Article content

Russia “dominated” global defence budget increases last year, accounting for 20 per cent of the world’s extra military spending, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) said Tuesday.

Much of this investment went on a “revolutionary” new tank, the T-14 Armata, which may outclass its Western rivals.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Russia 'dominated' military spending increases in 2015, developing 'revolutionary' missile-blocking tank Back to video

As measured in roubles, Russia’s defence budget jumped by 23 per cent last year compared with 2014, allowing Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, to press ahead with the modernization of his armed forces.

“The double-digit real increase in the Russian defence budget in 2015 meant that it dominated global defence budget increases,” said John Chipman, the director of the IISS.

The T-14 Armata is expected to enter service next year. The Russian army plans to deploy as many as 2,300 of these new tanks by 2020, although the IISS cautions that this “ambitious target is unlikely to be met.”