From Volume 38, Issue 19 of EIR Online, Published May 13, 2011
Russia and the CIS News Digest

Russia Announces 30% Increase in Space Budget

May 2 (EIRNS)—Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has announced a 30% increase in the budget allocation for the development and advancement of the national rocket and space industry. "From the perspective of the country's defensive capacity the rocket and space industry... is an absolute priority along with the nuclear industry and its military branch," a RIA Novosti report quoted him as saying during an April 30 meeting with scientists from Penza's Research Institute of Physical Measurements in Perm.

Putin praised the engineering capability of Russia's space industry, but added that in some areas, they were lagging behind other nations—which he wants to change. As for the military aspect, Putin said that Russia should build new radar stations to be able to monitor its skies at the highest level of monitoring technology.

He stated that the industry has shown an impressive 18% growth despite the consequences of the global financial crisis, and said about 153 billion rubles (about EU3.75 billion) will be allocated to the national rocket and space industry in 2011, according to the report. Putin reiterated remarks he made three weeks ago, during a visit to the space-tech facilities at Gagarin City, saying that he wants to make sure that Russia's space industry regains the leading position it still had during the Soviet period.

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