Russia must make defense spending more efficient by streamlining its arms purchases process rather than by cuts in defense orders, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Wednesday.
The Russian government has allocated 22 trillion rubles ($730 billion) for the state arms procurement program until 2020. Many politicians and experts believe that defense spending should be cut in order to avoid a potential state budget deficit.
“We must save by putting the [arms procurement] process in order rather than by limiting the purchases of necessary equipment,” Rogozin, who oversees the Russian defense industry, said in his Twitter blog.
Rogozin has previously said Russia would draft a new concept for the development of its defense industry by the end of 2012 which reflects existing and potential threats to its national security.
He has also proposed setting up a group of independent experts within the State Military-Industrial Commission, which would make realistic assessments of new weaponry and military technologies.
In April 2012, the commission was given authority to mediate potential conflicts between the Defense Ministry and arms manufacturers over purchases of military equipment, including disputes over pricing.
“Price wars” between the military and the defense industry seriously hampered the implementation of the state arms procurement program in 2011-2012.