Russian military enters new phase with Syria strikes: Deputy PM

He said that Russia's defence purchase increased 50% from last year and about 96% of defence orders for this year will be fulfilled

The Russian airstrikes in Syria showed that the country's military has entered a new phase of development, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Friday.

The use of high-precision modern weapons by Russian forces in Syria, while showcasing the nation's respect for troops on the front, has proven that the country's defence industry and the military have entered a new phase of development, Rogozin said.

He said that Russia's defence purchase increased 50 per cent from last year and about 96 per cent of defence orders for this year will be fulfilled.

He also said that the Russian defence industry is now capable of producing certain weaponry items that used to be imported.