2008-2010 Defense Budget

Realeconomy.ru (Russian link), citing Interfax, reported on 09/11/07 on the planned defense budget for the 2008-2010 period. Like the federal budget, the defense budget will allocate resources for a three-year period. According to Sergei Ivanov, First Deputy Prime-Minister, the emphasis for this budget will be on long-term contracts, with a lot of attention given to making the procurement process more effective, efficient, reliable and transparent.

The Military-Industrial Complex is a Priority

In a speech to the Russian Parliament, Viktor Zubkov, recently confirmed as Prime Minister, said that, "I believe it is absolutely correct to concentrate the cabinet's efforts on the growth of such traditionally strong national specialties as the aviation and maritime industries. [...] Another strategic objective - to lift our military-industrial complex. The budget allocates resources for this."

Reuters has a report on the speech.

In related news (pun intended), the Russian Defense Minister, Anatoly Serdyukov, resigned from duty because of his family ties to the new Prime Minister.

A Flying Air Force

As a general note, there are many official and spotter reports of increased flying activity on Russian airbases. Three examples:

On 09/14/2007, the Ministry of Defense (Russian link) reported on the full flying schedule at the Dzemgi airbase, home of the upgraded Su-27SMs.

"All Su-27SM upgraded airframes are in the air, each one numerous times for each flight rotation, of which there are four per week."

In an earlier report, on 09/04/2007, the MoD (Russian link) reported on the inspection of the 67th attack regiment, flying Su-24Ms out of Siverskiy-2 airbase in the Leningrad district.

"During the inspection, the regiment was brought up on alarm, about 20 armed Su-24 aircraft flew to one of the target ranges of the Voronezh district, conducted strikes against ground targets and landed at a divert airbase in the Voronezh district, where the pilots were given a new assignment.

Personnel prepared, refueled and rearmed the aircraft for the new mission and conducted a flight to another range in the Voronezh district for another successful strike against ground targets and a return to the home base in the Leningrad district."

Realeconomy.ru (Russian link), citing Interfax, reported on 09/13/07 on the first in-service flights of Su-34s at the Lipetsk flight training center.

"During the first training flights on the Su-34, pilots practiced take-off and landing, simple and advanced maneuvering and combat employment on the center's combat range with use of the targeting systems and gun cameras against ground and airborne targets."

Note, despite the use of "combat employment," the above implies that pilots were training with use of the targeting systems, not actually employing any weapons.

Training on the Baltic and Black Sea Fleets

The Russian Baltic and Black Sea fleets are conducting training maneuvers as part of the summer training season.

The Russian Ministry of Defense reports (Russian link) on the training exercises conducted by the Baltic Fleet starting August 28th.

"The maneuvers...included about 7500 servicemen, 38 naval vessels and support ships, almost 50 armored combat vehicles, 16 fixed wing aircraft and 8 helicopters, as well as air defense assets."

The exercise culminated with a 300-marine beach landing and also included rocket (missile?) fire, artillery fire, mine laying and submarine operations with torpedo firings.

A Russian news report on the exercise can be found here.

The Back Sea Fleet is scheduled to conduct its own maneuvers from September 14th to the 22nd. According to the MoD, these are to include about 20 combat ships, naval aviation, 10 support ships, over 300 marines and 100 shore combat vehicles.

Building Up GLONASS

Lenta.ru (Russian link), citing ARMS-TASS, reports that GLONASS, the Russian space-based global positioning system, will become fully operational before the end of the year.

"By the end of 2007, the number of functional satellites for the GLONASS system will be brought to 18, which will allow to provide coverage of the greater part of the earth, including all of Russia. Next year, the number of satellites is planned to be increased to 24, which will provide global coverage.

Currently, GLONASS satellites are being replaced with GLONASS-M devices, which increase the service life from three to seven years. Later, the constellation will utilize GLONASS-K devices, with a 10-year service life.

The Russian satellite navigation system will be used for both military and civilian purposes - in early 2007, the Ministry of Defense lifted restrictions for use of GLONASS data for commerical purposes."

As further reference, see the official satellite navigation information center of Roscosmos (Russian federal space agency).

New Commander for the Navy

RIA News reports that Admiral Masorin, who has been commanding the Russian Navy since September 2005, has been dismissed due to reaching retirement age. Admiral Vladimir Visotskiy, formerly commander of the Northern Fleet, has been appointed as the new commander.

Here's a Russian news link with a photo of Admiral Visotskiy.

Let the Games Begin!

Russians are set to vote in parliamentary elections this December and presidential elections in March 2008. For the past year, political analysts have been guessing in vain about Vladimir Putin's intentions. Whatever happens, it is generally agreed that a full withdrawal from power, or at least influence, is not one of the options.

In a move still defying confident analysis, Putin dismissed his entire cabinet on September 12th and appointed a new Prime Minister, Viktor Zubkov - a name previously unknown in Russian politics.

The same evening, Putin held a Q&A session with representatives of Western media and academics, something he's done numerous times in the past. The Times was present at the meeting and their article on it is available here. I'll quote the part dealing with the cabinet's dismissal:

"He began by defending his choice and timing of a new prime minister, which stunned Russia this week, saying that he had to change the Government now because people had begun to cast around for other jobs in anticipation of change.

He said it was not his idea but that of Mikhael Fradkov, the former Prime Minister, to dissolve the Cabinet and reform the Government under a different leadership. Mr Putin praised both the outgoing Prime Minister and his successor, Viktor Zubkov, who he said had a fine record of service. He said the 65-year-old new Prime Minister might himself want to run for president, just as Mr Putin did when appointed Prime Minister in 1999, but he would first have to prove himself."

Strangely, The Times reports that Putin "all but ruled out" a return to power in 2012. At the same time, BBC's report on the meeting says, "...he did not rule out standing again for president in 2012 or 2016..." Lost in translation?