Russia to cut state defense order by 5% in 2017

TOMSK, Dec 6 (PRIME) – Russia will cut the defense order by 5% in 2017 and decrease it by a larger amount with each year, Oleg Bochkaryov, a deputy chairman of the Military-Industrial Commission, said Tuesday at a meeting of the commission without providing ultimate figures.

“In 2017, the volume of the state defense order will be 5% smaller in money that for 2016. It will not be such a big deal, though inflation will also add to this 5%,” he said, adding that the “decrease trend” will be growing with each year.

“The president has already defined the trend in 2013 by saying that the volume of the order will not be so large after 2020, and he gave us all a signal that we should prepare lower orders and a higher share of civil products. We have increased the capacities, upgraded our production, received new competences and new experience,” he said.

“Switching to civil production is a tough task…But a downward trend has started. And it will only grow after 2020.”

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