MOSCOW. Nov 28 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian Defense Ministry will continue to procure modern weapons, whose share will reach 67.2% in permanent-readiness units by the beginning of 2020, according to Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.
"Next year, the Defense Ministry will continue to increase the combat capacities of forces through the supply of modern weapons. The share of modern weapons in permanent-readiness units will grow to 67.2% by the beginning of 2020," Shoigu said at a meeting of the ministry's collegium on Wednesday.
"There are plans to supply over 1,800 pieces of main types of military hardware and repair about 1,500 pieces, which determine the modern image of the Armed Forces," Shoigu said.
He urged military commands to submit the state defense order on time and asked military representative offices at defense plants to monitor their fulfillment attentively.
Shoigu also instructed commanders of the armed services and branches to commission and master the use of new hardware promptly.
He said the collegium will discuss proposals for the 2019 state defense order at its meeting on Wednesday.