According to Indian News outlet ANTARA News flush with newly found oil revenue Russia plans to channel billions of dollars into developing a new generation of military weaponry to match anything that we currently have, and quite possibly triggering a new worldwide arms race.
Based on comments made in Moscow by Russian President Vladimir Putin last Friday, check out this except of the Antara News - Putin warns of new worldwide arms race:
"Unfortunately, this does not depend on us. It is not our country that started it," said the president, who will step down after eight years in office following the March 2 presidential elections.Putin said the developed countries, relying on their technological superiority, are channeling billions of dollars into the designing of the next generation of defensive and offensive weapon systems.
"Their allocations in the defense sector exceeded Russia's allocations dozens of times," he said.
He said that growing military-political threats are forcing Russia to take adequate measures to safeguard its national security, adding that Russia is to respond to these challenges by developing more high-tech weapons.
"Russia has and will always have a response to these new challenges," said Putin.
"Over the next few years, Russia will start production of new types of arms, with the same or even superior specifications compared to those available to other nations," he said.
However, Putin stressed that Russia would not be drawn into the new arms race and exhaust its economy and resources.
"Finances made available for these purposes should always be commensurate with the country`s capabilities and should not be made at the expense of socioeconomic priorities," he said.
He pointed out that Russia needs an "innovation army," which could meet modern standards.
The president called for the development of Russian science, including nanotechnology, which could be used to develop new types of weapons. . .
We need to not only match the Russians moves in sponsoring scientific research in to these new areas, but fully fund research into eliminating the Russians new oil wealth. We can do this by making ourselves and our friends oil energy independent.
Unfortunately, that is something unlikely to happen given the current crop of presidential candidates from both parties, in fact I doubt current levels of research spending will be maintained in the next administration. Sphere: Related Content
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