Russia’s latest State Armament Program running through to 2027 prioritises equipment procurement for Land Forces, thus giving some clue to Asian armies’ future purchases. The Kremlin has been persistently modernising its military force and using it to promote national interests – sometimes committing to armed interventions outside national borders. That said, it is hard to imagine Russian tanks ever rolling deep into Southeast Asia despite a certain extravagant politicians’ prophesy: “Russian soldiers will wash their boots in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean”.
Perhaps the main reason for Asia-Pacific nations to keep themselves briefed on developments in Russia is to ensure the armies of their own countries are efficient and properly equipped. And that can be achieved through learning from Russia when making their decisions.
WELL SPENT
In recent years, Russian military expenditures have averaged the equivalent of US $60-65 billion annually, or 4% of GDP. Meantime, military exports have stabilised at some $15 billion annually. These remain an important tool in Putin’s hands to build and strengthen relationships with leaders of other nations.
Export customers for Russian weapons – 51 nations took arms deliveries from Moscow in the past year – prefer to order those systems that are in the Red Army’s inventory. Doing so, they ensure that the equipment can be supported for many years to come, remaining up-to-date through repair, upgrade, modernisation and product evolution. This approach becomes increasingly important as many clients look for cost effective solutions over the whole lifecycle.
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