Russian military to set up Robotics Center next year

The Russian Ministry of Defense has unveiled plans to open its own Robotics Center by 2014, a Russian response to the US plans to deploy military robots.

The Russian Ministry of Defense will set up its own Robotics Center by 2014, Russian news agency ITAR-TASS reported, citing a statement by General Oleg Ostapenko, the deputy defense minister. ?This innovation scientific center is already being put together. We know how many staff we need, and what kind of staff,? the general said. He explained that ?the scientific center will aim to provide research and engineering support for the Armed Forces? development.? ?We have set up a number of labs to focus on our tasks and staffed those with the core specialists. We envision more labs like those as we develop new specifications and scientific assignments for a range of combat branches,? Mr. Ostapenko said. The official underscored that companies and organizations, to be selected to assist the Ministry in this job, ?will be funded to cover the specific tasks we will give them.? ?We are capable by 2020-2025 of accomplishing the tasks that the Government has set for us in supplying the Armed Forces with robots. By 2020, the U.S. has plans to increase to as much as 30% their share of combat, reconnaissance and security robots in the military...