MOSCOW. March 25 (Interfax-AVN) - First Deputy Chief of Armament Lt. Gen. Andrey Tyulin has said that as many as 20 billion Russian rubles are necessary for Defense Ministry's research, development and test facilities to continue effective operation.
"The MoD has developed a target program to improve testing activities of the Russian Armed Force during the period from 2009 to 2011. There are plans to earmark 20 billion rubles for the purpose. The program is undergoing a confirmation phase, and is likely to be approved soon," he said during the Tuesday meeting of the Federation Council's Defense and Security Committee, which addressed prospects of research and development activities in the Armed Forces.
Half of the sum is to be used for maintenance of test facilities and ranges and acquisition of new pieces of equipment and materiel to be employed in the research and development process. "Another eight billion will be paid to ensure repairs and retrofits of test centers, while the remainder will be used for social support of scientists and researchers and their dependants," the general said.
He confirmed that the research and development complex of the Russian Armed Forces is in a difficult situation now, which cannot help influencing the process of tests of new weapons for the Armed Forces.