Russia will spend $730 billion on weaponry

MOSCOW, March 11 (UPI) -- Russian First Deputy Defense Minister Vladimir Popovkin says Russia will spend about $730 billion on advanced weapons systems over the next nine years.

He said Russia's new state arms procurement program would focus on obtaining advanced weaponry, including the purchase of eight missile-carrying strategic submarines, 600 aircraft and sophisticated air defense systems, RIA Novosti reported Friday.

Russia's military is mostly equipped with outdated Soviet-era weaponry. Popovkin said by 2020 about 70 percent of Russia's weapons arsenal would be comprised of advanced weaponry.

He said the Navy would receive new conventional submarines, destroyers and attack ships equipped with the advanced Kalibr missile systems.

Popovkin said priority would be given to the development of its nuclear program. He also said Russia wouldn't buy any weaponry abroad unless it couldn't provide domestic equivalents.