International Experts to Discuss Future of Arctic at St. Petersburg Forum

International experts will gather in St. Petersburg on December 10-11 at the IV International Forum “The Arctic: present and future”, according to organizers.

“The final resolution of the forum with suggestions and recommendations will be the starting point for the formation of the agenda of the organizations involved in the development and implementation of various projects in the Arctic, in 2015. The document will also be sent to the authorities to improve legislation and state regulation in the field of sustainable development in the Arctic,” was said in a statement.

The event will be opened by the Russian president’s special representative for international cooperation in the Arctic and Antarctic Artur Chilingarov. This forum will be held under the auspices of the Association of Polar Explorers, which actively promotes the implementation of the state policy in the Arctic.

Chelyabinsk Air Force Academy Received New Aircraft Control System

Chelyabinsk branch of the Military Training and Research Center of the Air Force, “Air Force Academy” got the latest automated control system (ACS) of combat aircrafts “Postscriptum”, which allows simultaneous processing of up to 120 air objects and direct armed fighters to 36 potential targets, the press office of the Central military District reported on Friday.

“The system will be used in military high school as a trainer. With the new technology, the future officers will be able to fully reconstruct a picture of the air battle, learn to direct fighters to the target, count line interception, taking into account all the nuances that may arise in the real situation,” was said in a statement.

ACS “Postscriptum” is intended for automatic control of the fighting actions of fighter aircrafts. The complex can work with the MiG-25, MiG-29, MiG-31, Su-27 and their modifications.

Russian Aircraft SSJ-100 to Receive Five New Competitive Advantages

Experience of the first years of operation will be considered in the improvement of the Russian airliner Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ-100). The results of the five key areas will enhance the operational capabilities of the liner, reduce fuel consumption, help to optimize the weight of the structure and increase the comfort of passengers, the chief designer of aircraft Vladimir Lavrov said in an interview with RIA Novosti.

According to him, special attention was paid to maintaining a high level of passenger comfort in the operation of aircraft in hot weather.

Another important step taken to confirm the inherent characteristics of the SSJ-100, as well as to further advance towards the customers – is an extension of the conditions on the base airfield altitude – 3,300 meters above sea level.

Putin: Defense Companies Must Provide High Quality of Developments

Defense companies must begin to import substitution of components for weapons and military equipment, the main task – to provide high quality, which should exceed the foreign-made products, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

“OPK enterprises need to start import substitution of components for weapons and military equipment, and the task is not simply to replace imported products, although it is of course important, but the main thing is different. The important thing is that we must provide high quality of new developments,” Putin said it at a meeting on the state defense order.

He noted that much of what Russia had to import is already out of date. We have the objective opportunity to make advancing step. Our products must be higher than foreign production considering quality and price.

Russia to Perform Final Test Launch of RS-26 ICBM in December

The final test launch of the RS-26 solid propellant intercontinental ballistic missile created on the basis of the RS-24 Yars missile is scheduled for December. This information was presented by a source in the military industrial complex on Thursday.

“The tests are not over yet. According to the current plans, the new missile is likely to enter service with the Russian Army in 2015. In December, there will be the final launch to be followed by a decision in favour of the serial production,” the source said.

It’s worth noting that the RS-26 (also known as Avangard and Rubezh) has improved combat capabilities and multiple warheads. The missile is to be lighter than its predecessor, the RS-24 Yars missile. According to Commander-in-Chief of the Strategic Missile Forces, Colonel Sergey Karakaev, the missile will be launched from a mobile surface vehicle. There are no plans for its silo deployment.

Russia to Completely Fulfill State Defence Order Targets

Russia has almost fully achieved all the planned goals of the state defence order for 2014. This statement was made by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday.

“Practically all the planned targets of the state defence order for 2014 have been met,” Mr. Putin said at a meeting on the development of the national defence forces, adding that Russia should meet deadlines and amounts of weaponry supplies to the Russian Army by 2020.

“The share of modern military hardware in our troops should reach no less than 70% by 2020. These plans should be certainly fulfilled without any excuse based on circumstances. Deadlines and amounts of supplies should be met completely. We have everything we need for this,” the Russian President continued.

At the same time, Russia has already identified the types of armaments for the Army in the next decade.

“This will reduce costs for maintenance and service of similar weapons of various modifications,” Mr. Putin concluded.

Russia Actively Modernizing Military Hardware

Russia has already accomplished the task to modernize 30 percent of its military hardware by 2016. In terms of the main types of military hardware, the share of advanced weaponry is over 40 percent at present. This came in a statement by Head of the Armaments Department at the Russian Defence Ministry, Anatoly Gulyaev.

“We have already surpassed this goal in general, although we still have the next year at our disposal. In terms of the main types of military hardware, the share of advanced weaponry exceeds 40 percent at the moment,” Mr. Gulyaev told journalists on Thursday.

It should be noted that Russia launched a large-scale military reform, the key point of which was the rearmament program, in 2008. Under the program, Russia announced it would spend 20 trillion rubles to upgrade its arsenal by 2020.

Russia May Share Army Modernization Experience with Asia

Russia is ready to share its army modernization experience with the countries of South and Southeast Asia. This was announced by Deputy Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Antonov on Thursday.

“The Russian Army has recently made a breakthrough in its development and improvement of mobility and combat readiness. The Army has received modern weaponry and equipment. The level of training of soldiers and officers has been considerably improved,” Mr. Antonov said, noting that Russia’s successes in modernization of its armed forces are recognized around the world.

“We see the interest of the countries of South and Southeast Asia in our reforms and are ready to share our experience,” the Deputy Defence Minister stated, noting that about 3,000 foreign servicemen are studying at the Russian Defence Ministry’s educational institutions, and more than half of the students are from the countries of the Asia-Pacific region, including Afghanistan, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, China and Myanmar.

Arctic Chukchi to Receive Squad of Drones

Until the end of 2014 on the territory of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug will complete the formation of the troop of unmanned aerial vehicles, designed to serve in the Arctic zone of the Eastern Military District. ITAR-TASS reports about this quoting the commander of the Eastern Military District Colonel General Sergei Surovikin.

“Intensive work to rebuild the military infrastructure is deployed in the Arctic zone. In early September, Wrangel Island and Cape Schmidt received autonomous administrative and residential units. Each of them includes residential, economic and administrative units. The complex is assembled in the form of stars that allows you to freely move within the premises, without going into the open air at very low temperatures,” Sergey Surovikin said. He noted that the residential unit on Wrangel Island was settled by the end of October, and two days ago, November 25 a unit on Wrangel Island has been commissioned.

“Cortege” Project to Cost 8 Billion Rubles

Development and implementation in production of domestic cars on a single modular platform for transportation and support of top officials, as well as other persons subject to state protection, is estimated at 8.051 billion rubles.

Relevant information is available on the portal of public procurement by the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation. We assume that the order will be executed by the only supplier, and its term is designated as 31 December 2016, Interfax reported.

This project is implemented according to the order of the Russian government on February 6, 2014. Its main task is to develop a modern platform, part of which domestic automakers could include in designing of their own cars. Approximately 5% of the total volume of the cars will be in special vehicles for top officials.