Russian military upgrade

[struggle4progress]

Originally published February 22, 2017 at 4:18 am
By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV
The Associated Press

MOSCOW (AP) — The Russian military received a sweeping array of new weapons last year, including 41 intercontinental ballistic missiles, and the wide-ranging military modernization will continue this year, the defense minister said Wednesday.

Minister Sergei Shoigu told lawmakers the air force will receive 170 new aircraft, the army will receive 905 tanks and other armored vehicles while the navy will receive 17 new ships this year.


Amid tensions with the West, the Kremlin has continued to spend big on new weapons despite Russia’s economic downturn.

Also this year, three regiments of Russia’s strategic nuclear forces will receive new intercontinental ballistic missiles, Shoigu said. Each regiment has up to 10 launchers ...

http://www.seattletimes.com/business/planes-tanks-ships-russian-military-gets-massive-upgrade/

[Renew Deal]

1. Now, where are the military upgrades for Germany, Poland, Finland

And let's not start with Estonia, Lithuania, Belarus

[Nitram]

2. That would be like painting a huge target on them. Put American troops there as a trip wire.

[Renew Deal]

3. Lack of military puts a target on them

Russia understands strength and weakness. But they respect strength, not weakness.

[Ezior]

4. Germans don't realize what kind of danger they're in

We (Germans) are pretty pacifistic by nature. Whenever our minister of defense mentions military upgrades or military spending, people get mad.
"Why don't we just have peaceful relationships with our extended neighbourhood, we don't need no armed forces!"
"Who's the enemy, anyway? Russia? LOL!"
"Military can't protect us from terrorism, so there's no point!"
"We're spending a lot on refugees, so we have no obligation to put more money into defense!"
"Why bother? NATO / US Army protects us!"
"Weapons are bad! Just get rid of the army! Also, tell US forces to leave Germany immediately! Ami go home!"
"We're surrounded by friendly neighbours, so why...?!"

It's so stupid. I'm really afraid. Where will this get us, now that it seems like NATO is not really a reliable thing any longer?

Also, our military really sucks. All the equipment goes kaput on a regular basis. Maybe even if we spent 10% of GDP on defense, Switzerland could annex Germany within a week if they wanted to. Good thing they don't want to do that.

[Renew Deal]

5. "Why bother? NATO / US Army protects us!"

I think this is the big one. Germany can't wield the power they want without the military to protect their friends like say... Ukraine