Vladimir Putin submitted to the State Duma for ratification the Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Italian Republic on Railway Transit of Weapons, Military Equipment, Military Assets and Personnel via Russian Federation Territory in Connection with Participation by Armed Forces of the Italian Republic in Efforts to Stabilise and Rehabilitate the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, signed in Sochi on December 3, 2010.

The meeting participants summed up the results of Russia's military technology cooperation with foreign states in 2012 and discussed prospective lines of work.

Mr Rogozin briefed Vladimir Putin on the situation with the state defence procurement orders and put forward a proposal to unite two Izhevsk arms makers into a single company – Kalashnikov Company. 

Vladimir Putin signed Executive Orders On the Chief of Armed Forces General Staff and First Deputy Defence Minister, On the First Deputy Defence Minister, and On the Deputy Defence Minister.

Vladimir Putin signed Executive Order On Nikolai Makarov and Alexander Sukhorukov.

Mr Shoigu proposed Valery Gerasimov as the new chief of the General Staff of Russia’s Armed Forces.

Today, Russian Armed Forces completed exercises of the strategic nuclear forces. The day before, the Commander-in-Chief examined strategic nuclear forces’ management and oversaw test launches of strategic and cruise missiles which reached set targets at various military testing grounds.

Vladimir Putin held a meeting of the Commission for Military Technology Cooperation with Foreign Countries.

Vladimir Putin and Emomali Rahmon visited the 201^st Russian Military Base located in Tajikistan.

Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Sergei Ivanov answered journalists’ questions following a meeting Vladimir Putin held in Ulyanovsk Region on including Russian-made civil and transport aircraft in the consolidated state order until 2020.

In Ulyanovsk Region, Vladimir Putin visited the Aviastar-SP aircraft factory's test facility, where he attended a demonstration flight of a new Il-76MD-90A transport aircraft.

Vladimir Putin signed Order On Signing the Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Kyrgyz Republic on the Status and Conditions of the Joint Russian Military Base Presence on the Territory of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Protocol between the Russian Federation and the Kyrgyz Republic on Military Cooperation during the Period Preceding the Entry into Force of the Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Kyrgyz Republic on the Status and Conditions of the Joint Russian Military Base Presence on the Territory of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Vladimir Putin submitted to the State Duma draft federal law On Amendments to the Federal Law On Defence and Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation.

The defence industry’s development outlook was the subject of discussion. 

Vladimir Putin had a meeting with Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov and Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Federation’s Armed Forces Nikolai Makarov. The meeting addressed the results of the Kavkaz 2012 military exercises, as well as the provision of housing to servicemen.

Vladimir Putin observed the Kavkaz 2012 military exercises at the Rayevsky training ground.

Measures to make the defence industry’s activities more effective, strategic development planning in the sector, and the results of a series of meetings on implementing state arms procurement programmes were the subjects of discussion.

Vladimir Putin congratulated Air Force pilots and veterans on the 100^th anniversary of the Russian Air Force.

Vladimir Putin visited Zhukovsky near Moscow, where the anniversary celebration is being held. The President congratulated the Air Force servicemen and veterans on the 100^th anniversary of the Russian Air Force, and the Air Force Day, which is celebrated on August 12.