A nation must think before it acts.
Post-Soviet Moscow is apparently committed to preserving and enhancing the military-technological prowess formerly possessed by the Soviet Union. This commitment is rarely if ever stated baldly, for reasons of both politics and security. But it emerges clearly from a close analysis of statements made by knowledgeable Soviet/Russian authorities over the last several years.
Undoubtedly, Russia’s economic plight is hampering the fulfillment of this commitment to advanced military technology, but Moscow is striving to minimize the impact. According to Russia’s first deputy defense minister for armaments and arms control, Andrei Kokoshin, top priority in military research-and-development (R&D) and in military procurement is still given to strategic weapons and to the most advanced weapons technologies.