The Russian Ministry of Defense has given the government a proposal to rebuild the Russian armed forces. The plan calls for military spending to double over the next five years. About 50% of all Russian military equipment would be replaced by new or modernized weapons by 2010. Despite a 50% increase in the 2000 Defense Budget over that for 1999, the military will receive only 30 new T90S tanks and 100 BTR80A armored personnel carriers this year. The military says it needs to receive 350 new tanks, 400 armored personnel carriers, 550 self-propelled artillery pieces, and 400 towed artillery pieces each year. The strategic nuclear forces have received 80% of the spending over the last few years, but will now get only 10 SS27 Topol-M intercontinental ballistic missiles per year.--Stephen V Cole