Edited sentence: After the disintegration of the USSR, the Russian military experienced large cuts in funding.Along with the United States, has a large and advanced space program.Currently, the military is in the process of modernisation and rearmament, with the government in the process of spending about $200 billion (which equals to about $400 billion in PPP dollars) in development and production of military equipment between 2006-2015.However, Russia carried over many superpower traits from the USSR and since 1998, Russia has been experiencing 9 straight years of high economic growth, averaging 6.8% annually.However, due to the positive economic growth since 1998, the military budget has been receiving large increases annually.It is also in the process of phasing out conscription and replacing conscripts with an entirely professional force.It possesses the largest nuclear arsenal in the world.It still has a relatively large population (the largest in Europe).It still retains a massive military force which remains the most powerful in the world after the United States.Russia covers the largest territory in the world with an abundance of strategic resources (possessing the world's largest gas reserves, second largest coal reserves and eighth largest oil reserves - Russia is considered to be an energy superpower).Russia has a varied and rich history and culture.Russia has the capability to develop advanced military and space technologies, and continues to develop state of the art military technologies, including the Sukhoi PAK FA fighter jet, Borei class submarine, T-95 and Black Eagle tanks, and the Topol M ICBM, Bulava ICBM and the RS-24 MIRV equipped ICBM.Russia is considered the successor of the USSR, but economic factors that crippled the Russian economy during the harsh restructuring process after the Soviet collapse led many people to write off Russia as a superpower.Russia is renowned for excellence in sport, literature, cinema, and classical music.Russia retains a permanent seat on the UN Security Council (which includes the power to veto).The Russian language is widely spoken in countries outside of Russia, particularly in post-Soviet republics and in many countries in Eastern Europe.While not as great as it was in Soviet times, Russia still retains vast influence over neighbors