Russia Will Dramatically Increase Defense Spending in 2007

Russia’s spending on arms development and purchases will rise by 27% each year from 2007, a senior defense official said Thursday, RIA Novosti news agency reports. Vladislav Putilin, first deputy head of the defense committee established in March to improve the monitoring of defense spending, said: “State defense orders have risen. Spending on the development and purchase of armaments and military equipment will go up by 27% each year from 2007.” He also said the strategic nuclear forces and permanent combat duty units remained priorities in terms of financing.