Russia increases the share of modern weapons in its naval armed forces.

Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu recently told the State Duma defense committee that the average share of modern weapons in the Russian armed forces (and naval forces) has increased to 61.5% by the beginning of 2019. The share in the strategic nuclear deterrence in the Navy reaches 62.3%.

The K-535 Yuriy Dolgorukiy, first Project 955 Borey-class SSBN

Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu recently told the State Duma defense committee that the number of seaborne, air and ground carriers precision weapons increased by over 12 times by 2019, and the number of cruise missiles by 30 times. He added that, thanks to a plan of activities going to 2020, the Russian armed forces have received, over the past six years, 108 submarine-launched ballistic missiles.

According to the minister, the armed forces also received three Borey-class ballistic missile submarines, 57 space vehicles, seven diesel submarines, 17 Bal and Bastion coastal defense missile systems, 3,700 new and upgraded tanks and other combat armored vehicles, as well as more than 1,000 planes and helicopters and 161 ships.

"This made it possible to arm 12 missile regiments with Yars complexes, ten missile brigades with Iskander complexes, 13 aviation regiments with the MiG-31BM, Su-35S, Su-30SM and Su-34 aircraft. Three aviation brigades and six helicopter regiments were rearmed with Ka-52 and Mi-28 helicopters, 20 missile regiments with S-400 systems, 23 divisions with Pantsir-S systems, 17 divisions with Bal and Bastion complexes," Shoigu noted.

He added that the average share of modern weapons in the Russian armed forces increased to 61.5% by the beginning of 2019. The share in the strategic nuclear deterrence is 82 percent, in the Ground forces - 48.3 percent, the Aerospace Forces - 74, the Navy - 62.3, Airborne Forces - 63.7.

Russia’s Ground Forces and the Navy’s coastal brigades are practically fully equipped with Ratnik combat outfit. "Almost all Ground Forces, as well as the Navy’s motorized rifle brigades and marine brigades - 35 units in total - have been provided with the Ratnik-2 modern combat gear," Shoigu said.

© Copyright 2019 TASS. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.