Russian military procurement policy is an obvious focus of what you read here, and there’s lots to write about on this score lately – the GPV, defense budget, OPK modernization and innovation, etc. It’s not possible to capture it all at once. Here’s a start, and hopefully it will lead to broader insights later.
Writing for his latest project – the Center for the Analysis of the World Arms Trade (TsAMTO or ЦАМТО), Igor Korotchenko addressed what the new GPV might buy. His article was picked up by VPK.name, and then a somewhat truncated version ran in Nezavisimoye voyennoye obozreniye. He uses the 22 trillion ruble figure rather than the 19 trillion for the armed forces specifically. Not that it matters since it’s a wag at best anyway.
In his first broad swipe, Korotchenko forecasts that Russia will buy 500 new aircraft, 1,000 helicopters, and 200 air defense systems among other arms and equipment over the 2011-2020 period. He admits, even with a fairly generous procurement budget [if approved and fully disbursed every year], it will be impossible to buy everything each service and branch will need after 20 years of very small-scale procurement.
And this is exactly, of course, the point that Popovkin’s deputy, General-Lieutenant Oleg Frolov was making when he argued for 36 trillion . . . .
So, they can’t have everything and will have to prioritize. Korotchenko gives it a whack, maybe not satisfactory, but it’s a start:
- Strategic nuclear forces;
- Precision-guided weapons;
- Automated command and control systems (ASU);
- Aircraft;
- Air and missile defense (PVO / PRO).
Korotchenko doesn’t talk specifics about his first two priorities. On the third, he calls for a unitary military C2 system to enable Russian netcentric warfare. On aircraft, he somewhat surprisingly emphasizes transport aircraft to move Russia’s million-man army between strategic axes as needed. And Korotchenko lists PVO / PRO without further commentary.
He supports efforts to overcome Russia’s lag in UAVs, ships, individual protective equipment and soldier systems, and armored vehicles through cooperation with Israel, France, Germany, and Italy.
Then Korotchenko turns back to aircraft, saying they are the thing that will indicate what kind of armed forces Russia will have in 2020. Based on what’s been said publicly, he counts:
- An-124 Ruslan — 20
- An-70 — 50
- Il-476 — 50
- Il-112B — ??
- Su-35S — 48
- Su-27SM — 12
- Su-30MK2 — 4
- PAK FA — 60
- Su-34 — 32, possibly 60-80 more
- Su-25UBM / Su-25TM — 10, possibly 20 more
- MiG-35 — 30
- MiG-29SMT / MiG-29UB — 20-30
- MiG-29K / MiG-29KUB –26, possibly 22 more
- Yak-130UBS — 120
- New airborne early warning aircraft — 2-3
- Be-200PS — 8-10
In all, he summarizes, about 500-600 aircraft by 2020.
Korotchenko doesn’t talk money, so we’ll have to think about what this would cost. In terms of what’s covered, he’s only talked only about RVSN and Air Forces’ requirements. You can be sure the Ground Troops, Navy, VDV, and Space Troops have their own lists. Maybe Korotchenko will address them.
Beyond what they say they need, there are two issues. Can they buy it all, or at least how much of it? And, second, can the OPK produce it? Korotchenko doesn’t get us too far into any of this.
Russian Defense Policy 