MOSCOW, July 24 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's government defense contracts will grow somewhat in 2010 compared with this year, Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said on Friday.

Defense contracts are expected to amount to 1.3 trillion rubles ($42 billion) this year, with 332 million ($10.7 million) being spent on new military equipment, Ivanov said at a meeting with President Dmitry Medvedev.

Ivanov did not give precise figures for next year but said the defense budget would focus on seven priority areas, including obligations on long-term contracts, measures to reinforce units in Russia's volatile southern regions, and new weapon purchases.

"These will help Russia maintain its combat readiness at a high level," Ivanov said.