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Military of Russia

Military branches:Ground Forces (SV), Navy (VMF), Air Forces (VVS); Airborne Troops (VDV), Strategic Rocket Troops (RVSN), and Space Troops (KV) are independent "combat arms," not subordinate to any of the three branches; Russian Ground Forces include the following combat arms: motorized-rifle troops, tank troops, missile and artillery troops, air defense of ground troops (2007)
Military service age and obligation:18-27 years of age for compulsory or voluntary military service; males are registered for the draft at 17 years of age; 2-year service obligation; plans call for reduction in mandatory service to 18 months in 2007 and to 1 year by 2008; reserve obligation to age 50
note: Russia has adopted a mixed conscript-contract force; 30% of Russian army personnel were contract servicemen at the end of 2005; planning calls for volunteer servicemen to compose 70% of armed forces by 2010 with the remaining servicemen consisting of conscripts; as of November 2006, the Armed Forces had more than 60 units manned with contract personnel totaling over 78,000 contract privates and sergeants; 88 Ministry of Defense units have been designated as permanent readiness units and are expected to become all-volunteer by the end of 2007; these include most air force, naval, and nuclear arms units, as well as all airborne and naval infantry units, most motorized rifle brigades, and all special forces detachments; all personnel on ships and submarines will be contract servicemen beginning in 2009; more than 92,000 females serve on active duty with the Russian Armed Forces (2007)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 35,247,049
females age 18-49: 35,986,426 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 21,049,651
females age 18-49: 29,056,021 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 1,286,069
females age 18-49: 1,244,264 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA

Russia Quickstats

  • Population: 141,377,752 (July 2007 est.)
  • Area: 17,075,200 sq km
  • Density: 8.3 /km² (209th)
  • GDP (total): $1.727 trillion (8th¹)
  • GDP (per capita): $12,096 (59th)
  • Literacy: 99.4%

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  • Currency: Ruble (RUB)
  • Dial code: +7

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