Russian Armed Forces

[Applejuice222]

In 2020, the armament of two anti-aircraft missile regiments deployed in the Sverdlovsk and Samara regions will receive four more sets of S-400 air defense systems. The personnel of the Ural regiment has already undergone retraining in a specialized specialized training center. In addition, in the medium term, the delivery of a new S-350 Vityaz air defense missile system to anti-aircraft missile regiments in Khakassia and the Krasnoyarsk Territory is expected.

[inch]

Is Russia permanently paranoid that it's going to be invaded at any given second ?

[Applejuice222]

Not paranoid. In Russia, huge amounts of money are spent on conducting such exercises, military developments, etc. Their main goal is the theft of this money. And this involves both large leaders and the leadership of the lowest level. I know more than one case when a very expensive development was completed, but so far has not been claimed. Did to make and steal money

[Lord Jim]

Do the Russian public actually believe the hype pumped out by their Government and media that the West is going to invade Russia sometime in the future? Putin might be clever but he repeatedly borrow ideas for the playbooks from both modern day China and 1930s Germany as far as both foreign and domestic policies.

[Applejuice222]

Do the Russian public actually believe the hype pumped out by their Government and media that the West is going to invade Russia sometime in the future? Putin might be clever but he repeatedly borrow ideas for the playbooks from both modern day China and 1930s Germany as far as both foreign and domestic policies.

Few people believe in this. But many people think that a strong army will help maintain Russia's prestige in the international arena. but as always, everything is good only on paper and in the media

[Applejuice222]

US announces Russian tests of anti-satellite missile рак

Russia is testing direct-intercept anti-satellite missiles. This was reported on the website of the US Air Force Space Command.

They pointed out that Russian weapons could destroy satellites that are in low Earth orbit - 160-2000 km. The rocket tests followed the dangerous proximity of the Cosmos-2542 and Cosmos-2543 devices with the US intelligence satellite in February 2020.

“... Russia's testing of direct-intercept anti-satellite missiles shows yet another example that threats to US space systems and allies are real, serious and increasing ...”, said John Raymond, head of the US Air Force Space Command.

Russia has always opposed and continues to oppose the militarization of outer space, President Putin said at the end of 2019.

And President Trump recently signed a decree on the commercial extraction of resources on the moon and other celestial bodies. US authorities do not consider space as a public domain of mankind.

[Applejuice222]

Air defense of the Northern Fleet will strengthen Vityaz

S-350 air defense systems, retrofitted under Arctic conditions, will go into service with the air defense units of the Northern Fleet, Izvestia reports citing a source in the Russian Defense Ministry.

The “Knights” will provide an air defense umbrella over the bases and ships of the Northern Fleet and cover the Northern Sea Route, the importance of which has been constantly growing lately.

The S-350 complex is designed to defend administrative, industrial, and military installations from massive air strikes. It is capable of destroying air targets at ranges of more than 120 km and at altitudes of more than 30 km. The complex can operate both autonomously and as part of air defense, air force and ground forces groups under control from a single command post.

One of the main differences between the S-350 and previous models of this family is the availability of new launchers. Each of them is capable of carrying 12 anti-aircraft missiles against four on the S-300. This allows you to seriously save time when reloading, which increases the rate of fire.

[Applejuice222]

The development of the Caliber missile system dates back to the early eighties, when Soviet industry began work on several new projects. In the future, existing developments became the basis for new ones, as a result of which a number of promising cruise missiles appeared, in particular 3M-54E and 3M-14E.

These products, created by specialists of the Novator Design Bureau (from the beginning of the 2000s it has been part of the Almaz-Antey Concern), eventually became the basis for a new missile complex, which can be equipped with missiles with various characteristics and different warheads.

The most important feature of the Caliber complex is its versatility.

There are four options for this system. "Caliber-NK" is intended for installation on surface ships, "Caliber-PL" is proposed for submarines, "Caliber-A" is designed for use by aircraft, and "Caliber-M" is a mobile land complex. For use as part of a particular modification of the complex, missiles with various equipment and characteristics are offered.

Tests of missile systems of the Caliber family began relatively long ago. For example, verification of a modification of the complex designed for submarines was completed back in 2004. In the future, Novator Design Bureau continued work on a promising complex. In particular, a few years ago, the Club-K missile system was introduced, the launchers and other equipment of which are mounted in standard 20- or 40-foot containers. This complex also belongs to the Caliber family and uses its missiles.

[Lord Jim]

Applejuice222.

Could you please clarify the size and make up of the Brigades currently deployed by the Russian Army so that we can identify the equivalent size of formation in the West. From the number of support units I have read that each Brigade has, such as Artillery and EW I find it hard to believe they are similar in size to a current NATO Brigade and appear to be more along the lines of a small Division.

[ArmChairCivvy]

Hope we do get the latest info.

E.g. here variously configured brigades under that naming convention are profiled:
https://russiandefpolicy.com/tag/
where the tag is to be replaced with the transliterated "OMSBr"
from отдельная мотострелковая бригада
which brigades seldom act as such, but form (just like in the British Army) BGs, бронегруппа

At least in the early parts of any campaign (when things still follow a plan), these BGs can have their armour capabilities (yes, there are both tanks and fire support vehicles, organically) augmented by elements subrdinated from VDV and/ or Spetsnaz.
- while they are called motorised, in effect they are fully mechanised formations

[abc123]

Applejuice222.

Could you please clarify the size and make up of the Brigades currently deployed by the Russian Army so that we can identify the equivalent size of formation in the West. From the number of support units I have read that each Brigade has, such as Artillery and EW I find it hard to believe they are similar in size to a current NATO Brigade and appear to be more along the lines of a small Division.

