There are only a few days left until the end of 2015. It's time to take stock of the outgoing year and complete planning for the next one. The Russian Ministry of Defense also sums up the results of the outgoing year and draws conclusions about the success of the work. The outgoing 2015 was not easy for a number of reasons. Many negative factors made it difficult to fulfill some of the tasks. Nevertheless, the military department, the defense industry and related structures in general coped with the implementation of the plans.
It should be noted that the ministry announced the results of the year a few weeks ago. On December 11, an expanded meeting of the Collegium of the Ministry of Defense took place, during which a report on the results of the department's activities was announced. In addition, during the year, the ministry repeatedly announced news about the implementation of certain transformations, the supply of various equipment, etc. Consider the results of the activities of the military department in the outgoing 2015.
Structural transformation
In order to increase the combat effectiveness and to respond to new threats, some transformations were carried out in various structures of the armed forces. In addition, a significant number of new connections have emerged. Perhaps the largest and most noticeable change in the structure of the army this year was the formation of the Aerospace Forces. On August 1, 2015, the air force and aerospace defense forces were merged into one branch of the armed forces. Literally a couple of months after its appearance, the Aerospace Forces took part in a real combat operation for the first time.
Other types of armed forces and branches of the armed forces did not undergo such changes. Nevertheless, a significant number of new compounds appeared in their composition. So, this year, the formation of the 1st Guards Tank Army, which is part of the Western Military District, was completed. This association includes a large number of units armed with one or another military equipment. The appearance, or rather the reconstruction (previously there was an association with the same name in the Soviet army) of a tank army was a response to the crisis situation in Eastern Europe and NATO's unfriendly actions near the Russian borders.
The modernization of the engineering troops belonging to the ground forces is being carried out. Not so long ago, the 1st Guards Engineer-Sapper Brigade and the 28th Pontoon-Bridge Brigade were formed in Murom. Engineering troops are an important element of the armed forces, in connection with which a program for their modernization is currently being implemented. It is reported that by the end of this decade, each combined-arms army will receive its own engineer-sapper and pontoon-bridge brigades.
Rocket troops and artillery were also replenished with several formations. In the city of Mozdok, a new missile brigade was formed, included in the 58th Army. The 36th Army was replenished with a new artillery brigade based in Buryatia. As follows from the available data, the development and rearmament of this type of troops will continue next year.
An important topic in the context of the transformation of the Russian armed forces is the construction of bases in the Arctic. Operational-strategic command "North", which began work last year, continues to deploy its troops beyond the Arctic Circle. For example, in January of this year, servicemen of the 80th motorized rifle brigade arrived in the village of Alakurtti (Murmansk region), who are now serving there. The deployment of the units did not take long: in the summer, the brigade took part in its first exercises at a new location.
According to the latest data, the Ministry of Defense and structures involved in current programs are completing the construction of six military bases in the Arctic. New bases are deployed on the islands of Kotelny, Alexandra Land and Sredny, on the Novaya Zemlya archipelago and on Cape Schmidt. The personnel of the new bases have already started service. In addition, the necessary weapon systems and equipment have been deployed. One of the main tasks of the northern bases is to protect the country from an air attack, for which several types of anti-aircraft complexes are deployed on them.
Within the framework of the transformation of army structures, not only the issues of creating new bases and formations were resolved. In 2015, the Department of Defense closed one of the topics that remained on the agenda for the past several years. The transfer of the liberated military towns to regional and municipal authorities has been completed. According to official data, 1,395 military camps were transferred to the civilian authorities, on the territory of which there are about 56 thousand various infrastructure facilities. This made it possible to free up about 40 thousand civilian personnel, as well as to save about 2 billion rubles, which should have been spent on the maintenance of facilities. In addition, more than 7 thousand servicemen returned to service, who previously had to guard the transferred objects.
