Russia's dwindling forces
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-02-19 09:42

Fact file

WWII (1940-45)
Defense spending as part of total budget: rose from 32.8 to 47.6 per cent during course of war
Personnel: rose from 2.9 to 11.3 million
Nuclear warheads: not applicable
Tanks: number rose from 4,500 to 12,000 in 1945

Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)
Defense spending as part of total budget: 20.9 per cent
Personnel: 3.6 million
Nuclear warheads: 3,322
Tanks: 35,000

Height of Cold War (1980)
Defense spending as part of total budget: 16.6 per cent
Personnel: 3.6 million
Nuclear warheads: 30,062
Tanks: 50,000

Fall of Soviet Union (1991)
Defense spending as part of total budget: 13.9 per cent
Personnel: 3.4 million
Nuclear warheads: 37,000
Tanks: 63,900

Present
Defense spending as part of total budget: 20 per cent (less than $10 billion), although military is not likely to receive all payments from cash-strapped Kremlin
Personnel: 1.2 million
Nuclear warheads: 6,000 to 15,000 (depending on dismantling schedule)
Tanks: unavailable

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