Russia Buys 60 Italian Armored Vehicles

Russia has purchased 60 armored vehicles from Italy.

Russian First Deputy Defense Minister Aleksandr Sukhorukov said that the contract for Iveco vehicles was signed in December 2011.

He said the vehicle sets will be delivered soon and will be assembled in Voronezh. He said four Italian-made vehicles were acquired earlier and tested.

Sukhorukov said "they showed better characteristics [than similar Russian vehicles].”

The Kremlin plans to spend some $30 billion on new military equipment, including 120 helicopters.

compiled from agency reports