Vladimir Putin held a meeting on defense issues in Sochi. Here's footage of that meeting.
Vladimir Putin: "Good evening, dear colleagues! Today, we're starting another series of meetings on the development of the armed forces, providing the army and the fleet with new weaponry and equipment. In recent years, we've considerably advanced in this. Thus, the share of modern weapons in the Strategic Nuclear Forces has reached 82%. This figure is 74% in the Aerospace Forces. It's over 60% in the Airborne Troops and the Navy. It's almost 50% in the Ground Forces. I'll stress that the potential of the branches of the armed forces ensures the performance of all the tasks that are set by the armed forces. At the same time, we should consider the changes in the military and political situation in the world, which affect regional and global security. Of course, I mean the United States of America's withdrawal from the INF Treaty, first and foremost. There are also a number of other factors. All this requires us to consistently develop advanced armament systems, based on breakthrough technology. Such armaments already allow us to reliably ensure the strategic balance of forces. Undoubtedly, we'll retain this opportunity in the long run. It means that they will reliably protect our country from possible threats.
Today, as usual, we'll listen to the reports of the commanders-in-chief of the branches of the armed forces on the current situation. We'll discuss the provision of advanced armaments and military equipment to units and formations. In addition to that, starting this year, I've already informed a few colleagues about it, I suggest we change the way we work, the way we hold our semi-annual meetings. Now, the entire series of meetings will be dedicated to a certain branch of the armed forces. On the eve of such working meetings, the executives of the Defense Ministry and I will visit the relevant military units and training grounds, as well as the enterprises of the military-industrial complex where the principal military products for a certain branch of the armed forces are made. I think that this will allow us to have a better understanding of the issues of equipping the army and the fleet in certain respects. It'll include the production of the necessary equipment, its introduction to the army, personnel training, preparation of the necessary infrastructure so that equipment doesn't gather but be used as efficiently as possible and kept in the conditions necessary for modern and advanced technology products.
As you know, we've already inspected the Kazan Aircraft Production Association named after Gorbunov today. In its workshops, they assemble and modernize the legendary bomber and missile carrier the Tu-160 and other systems for long-range and strategic aviation. In general, I think that we can be satisfied with the way the enterprise is developing, its technological infrastructure, personnel training, and the goods it produces, first and foremost. I assume that we'll never allow such enterprises to shut down and the tragedies that were connected with it in the mid-90s.
In the course of this series of meetings, we'll focus on the state and prospects of developing the Aerospace Forces. Now and in the future, the role of the Aerospace Forces in military operations is to reliably control the sky and space. It's of vital importance. I'm sure that you understand it, too. I know that you keep that in mind. The importance of this branch will only increase. That's why our task is to actively improve the combat capabilities of the Aerospace Forces, personnel training. On April 2nd, I approved the concept of developing Russia's air and space defense until 2030. The document provides for changes in the political and military situation. A better military means for combat in air and space, and transformation in the views on the usage of them.
I'd like to draw your attention to a few principal aspects. First of all, the analysis of modern military conflicts shows that one of the priority areas for the development of the Aerospace Forces is the development of advanced air defense systems. Russian anti-aircraft missile systems have always been recognized for their efficiency and reliability. They entirely justified their high specifications in real combat situations during the operation in Syria. That's why it's necessary to consistently provide the Aerospace Forces with the most advanced anti-aircraft defense systems, including the long-range S-400, and short-range ones, such as Pantsir-S. In 2018, in the framework of the state defense procurement and acquisition, the troops received four regimental S-400 systems, which include guided long-range missiles, and three divisional Pantsir-S. This work should be continued this year. I'll also note that in March, the state tests of the most advanced S-350 Vityaz system were completed. It has increased firepower and a number of missiles, which is crucially important in the conditions of possible mass usage of precision-guided munition.
I ask you to report on the results of this work and the issues which need special attention from us. The scientific and production potential of the Russian military-industrial complex and the potential of our working teams, workforce capacity, is to ensure the planned pace of re-armament of the troops with the most advanced equipment which can efficiently oppose air-attack weapons of a potential adversary, including hypersonic ones. You and I know well that no one in the world has such weapons yet, other than us, other than Russia. But we also understand well that the leading countries of the world will have such weapons sooner or later. It'll be better for us if it happens later for them. What does "later" mean for them? It means that we should have means of protection from such weapons sooner than the armies which I've already mentioned will start using hypersonic weapons. If we work according to plan and as good as we've worked until now, it'll be so.
I ask you to pay attention to it. The specialists know what systems I'm talking about and what I mean. This requires special attention. This requires a professional approach both in planning and making preparations for this work. But it should be done, and it should be done within the time limits that have been set. The key task is better control over the airspace, among other things. In December of 2018, the over-the-horizon radar system "Container" entered service. It allows for the monitoring of the air situation over the majority of Western Europe and the Middle East. I ask you to talk about the plans on the further development of the Aerospace Forces' weapons designed to defuse potential threats from air and space in your reports. Let's start working".
