Xinhua News Agency, Moscow, February 20th (reported by He Yingjun) -- Russian Prime Minister Putin wrote an article in the "Rossiyskaya Gazeta" published on the 20th saying that over the next decade, the Russian army will undergo large-scale and systematic equipment updates. He believes that Russia's means to maintain global strategic force balance is developing the capability to break through anti-missile systems, rather than establishing a gaudy but ineffective missile defense system.
In the article, Putin said that in the next ten years, in addition to equipping with more than 400 modern land-based and sea-based intercontinental ballistic missiles, the Russian army will also acquire 8 strategic missile submarines, about 20 multi-functional submarines, over 50 warships, approximately 100 military spacecrafts, more than 600 modern aircraft including fifth-generation fighters, over 1000 helicopters, as well as S-400 air defense missile systems capable of equipping 28 regiments, 38 battalions of 'Warrior' air defense missile systems, and 10 brigades of 'Iskander-M' missile systems, along with over 2300 modern tanks, about 2000 self-propelled artillery pieces, and more than 17,000 military vehicles.
He indicated that by 2020, the proportion of new types of weapons and equipment in the Russian army should not be less than 70%, and future Russian military equipment must see further, shoot more accurately, and respond faster than similar equipment of potential opponents.
Putin also mentioned in the article: "There are two guarantees to prevent the destruction of global power equilibrium: either establish a costly but temporarily ineffective missile defense system, or possess the ability to breakthrough any missile defense system and ensure that Russia has the capacity to retaliate." The latter is more important.
He pointed out that Russia's military and technical response to the U.S. global missile defense system and its European component will be "effective but asymmetrical," closely following the measures taken by the United States in the field of missile defense.