Article Posted on : - Nov 13, 2009

MOSCOW (BNS): Russia will continue to strengthen its defence forces with the addition of advanced weapon systems, including ballistic missiles and nuclear submarines, by next year.

In his state-of-the nation address to the Russian Parliament on Thursday, President Dmitry Medvedev said that the provision of advanced weapon systems to the military “was a priority”.

“One of the most complicated and fundamental tasks is that of re-arming the military with new samples of weapon systems equipment.

“Next year the Armed Forces are to receive more than 30 ballistic missiles, both ground and sea-launched, five rocket launchers Iskander, about 300 armored vehicles, 30 helicopters, 28 warplanes, three nuclear powered submarines, one surface ship of the corvette class and 11 space satellites,” the President was quoted as saying by Itar-Tass news agency.

“There is no room for debate here: These weapons simply must be procured,” the President said.

Russia has rolled out an ambitious plan to reform and modernise its military forces by 2020.