Vladimir Putin announced ambitious plans to revive Russia’s military power and restore its role as the world’s leading producer of military aircraft yesterday.
Speaking at the opening of the largest airshow in Russia’s post-Soviet history, the president said he was determined to make aircraft manufacture a national priority after decades of lagging behind the west.
The remarks follow his decision last week to resume long-range missions by strategic bomber aircraft capable of hitting the US with nuclear weapons. Patrols over the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic began last week for the first time since 1992.
Russia wants hard currency and military sales are a very good way to make a ‘quick buck.’ Significant to note though, is that the Russians are going ‘high-end’ with advanced technology weapons and civilian craft rather then falling back on their former cash cows of AK47’s and RPG’s – perhaps the markets in Africa and Middle East are flooded. But because their weapons are demonstrably inferior to U.S., British, French and German made material, they will have to either cut prices drastically or sell to those to whom Western nations will not.
I have yet to see the T-64 tank that can stand up to the pounding by an M1A1 Main Battle Tank or any of its upgrades. And when an A-10 “Warthog” is around? Forget it! That tank is “meat on the table!” And flipping a fighter onto its back while virtually stopping in midair is just begging to get you blown out of the air by an AMRAAM fired by an F-15 Eagle!
Gotta raise cash somehow!!