MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Putin reminded that the realization of the program began a year and a half ago and the production of many components had been successfully established.
"However, problems still persist with a number of important components, details and parts. It is necessary to expand their production more quickly, or at least to look for alternative suppliers. But I am sure our defense industry is able to cope and will certainly cope with the task," the president said addressing a meeting at the National Defense Management Center.
Putin added that the substitution in the defense area would positively affect the civilian production spheres.
Import substitution in Russia's economy was intensified in mid-2014, after the West imposed several rounds of sanctions against Moscow, citing its alleged involvement in the Ukraine conflict.