The Russian Defense Ministry have placed only 60 percent of the orders slated for 2011 under the state arms procurement program, Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said on Thursday.
"The situation [with the defense order] has not improved [compared with last year]," Ivanov told reporters in Moscow. "Only 60 percent of contracts have been placed so far."
All contracts with manufacturers should have been signed by April 15. President Dmitry Medvedev criticized on May 10 the defense industry for the delay and extended the deadline until the end of May.
Medvedev also instructed the government to take adequate measures to improve the situation with the state defense order and punish the officials directly responsible for the disruption of the program.
Ivanov said on Thursday that the government would continue monitoring the situation and would punish those responsible for future interruptions in arms supplies.
Russia's new 2011-2020 arms procurement program stipulates the upgrade of up to 11% of military equipment annually and will allow the country to increase its modern weaponry to 70% by 2020.
MOSCOW, May 19 (RIA Novosti)
