As Russia embarks on a plan to invest about $1 billion over the next five years to establish a domestic electronics base, Russia's military is expected to be a primary customer.

"By 2015, the Russian share in the deliveries of parts to the defense industry should reach 50 percent," said Viktor Khristenko, minister of industries and energy.

Khristenko said this week that Russia's military is overly dependent on foreign electronics parts for its defense industry. He said Moscow needs to boost its electronics manufacturing base to reduce imports.

"Military, information and economic securities determine the primary role of the development of the electronic industry," Khristenko said. "The new strategy, which will be adopted before the year's end, will help Russian high-tech industries find their own niche on the world market."

The plan calls for upgrading production facilities for electronic components and materials, developing fundamental and applied sciences, expanded training and boosting demand for Russian-made electronics.

Also planned are cooperation with overseas partners and licensing of advanced production equipment.

"We must admit to a critical gap between foreign indices and the indices of this country," Khristenko said. He added that the growing share of imported parts in Russian weapons is unacceptable since the "risks are too high."

Khristenko also cited future plans to boost Russia's instrument and aviation industries along with other high-tech sectors.

An expanded Russian electronics industry will produce a large "multiplier effect" that could boost other sectors of the Russian economy, the minister said. He also stressed that government and industry will work together on the electronics strategy.

The strategy calls for producing "at least 50 percent of components in Russia's military equipment and at least 40 percent in the commercial arena," said Khristenko.

By: DocMemory
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