MOSCOW. Nov 20 (Interfax-AVN) - The state defense order for 2007 creates the prerequisites for dramatic changes in maintaining Russia's defense capability, Vladislav Putilin, first deputy chairman of the Defense Industry Commission under the Russian government, said on Monday.
"The state defense order [for 2007] creates prerequisites for a radical change in the state of our defense and security," Putilin told reporters.
According to him, the 2007 state defense order will grow by more than 30 percent as compared to the current year and will amount to 734.6 billion rubles ($27.57 billion). Over 400 billion ($15.01 billion) will be spent on development, procurement and repairs of armament and military hardware, "i.e. development of the military structure and its equipment," he said.
About 145.5 billion rubles ($5.46 billion) will be assigned for developing military infrastructure, Putilin noted.
The Defense Industry Commission met on Monday to discuss problems in putting together the state defense order. According to Putilin, the session approved the documents making it possible to place orders for the period of up to five years at a fixed price.
He stressed that the defense order for 2007 "is the next step towards meeting all requirements of defense and security, while spending allocated funds efficiently and transparently under the circumstances of the growing state control over the defense order."