Russia intends to keep rate of weapons production high: Minister
Russia intends to keep rate of weapons production high: Minister
Russia intends to keep rate of weapons production high: Minister
Russia claims to be leading the way in weapon production compared to the West and plans to maintain this growth, according to a senior Russian minister. This statement comes after both sides escalated arms production during the conflict in Ukraine.
Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, tensions between Russia and the West have reached Cold War levels. Ukraine and its Western allies increased their arms production to counter Russian forces, who also intensified their military output, blaming the West for the conflict dating back to 2014.
Denis Manturov, the deputy prime minister overseeing arms production, stated, "I don't want to brag, but I can say that we started gaining momentum and increased production earlier than Western countries." He emphasized that the key question is how long this competition will continue. Manturov mentioned that a 2025-2034 armament plan is set to be approved next year.
President Vladimir Putin and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu have highlighted the soaring production of artillery, drones, tanks, and armored vehicles in Russia. Despite talks of a new Cold War involving Russia, China, the United States, and its allies, Russia's $2 trillion economy faces challenges countering the collective strength of the West.
Manturov acknowledged the need to replenish reserves and sustain the current production rate. He revealed that the volume of state defense orders in 2023 has doubled compared to the previous year, with the production of "certain weapons" increasing ten-fold.
The minister's comments reflect Russia's commitment to maintaining a robust military production capacity. However, the international community watches closely as geopolitical tensions persist and arms production continues to escalate.
