The Russian Defense Ministry will purchase about 200 planes and helicopters and up to 30 surface ships and submarines a year, the chief of Russia’s General Staff Valery Gerasimov told a news briefing for foreign military attaches in Moscow on Monday.

"There are plans for purchasing an annual 70-100 planes and more than 120 helicopters and up to 30 surface ships, submarines and special and auxiliary ships and 600 armoured vehicles a year," Gerasimov said.

He said that special attention would be paid to the development of the Navy and the Air and Space Force for ensuring Russia’s strategic interest.

According to the official, the share of modern weaponry and military equipment will range from 70% to 100% in various arms and services by 2021.

"The state program for armaments extending till 2021 will increase the share of modern weapons and military hardware to no less than 70%," General of the Army Valery Gerasimov, Russia’s Deputy Defense Minister, told a news briefing for foreign military attaches accredited in Moscow. "To be more precise, their share will range 70% to 100% in different arms and services."

The current program for state armaments for 2011-2020 is focused on such priorities as the strategic nuclear force, space weapons, and intelligence and communication equipment. At the outgoing year’s closing meeting of the Defense Ministry board last Friday Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said that the share of modern equipment in the strategic forces had been increased to 52%, and in the Navy, to slightly under 40%.

According to the statistics Shoigu quoted last week the Defense Ministry obtained nearly 250 advanced aircraft, and in 2016 it is to receive another 200 newly-built or upgraded aircraft. The Russian Navy has been complemented with two multi-role submarines and eighteen surface ships. Next year the Russian Navy will have seven surface ships and two submarines.

First published by TASS.

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