Russia’s defence budget to be $36 bn in 2010

MOSCOW - Russia’s defence budget will rise by 8 percent in 2010 to reach $36 billion, Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said Tuesday.

The defence allocation in 2009 is expected to fetch $33 billion, with $10.9 billion being spent on purchases and maintenance of military equipment.

Ivanov earlier said that Russia would spend $15.5 billion on arms, equipment and maintenance of its armed forces in 2010.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin earlier spelt out the defence priorities as: “maintenance and development of the nuclear capability and missile and space defence forces, providing troops with modern offensive weapons, as well as command and control, communication and intelligence systems, and strengthening military infrastructure in key strategic sectors.”

–RIA Novosti