Kremlin: Russia will continue to develop new advanced weapons
Viktor Bondarev, the Head of the Council of the Federation Committee on Defense and Security, told RIA Novosti that Russia will continue to develop advanced weapons, despite the reduction of the defense budget.
Dmitry Peskov, the Russian President's Press Secretary, said earlier in an interview with RT that Russia's defense budget would be reduced. In five years Russia is planned to spend less than 3% of GDP on defense purposes.
Bondarev said that "This won’t affect the financing of the planned long-term research and development work, and sequestration won’t interfere in it as well. Scientific developments are the future, on which you never save."
According to the senator, the decision to reduce defense spending is "thoroughly balanced, well-thought-out, and analyzed," and will not reduce the previously planned rates of army rearmament, modernization of the defense industry complex, and the strengthening of the country's defense capabilities.
The Head of the Committee said, “I am convinced that the expenses that will be budgeted for the defense needs in the coming years will allow us to carry out the main strategic objectives of the Russian Armed Forces. These expenses will be enough to rearmament the army, improve arms and military equipment, establish new operational readiness models, and conduct scientific and technical research applications of scientists and engineers in the military–industrial complex.”
Bondarev noted that a large part of the Russian Armed Forces has already been reequipped with the latest modern weapons and advanced military and special equipment. He also explained, “We can say with certainty that the completion of a number of activities under the execution of the May Presidential Decree No. 603, which required the allocation of additional funds, will have expenses reduced as a result.”
According to the senator, the decision to reduce the defense budget cannot be called spontaneous; it was already planned during the federal budget draft for 2017 and the planning period for 2018-2019.
Bondarev said, “I think there’re no doubts that our defense capability is at the highest level. The Russian Armed Forces can withstand any potential threat. Of course, we should not dwell on what has been achieved. And today’s issues of economic development, social and housing and communal services, infrastructure, education and healthcare are coming to the forefront, and these issues were also voiced by the President in his message to the Federal Assembly. A significant flow of funds will be channeled to these areas.”
Bondarev noted that the Russian President Vladimir Putin has put forward the task to diversify the capabilities of the military industry to allow the production of dual-use goods and to raise the share of the production of civilian products to 50% by 2030.