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National Interests: Priorities and Security
 

Military capabilities and economic constraints of the Russian Army

Vol. 11, Iss. 34, SEPTEMBER 2015

PDF  Article PDF Version

Received: 13 May 2015

Accepted: 20 May 2015

Available online: 28 September 2015

Subject Heading: THREATS AND SECURITY

JEL Classification: 

Pages: 46-55

Balashov A.I. St. Petersburg School of Economics and Management, National Research University Higher School of Economics, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
aleksey.i.balashov@gmail.com

Importance Modern threats to military security shape new requirements to the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, their organizational structure, technical equipment, military professionalism and military and economic basis. Meanwhile, accumulated negative trends in the Russian economy substantially cut Russia's military and economic capabilities, thereby necessitating a comprehensive analysis of the military potential and economic constraints of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
     Objectives The research aims at analyzing the potential and combat readiness of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation to repel contemporary military threats and tackle economic constraints of the Russian military security arising from the state of the military-industrial complex, military professionalism and mobilization reserves.
     Methods The methodology constitutes a structural analysis of the Armed Forces and the military-defense complex and relies upon statistical data and expert judgments on the Russian Army reform and implementation of the State armament programs.
     
Results As the research shows, after the Armed Forces have received new combat gear and military equipment, implemented IT and modernized reconnaissance and target market systems, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation significantly approached the standard of network-centric armed forces. However, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have not yet reached full compliance with requirements of new military operations due to pending technological retrofitting and professional advancement of the Armed Forces personnel as a result of budgetary restrictions of the Russian economy.
     Conclusions and Relevance
Following the research, I provide my recommendations for modernizing the Russian economy, strengthening economic, humanitarian and other factors of soft power that lay the basis for ensuring the national interests worldwide.

Keywords: Armed Forces, Russia, combat readiness, network-centric military operations, military-industrial complex

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