Russia’s military research agency to receive $100mln in 2014January 21, 2014 - 10:31 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia’s prospective rival of the U.S. breakthrough military research agency DARPA will receive 3.3 billion rubles ($100 million) of state funding this year, its spokesman said Monday, Jan 20, according to RIA Novosti But this year’s budget for Russia’s Advanced Research Foundation was actually decreased 12.5 percent year-on-year, the spokesman said. The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), founded in 1958, has an estimated annual budget of $2.8 billion. The Russian agency needed more money in 2013 because it was only setting up its operations, the spokesman said. “The funds are quite enough,” he said. The Advanced Research Foundation, established in fall 2012, is the brainchild of Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, who gave up a career as a firebrand nationalist politician to supervise Russia’s space and defense industry. The foundation has a staff of 30 and is currently supporting 12 projects, selecting them from 1,100 proposals. The first to become operational is a “social network of experts” aimed at early prevention of emergencies, the agency has reported. No details about the project are available, but it was reported to be set to go into test mode in May. The U.S. agency had a hand in development of what became the Internet and the Global Positioning System (GPS). Its current list of projects includes military robots, electromagnetic railguns and flying armored cars. Related links: Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |