Moscow, May 28 (IANS/RIA Novosti) The coast guard division of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) will deploy four new warships to protect the nation's Arctic zone by 2020, the FSB press service has said.
Eleven border protection facilities are to be built in the Arctic, while automated surveillance systems are to be deployed in the area as part of the Russian Federation State Border Protection programme for 2012-2020, an FSB representative said.
Russia has officially set a goal of deploying a combined-arms force by 2020 to protect its political and economic interests in the Arctic, including military, border, and coast guard units.
Deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin said in December 2012 that Russia risked losing its sovereignty by the mid-21st century if it did not assert its national interests in the Arctic today.
--IANS/RIA Novosti
sd