Pay Attention, America: Russia Is Upgrading Its Military (Source- The National Interest / Author- Steven Pifer)
Modern Russian Air force aircrafts ( Image credits- Wikimedia Commons / Alex Beltyukov) Source- The National Interest Author- Steven Pifer Russia is in the midst of a major modernization of its armed forces. This has been driven by Vladimir Putin’s ambition to restore Russia’s hard power and supported by the revenues that flowed into the Kremlin’s coffers between 2004 and 2014, when the price of oil was high. The modernization programs encompass all parts of the Russian military, including strategic nuclear, nonstrategic nuclear and conventional forces. The United States has to pay attention. Russia may be a power in long-term decline, but it retains the capacity to make significant trouble. Moreover, in recent years the Kremlin has shown a new readiness to use military force. But not all aspects of the modernization program are equally worrisome. Strategic Nuclear Russia is modernizing the three legs of its strategic triad. It is procuring eight Borei-class b