Russia's $392 billion rearmament program will be completed by the end of the decade, with at least 70 percent of its current weapon systems being modern. Its military procurement project for the next seven years is also due for adoption later this year.
That being said, experts are now predicting what weapons these programs will produce, according to Russia Behind the Headlines.
Aircraft
According to Andrey Frolov, Eksport Vooruzheniy (Arms Export) magazine's editor-in-chief, the program's procurement targets will likely include the Sukhoi T-50 fifth generation fighter jet as well as the Sukhoi Su-34s and Su-30SMs. It will also bring in Tupolev Tu-160M2 strategic bombers and 30 Tu-20M3 long-range bombers upgraded to Tu-22M3M standard.
Ground Systems
Experts believe that most of the equipment to be procured for ground troops will be based on the different vehicles using the standard Armata chassis, particularly the T-14 next generation main battle tank.
The T-14 is allegedly worth $4.5 million, and its standard version is fitted with a 125-mm gun that can be upgraded to 152 mm. It boasts of a fire rate of 10 rounds per minute and effective firing range of up to 4.3 miles.
Hypersonic Weapons
Russia's Defense Ministry's website revealed that the arms program between 2018 and 2025 calls for the "completion of the development, and delivery to troops, of fundamentally new hypersonic weapon systems, intelligent robotic systems, weapons utilizing new physical properties, and a number of next generation conventional weapon systems and military equipment."
Meanwhile, there are that Moscow's Tsirkon anti-ship missile has achieved a speed of 5,625mph. Although the news has not been officially confirmed, experts say that if this is true, then it will be the first missile to break the sound barrier. Dmitry Litovkin, a military analyst with Izvestia, said that contemporary radar systems would have a hard time detecting such a weapon that is eight to 10 times faster than the speed of sound.
Missiles
A new Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile will likely be acquired by missile troops, and deliveries could start within five years, Viktor Murakhovsky, Arsenal Otechestva (Arsenal of the Fatherland) magazine, said. Russia's Barguzin rail-mobile combat missile system is also poised to be completed by the end of the decade.
Naval Cuts
With the economic crisis Russia is currently facing, Litovkin believes that the military will put less priority on getting new warships and submarines. He said that Russia will likely stop the Project 23560 Lider-class destroyer program and will postpone the construction of the Shtorm (Project 23000E) aircraft carrier until the 2030s.