Russian Military Draws Up Procurement List Following Georgian Conflict

NEWTOWN, Conn. --- Following a review of the "August War" with Georgia, Russian military commanders have issued a new medium-term modernization and procurement plan. While the new plan is ancillary to the State Armaments Program, the official procurement strategy of the Russian military, it is likely to be considered in future decision making as it provides clearly defined unit-strength objectives. In addition, it also outlines critical military technologies needed by the Russian Army and Air Force.>> The review establishes 2015 as a tentative date by which the needed modernization and recapitalization would occur. It calls for the acquisition of approximately 3,000 new units and upgrade of roughly 5,000 existing units.>> Specifically, it advocates the need for 1,400 new and upgraded main battle tanks to constitute 45 tank battalions, 4,020 IFVs and 3,008 APCs for 174 motor rifle and parachute battalions, 60 Iskander missile systems for five missile brigades, and 18 S-400 SAM systems for nine air-defense units.>> The plan also calls for the development and employment of a existing and new military technologies. It explicitly notes the importance of proper reconnaissance, electronic warfare, precision-guided weapons, and GLONASS satellite networks on the modern battlefield.>> It also notes that all Russian military helicopters should be equipped with modern missile protection suites to aid their defense against man-portable SAM systems.>> -ends->