Russia to develop "a combat vehicle of the future"November 15, 2012 - 17:56 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia’s Defense Ministry has announced a decision to develop "a combat vehicle of the future" and begin supplying it to the Armed Forces by 2015, a senior military official said, according to RIA Novosti. “By 2015 the Armed Forces must be supplied with a new family of multirole vehicles. The decision to create the new vehicle was taken last week,” Maj. Gen. Alexander Shevchenko, the head of the ministry's Main Autotransport Directorate, said on Thursday, Nov 15. The first vehicles will be produced in Russia and demonstrated to the defense minister by late 2013. The vehicles are designed for increased mobility, cargo-carrying capacity and safety and must provide “both ballistic and mine protection,” Shevchenko told a scientific forum in Bronnitsy near Moscow. Domestic manufacturers have already worked out the technical details needed to meet the ministry's specifications, he said. "We are capable of developing a vehicle that will be just as good as NATO equipment,” Shevchenko told the forum. Russia signed a deal with Italy’s Iveco company last December on the semi-knocked down assembly of Lynx light multirole armored vehicles for the Russian Ground Forces in the central Russia city of Voronezh. In addition, Russia is currently working with France on the development of armored vehicles using a French base but equipped with Russian weapons and Russian turrets. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |