Russian Military Spending Is Up 17%

Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov. © RIA Novosti. Aleksei Druzhinin

Russian Military Spending To Top $30 Bln In 2012 -- RIA Novosti

Over 1 trillion rubles ($30 billion) will be spent on the provision of arms and military equipment to the Russian Armed Forces next year, Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said on Thursday.

That is 17% up on the previous year, he said.

A total of 4 trillion rubles will be earmarked for these purposes over the next three years, Ivanov said.

Read more ....

My Comment: They are playing catch-up with China and to the instability that now exists on much of its southern border (from the Caucasus to China).