Simply great news, keep building, our history shows that outside forces always try to act against us,when we get stronger and stronger. This is a great balanced response. We need a top of the range military.

What country does the Russian Federation believe is a threat to Russia? China or India are probably the only military powers that could challenge Russia. The United States citizens would not permit a conflict with Russia. They are having second thoughts about the adventurism going on in Iraq and Afghanistan and Obama's political base is deserting him. Politicians {democrats & Republicans} have lost their credibility and Americans are disgusted with both parties. Russia should not waste the tax payer's money on military spending if they are doing it because they perceive America as a threat.

Ibarruri from Lagos. Ths is an obviously welcome confirmation of the clarity of purpose of this heir of the teachings of Great Lenin, that a people that do not learn to defend themselves cannot prevent themselves from enslavement. And on the basis of the experience of the last few decades as well as from the position of a long term perspective , Russia needs to retain its capacity to come to its own rescue as well continue its noble role of protecting mankind from nuclear war, by way of checkmating the imperialists.

'Also agree this are great news coming from the president, Russia needs to beef up the military and the goals the president set for 2010 are just great ,I hope the test of the Bulava missile at the end of the month will go well I wish you the best with this equipment, I also would like to see more presence of Russian business in my country Guatemala we need to start making new partners to do business, different from the US, my best wishes to President Medvedev. And Russia will be stronger more than anyone can imagine. Best regards from Guatemala

German-Franco feud well under control, China although significantly armed but militarily inferior and economically dependent, India and Brazil insignificant threat; has anyone out there any idea what the world would have looked like had not there been THE GREAT BEAR? People like you and me would have been chipped by now and converted into disposable slaves for the so called chosen one’s pleasure and that is including 98% of USA and GB population. It is not, my friend, USA and GB people who control their Governments and if I reveal it here my comment would not be published. Why do you think US military hardware which is being sold to Saudi Arabia has a special chip in it which makes it impossible to be used against the manufacturing countries and its allies? Because the chip makes it possible to enslave this country and its people and have undisputed access to its mineral wealth. Why do you think Hugo Chavez switched to Russian military hardware? In responds to that US is deploying unprecedented number of marines in neighbouring Colombia-equivalent to Israel in Latin America. Why is that? Because Venezuela has the fourth largest oil and gas reserve in the World. Not only the rest of the World but US and UK population should be cheering the strength of Russia as that is their only guarantee as free people.

India and China are "chance lovers" of Russia and they aren't rivals for the time, they are "allies". USA with its world domination campaign is a common threat to all of them... So, it is wise for Russia to build strong military, because USA does not joke. That USA's brainwashed citizens could prevent anything that its evil regime has planned, is really a laughable joke. They did not prevent anything and nobody asked them of anything. They were always being dismissed like the citizens of Soviet Union. The only difference was that while the people of S. U. knew exactly where they were, stupid Americans were being fooled about their supposed "democracy". S.U. was a stupid regime with clever people and U.S.A. is a clever regime with stupid people. Russian armed forces upgrade will finish in 2011 and then I guess Russia will build an influence zone, the globalized American capitalism will be ruined and I hope the planet will remember the lesson of 1991 - 2012 never to trust "protectors of free world" again...

Russia needs to focus on How to Promote Prosperity rather than Pride. What did King Peter do in 17th Century. He has westernized his nation. Now u are enjoying these profits. Whether u like or not, u need to open your mind, integrate your mindset and review your status among World's Powers why you are always left behind the race with the West. To practice Genuine Democracy and to Promote people's well-being as well as Human Rights. So these can bring Political, Economic, Financial, Social, Educational, Diplomatic developments and so on. To gain the status of Great Power or Super Power by Military Power is over now. Russians can enjoy Prosperity and World's respect by practicing Genuine Democracy. Ruling the nation by Iron Fist is over. As long as Russia is ruled by thugs who are practicing dictatorship, Russians will suffer while the West is getting higher and higher and Russia is alone. PRC is just unreliable since Chinese mindset tend to own interest.

beef It is a welcome news that the United States' citizens would not allow U.S political and military leaders to initiate war aggression against Russia! About about U.S citizens's view U.S illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq? Now, the United States spents more than $700B per annum in defense. Who are the enemies this massive military expenditure aims at? Second, if the United States has no interest in going to war with Russia, or at least has no interest in threatening the security of Russia, why is the United States pushing NATO Eastern Europe right into Russia’s door steps? It is pertinent also to stress that Russia has suffered wars of aggressions and has genuine reason to be concern the defense of its borders. I am against all forms of militarism but the United States represents the greatest military threat facing the world today. Indeed, it is a welcom news to read that Russia is stepping up reforms and will purchase new military hardware to equip its troops with the latest and most effective military hardware. Russia most never allow to be caught off guard ever again [ i.e. as in 1941 when the Third Reich started devastating war of death and destruction against the Soviet Union]. The Soviet Union eventually won that contest but at a terrible prize. Russia can never ever allow that devastating history to be repeated.

Kane My first comment has not been posted even though it was non controversial. Russia needs to protect its borders and that is consistence with democracy! How do you come to read increase of Russia defense-which means the defense of Russia citizens being somehow against modernisation and democracy? Today democracy is a meaningless idea because democracy has been turned into the privilege of the powerful and not something enjoyed by peoples who are occupied dominated.

Russia needs to get real. Russia already has enough nuclear weapons and delivery missiles to destroy the whole world. There is no adversary on the planet that could stand up to Russia's nuclear capabilities and Russia has implemented the nuclear preemptive strike {first strike} doctrine an policy. Unless Russia wants to initiate a conventional war or start a world war they do not have a need for all new military hardware. The money could be better spent to help poverty stricken Russians and bail out the failing factories. People first, would be a good example for the rest of the world. Massive military equipment and huge parades will not feed and cloth the people.

The US and NATO parading around your country, looting, torturing and raping doesn't feed the people, unless there is 'the' people and they are western bankers. Get real, Russia needs a tremendously advanced and strong army an SSTT - Soviet Strength Through Technology. Lets pump it up, get those planes, ships and missiles, whizzing down the production lines. Time to rearm big time, but with a sustainable military sizing and clear defensive strategy. If we don't rearm, then there will be no Russia. The west has shown, where there is oil and gas, or political control wanted, they will illegally invade, torture and rape. Our only defense is offense, you come to us, and you will have no home to go back to. The bankers always do the return versus risk calculation, we help them a little with the odds. So lets even see new classes of weapons, ones that can create a clear buffer zone, kilometers wide on the aggressors territory. Nuclear weapons will do for now, but lets put some real effort into next generation clearance weaponry.