Minister Pledges $5.8 Billion on Arms Spending

Radio Free Europe, Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Ivanov said in Obninsk in Kaluga Oblast southwest of Moscow on 17 January that the government will allocate about $5.8 billion to buy and maintain arms and military equipment in 2006, RIA-Novosti reported. 
 
He added that the sum is about 70 percent of the total earmarked for defense contracts for the year. Ivanov is inspecting defense facilities in Kaluga Oblast.