Vann7 Sat Apr 04, 2015 2:36 am
I think the biggest black hole in Russian budget ,that is not really needed is Russia soviet surface fleet Navy their big destroyers..most of them are close to obsolete.. other than Kirov class.. you have hundreds if not thousands of sailors on a soviet warship that is not really game changing in Russia nation security.. One Su-34 with just 2 pilots and 1 missile can sink any destroyer..and the cost/performance ratio is thousand of times better ,with combat jets ,instead of old soviet destroyers.. cost a lot less to maintain 1 combat jet ,that one soviet destroyer with thousand sailors. they should get a smaller but modern surface warship..with highly automated warships to reduce the cost of sailors..their newest corvettes and frigates will also be good alternative to their soviet warships. .. and decommission all their soviet destroyers except their Kirov class or even scrap that one too.. two frigates could do a similar job. and save money.
Also decomission many support vessels ,Russia will not fight ever beyond their territorial lines or Borders. that will save them a hell of a TON of money in thousands sailors payroll ,maintainance of warships etc..those thousands of sailors have to be paid a lot for active duty ,provided with housing ,medical plan and a lot more things. their submarines and corvettes and frigates and long range airforce can do fine defending their most important trade routes which are all near.. Russia main land and kaliningrad.
In the end Russia should reduce significantly their surface navy ,and get a smaller but modern force. of patrol boats ,corvettes and frigates.. Once the economic crisis is over.. they can focus in projection of power outside Russia borders.. and build modern destroyers. For now
the Russia territory coast ,can be used an an unsinkable aircraft carrier to defend their land .
is not like anyone will attack Russian navy anytime soon... the major threat of Russia will be
Proxy Americans funded jihadist "freedom fighters" in Caucasus ,far east or Right sector banderas in Ukraine conflict.
It will be nice if Russia focus in space militarization and not far beyond their land navy..
and to signficantly boost their land forces with Armata tanks and modern airforce..
Exosphere high altitude stealth bombers for example could truly take Russia offensive capabilities to a new level.. ie.. NATO will have nothing to chase and follow them what people call (intercept). in peace time.. So will rule free in the near space earth orbit.. and without knowing if they armed with nuclear weapons. That will give a HUGE advantage to Russia in first strike deterrence.
In war time.. who ever control space ,wins.. you cannot fight without satellites and coordinate logistics and communications with submarines without satellites help. Space militarization can also be used for Russia civilian space industry and boost their exploration of the moon and mars ,and construction of bases there.