MOSCOW, June 25 (UPI) -- Russia is planning a $12 billion arms spree from European and Israeli companies over the next five years.
The St. Petersburg Times said the two biggest deals, estimated at $1.8 billion each, could be signed within the next two years by Russia, the world's second-biggest arms exporter.
The extent of the purchases have yet to be officially announced, but the Kremlin has already indicated plans to pick up four Mistral helicopter carrier ships from Paris-based DCNS, sparking unease among its neighbors and the United States.
It has also said that it is in talks with Iveco, a unit of Fiat, for the purchase of as many as 3,000 light armored vehicles.
"Russia has been an exception on military procurement, because no other country in the last 15 years tried to be 100 percent autonomous," said Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies Director Ruslan Pukhov, according to the daily. "Now we have recognized that you can't be competitive in all areas."
Moscow's search for foreign suppliers has been a budding trend since a five-day war with Georgia two years ago exposed weaknesses in Russian technology.
Russia's bid to purchase Mistral-class helicopter carries has taken top priority in the country's relations with France.
If clinched -- along with rights to construct several other vessels of the same class in Russia -- the deal would mark the most important transfer of military equipment to Russia by a NATO member country.
Designed to attack the shore from the sea, the Mistral class is viewed as an ideal weapon for Russia in intimidating its neighbors, most importantly Georgia.
The amphibious assault ship can carry 16 heavy or 35 light helicopters, dozens of tanks and more than 900 soldiers.
Russia owns only one Soviet-built aircraft carrier, which is much smaller than its U.S. counterparts, and is outdated.
Despite the global economic slowdown Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has said his country's defense spending increased by 8 percent to $37.2 billion in 2010. The Kremlin has since then elaborated saying the shopping list required to include more than 20 ballistic missiles, five Iskander air-defense batteries, about 300 new armored vehicles, 30 helicopters, 28 jet fighters, three nuclear-powered submarines and a corvette.
As a NATO member, France may be pressured by the United States to cancel any prospects of a deal in arms and technology that could be used against Georgia.
The St. Petersburg Times said the Russian army was also poised to buy as many as 3,000 of Iveco's M65E vehicles, which would be assembled by OAO KamAZ, Russia's biggest truck maker, according to the report.
