MOSCOW, November 3 (RIA Novosti) - Tests of a new strategic weapon will be completed by 2008, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov told President Vladimir Putin Thursday. Ivanov said the ministry planned to complete the trials so the country would have new submarines and new missiles.
"We plan to finish tests by 2008, with the aim of new submarines and new missile launchers... along with new weapons systems, including with splitting combat components, in 2008," he said.
The ministry's contracts under the state defense order for 2006 will increase by 30% year on year to 237 billion rubles ($8.3 billion) against 183 billion rubles ($6.4 billion) in 2005, Ivanov said, adding that an additional 54 billion rubles ($1.9 billion) would be allocated to upgrade the armed forces but not to increase service pay.
"We will buy weapons in units, not only the T-90 tank, but two [armor] battalions, not only an airplane, but a squadron... We will pursue this principle," Ivanov said.
He also told Putin that the ministry had accomplished the task assigned by the president to launch a new interagency logistics system, which is designed to improve logistic supplies and the centralized acquisition of army goods at auctions.
