Russia to substitute for 700 weapon components of Ukrainian origin 2015 — Defense Minister

MOSCOW, January 13. /TASS/. Nearly 700 parts and components for weapons and other military hardware that until recently have been manufactured in cooperation with Ukraine will have to be substituted for this year, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said on Tuesday.

“By the end of the year nearly 700 titles of components for armaments and military hardware, originally produced in cooperation with Ukrainian enterprises, will have to be substituted for by the end of 2015,” he said.

Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov said Russia’s Defense Ministry has no problems over the need to replace Ukrainian components although Russia depends on the country’s 200 units of weaponry and military equipment.

“By late 2015 we will almost stop being dependent on Ukrainian manufacturers and around 70 or 80% of components will be substituted for. We are not facing any difficulties here,” Borisov said.

Ukrainian components are used in 186 models, designed in the 1980s, for mainly maintenance purposes. The refusal by Ukrainian manufacturers to provide for supplies has not affected Russia’s fulfillment of the state arms procurement program in 2014, he said.

Borisov told reporters that plans to replace products of NATO countries will be presented to Russian President Vladimir Putin at the next meeting of Russia's Military-Industrial Commission.

Russian Defense Ministry ready to face import problems

Borisov also noted that the Russian Defense Ministry is ready to face difficulties in connection with the use of imported parts to fulfil state orders.

“We will have to face certain difficulties, since importred parts of weapons and military equipment account on the average for 8-10%,” he said.

The ministry plans to increase purchases of weapons. The volume of state orders will be 20% more in 2015 than in 2014, he added.

Promising models to be delivered to troops will account for at least 30% by the end of 2015.