took place on the territory of several regions of the Russian Federation and in Belarus, at nine testing grounds.
President Putin: "Several important goals have been reached with this exercise. First, we checked our mobilization readiness and our ability to use local resources to meet the troops’ requirements. Reservists were called up for this exercise".
And here Putin drew a very important conclusion. The results of the exercises should be carefully analyzed and the technical re-equipment of enterprises working under military contracts accelerated.
President Putin: "The economic ability to increase the production of defense products and services quickly is a vital element of military security. All strategic and simply large companies, regardless of the type of ownership, must be able to do this".
The president stresses again that all the risks from new external restrictions imposed on Russia are to be estimated so that our defense industry does not depend on the export of raw materials and components. And it's crucial to set up financing in such a way that not a single ruble goes to waste.
By the President's decree, the Ministry of Defense has developed a system for monitoring targeted expenditure.
Tatyana Shevtsova, Deputy Defense Minister: "We see the movement of our funds, from the top executives to the last little nail. Previously, the enterprises could use budgetary money and direct them to the fields beyond the contract. Our new system prevents this. Today all the money is kept within the grounds of defense procurement".
The top priority of the new state program is the development of nuclear deterrence systems as the backbone of the Armed Forces. High-precision weapons are of special importance. The plans also include the construction of aircraft-carrying cruisers and new deck aircraft for them. The draft program is to be submitted to the president by December 15.
Dmitry Petrov, Pyotr Ravnov, Yulia Brileva, Oleg Makarov, and Kirill Aksenov for Vesti — News of the Week.