MOSCOW, December 11. /TASS/. The Russian Armed forces will receive in 2016 the first set of the newest air defense missile system Buk-M3, Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said on Friday.

"For the general purpose forces: the task is to supply to the Army two brigade sets of the Iskander-M missile system and Tornado-S multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) each, as well as one brigade set of the Buk-M3 air defense missile system," the minister said at the Defense Ministry’s collegium meeting devoted to the results of the outgoing year.

Also, he said, six battalions are to be rearmed with new tanks and combat vehicles next year, and more than 200 modernised aircraft are to be delivered to the Aerospace Force and the Navy aviation.

Shoigu said it was planned "to reequip five antiaircraft defense regiments with the S-400 air defense missile system, continue to build up the grouping of the Unified Space System, as well as to launch another spacecraft of this system next year."

Russian army is equipped with modern weapons by 47%

According to the minister, the Russian Armed Forces are equipped with modern weapons and military hardware by 47%.

"We have brought the number of modern weapons and military hardware in the Russian armed forces to 47%; 89% of equipment is in good order. We have fulfilled the task of equipping the army with modern weapons by 30% in 2015," Shoigu said.

Late in 2014, Shoigu said that the share of modern weapons and military hardware in the Russian army ranged from 26% to 48% while 85% of military equipment was in good order.

The Russian army received 18,000 modern communications tools in 2015. Russian army units are now equipped with modern communications facilities by 43%, Shoigu told the board meeting.

"The troops received 18,000 modern communications tools in 2015 which is 7% more than in 2014. As a result, 43% of Russian army are now equipped with modern communications tools," Shoigu said.

The army’s retooling with modern communications tools is a priority of the current State Armament Program. Other priorities include the development of strategic nuclear forces, space craft and reconnaissance assets.