Yep, something like that. Some sort of "half-division", especially in artillery.
But in recent years, big part of brigades was abolished and old Soviet-style divisions were formed instead.

[Applejuice222]

After the reforms, the Ground Forces were consolidated into 85 brigades:
- 39 combined arms brigades,
- 21 brigade of missile forces and artillery,
- 7 brigades of army air defense,
- 12 communication teams
- 2 brigades of electronic warfare,
- 4 air assault brigades.
To manage them in each district, one to three operational commands have been formed.
This withdrawal was presented to the Russian public as an “optimization” of the chaotic military structure that Russia inherited from the Soviet era. As confirmation, the figure of 1890 military units listed in the Armed Forces in 2008 was cited. After "optimization" there should have been 172 of them. At the same time, it was emphasized that all of them will be equipped with 100 percent people and weapons and are fully operational. That brigades will become universal combat units from Kamchatka to Pskov.
But beautiful plans on staff papers in life turned out to be very far from their real embodiment. At least a third of the brigades ended up being formed in some "light" states. According to one of them, the number of motorized rifle brigades - the main operational and tactical unit of the ground forces - is 3,500 people. But there are “brigades” with a total strength of 2,200 people, although it was initially stated that all the brigades would have 4,600 people.
Further more. The presence or absence of weapons and geographical features forced the "reformers" to change existing states in relation to a specific region and basic set of weapons. As a result, today there are at least SIX approved brigade states. But in reality, taking into account various “amendments” to the states, in today's Armed Forces you cannot even find two identical brigades.
That is, there is no question of any kind of “unification”, which the “reformers” so eagerly sought for. The resulting brigades are extremely motley in size, organization and armament. At the same time, no one recalls the promised equipment with their new weapons. “New” - now simply means working. This was achieved in the simplest way - all serviceable kits were removed from the storage bases and reserve warehouses and sent to staff these brigades.
On the one hand, of course, it is wonderful that now in the “new look” teams there are only efficient and serviceable weapons and equipment, but on the other hand, what will happen to this equipment after its resource is over and the fate of those kits that were in service before? If the Ministry of Defense does not have money to restore the equipment that was in the regiments and divisions of the "old look", then where will they come from to repair the new one?
• And would it not be more reasonable in this case to repair the “old” one? After all, the current “rearmament” is not a transition to a qualitatively new armament and equipment, but merely “eating up” a mobilization reserve, without which Russia cannot win a single more or less large-scale war.

[ArmChairCivvy]

As a result, today there are at least SIX approved brigade states. But in reality, taking into account various “amendments” to the states, in today's Armed Forces you cannot even find two identical brigades.

When the proportion of kontraktniki in the army had reached 40% (these days it is reported to be higher?), each brigade was required to keep one battalion group at readiness... what ever that means. Obviously as long as there are conscripts a good many of the sub-units are in training state
... might this still be the big picture (from readiness perspective), or have there been further changes?

[Applejuice222]

since the service life of conscription was reduced to 1 year, they were no longer seriously trained and performed tasks requiring this training. and in general, the readiness of all armed forces is determined by the readiness of permanent personnel

[ArmChairCivvy]

Good point that short service, conscription now serving more like suitable material for 'kontraktniki pre-selection course'.

AS you have only recently joined, I repost from March of last year as to why relying much on conscription would have been a problem... for the next thirty years!

in 2017 births went down by 10%. [But that was] Simply an inheritance from the crash of the late '90s as that crash made for exceptionally small age cohorts then and still, as a carry-over, just after the millennium. [However,] Fast forward to 2030 and women in child bearing age will be 7-8 million fewer than in 2010
... that is a whopping 1/3 down

[Applejuice222]

yes, you can call the selection course conscription service for kontraktniki. but you need to consider the fact that most of kontraktniki are people living in the regions of Russia. for whom contract service is the only way to earn good and stable income. such people are preparing for service all their lives.

[ArmChairCivvy]

you need to consider the fact that most of kontraktniki are people living in the regions of Russia. for whom contract service is the only way to earn good and stable income

Interesting; Highland rgmnts (warlike in their genes, or coming out of/ escaping harsh conditions, as referenced above)?

However, the army is getting closer to the airforce/ navy in its use of complicated technology
- will such a recruitment pattern have an impact on education levels (meaning a much longer training need in case of the more highly technical regiments)?

[Lord Jim]

Hasn't Russia historically had a innate ability to make even systems we would class as complicated be actually more soldier friendly and far more resilient to abuse that their western counterparts.

[ArmChairCivvy]

In case someone did not get his/her fix this year:
... from 3 minutes on the national hymn may sound familiar (from before)

[bobp]

Postby ArmChairCivvy » 20 May 2020, 01:26



In case someone did not get his/her fix this year:

Great until I spotted Stephen Seagal in the Grandstand

[abc123]

In case someone did not get his/her fix this year:
... from 3 minutes on the national hymn may sound familiar (from before)

They should have stayed with Glinka.

[ArmChairCivvy]

Great until I spotted Stephen Seagal in the Grandstand

Not a huge surprise: holds American, Serbian, and Russian citizenship.

Nothing much to do with armed forces but the most memorable moment of him in Russia was when a Russian won in judo world Championships. The guy asked Seagal to come onto the tatami many times, and when this one finally accepted, it took like 2 seconds

[abc123]

Nothing much to do with armed forces but the most memorable moment of him in Russia was when a Russian won in judo world Championships. The guy asked Seagal to come onto the tatami many times, and when this one finally accepted, it took like 2 seconds

You mean this: ?

[ArmChairCivvy]

No, these guys are from within the same sport.

[abc123]

No, these guys are from within the same sport.

I can't find anything about that.