Putin Identifies Chief Objectives for Russia's Space Forces - 5 April, 2003

President Vladimir Putin has identified the chief objectives for Russia's Space Forces.

After his visit to the Space Forces' Headquarters on Saturday, he told journalists that "a decision taken two years ago to unite all the country's forces and capabilities in this area "has proved to be absolutely correct, which is borne out by the current state of affairs".

President pointed out that there is a comprehensive development program for Russia's Space Forces and "it is being successfully implemented in full measure". He said: "we focus our efforts in this area on ensuring the Space Forces' transfer to space equipment of the new generation with longer service life".

We will also continue work on introducing new systems of information support, "more effective both in terms of their operational capabilities and costs efficiency," Vladimir Putin said.

President pointed to "the need to upgrade the existing missile and nuclear attack alert system" as the Space Forces' second major objective.