Army modernization: numerical indicators
According to the Ministry of Defense, in 2015, it was possible to complete many different tasks related to the modernization of the armed forces. The number of military personnel increased again during the year. Now the staffing level has been increased to 92% of the required number. The recruitment of contractors continues, the share of which has increased by 10% this year. Their total number is 352 thousand people. It is noteworthy that in the spring of 2015, the number of contract servicemen for the first time in history exceeded the number of conscripts.
2015 General Indicators Infographic
Particular attention is paid to the modernization of the armed forces so-called. nuclear triad. It is reported that the renewal of the strategic missile forces continued this year. At the moment, more than 95% of launchers with missiles of various types are in a state of constant readiness to perform combat missions. The share of modern weapons in the Strategic Missile Forces in 2015 was brought to 51%. One of the main factors that contributed to the growth of this indicator was the placing on duty of six regiments armed with Yars complexes in stationary and mobile versions.
The naval component of the strategic nuclear forces now comprises 56% of new equipment and weapons. The increase in this indicator was influenced by the introduction of two Project 955 Borei missile submarine cruisers with ballistic missiles: Alexander Nevsky and Vladimir Monomakh into the navy.
The long-range aviation of the Aerospace Forces has not yet received new equipment, but the existing aircraft are undergoing planned modernization aimed at improving their characteristics. This year, two Tu-160 missile carriers, three Tu-95MS aircraft and five Tu-22M3 bombers have undergone repair and renovation.
In the interests of the strategic nuclear forces, 35 new ballistic missiles of several types have been built and delivered this year. Due to these deliveries, the share of new ICBMs has been brought to 55% of the total. According to current plans, over the next few years, the share of new weapons should be increased by tens of percent.
The Aerospace Forces, as well as the branches of the armed forces that became part of them, received a large number of various weapons and equipment over the past year. In accordance with the State Defense Order, this year, 243 aircraft of several classes and types, 90 anti-aircraft complexes of various classes, 208 radar systems and a large number of various weapons were delivered. At the moment, the share of modern systems in videoconferencing is 52%.
Armored formations of the ground forces received 1,172 pieces of equipment of various classes. Rocket forces and artillery have mastered 148 new systems, as well as two brigade sets of Iskander-M operational-tactical complexes. The ground forces received a total of 2,292 vehicles of several types. Unfortunately, the supply of new equipment does not yet make it possible to significantly increase its share in the troops. In the case of the ground forces, this parameter is only 35% - significantly less than that of other types of armed forces.
In 2015, the Navy received two multipurpose submarines and 8 surface ships of several types. The share of new ships and submarines has thus been brought to 39%. The construction of new ships and submarines continues. So, just a few days ago, two new missile ships of Project 22800 were laid in St. Petersburg, and a little earlier, the construction of another submarine of the Borey project started. Thus, in the foreseeable future, the fleet will receive a significant amount of new equipment of various classes, which will reduce the average age of combat ships and submarines.
Renewal of strategic nuclear forces
In the past year, the airborne troops received a number of new types of weapons and equipment. As a result of these deliveries, the troops were fully equipped with all the necessary systems, and the share of new weapons was brought to 41%.
It is noted that the armed forces continue to receive and master unmanned aerial vehicles of various classes and types. The exercises, as well as real military operations, showed the potential of such a technique and confirmed the correctness of the chosen course. The number of delivered unmanned vehicles had a beneficial effect on the capabilities of the troops. Back in 2011, there were only 180 such complexes in the army, and by the end of 2015 their number exceeded 1700. All this equipment is actively used in the interests of various types of armed forces.
The Defense Ministry is forced to admit that not all plans for the current year have been fulfilled on time. It is reported that this year the troops received less than 2 aircraft, 3 spacecraft, 2 surface ships and about fifty units of other equipment. 199 units of equipment, despite the plans, have not been repaired this year. In addition, 679 units did not have time to go through the scheduled service. The deliveries of lost equipment and the execution of unfinished work are postponed to the next year.
Nevertheless, despite all the difficulties, the main tasks of the current State Armaments Program, calculated until 2020, are still being fulfilled, and much ahead of schedule. At the moment, the share of modern weapons and equipment in the army has been brought to 47%, the share of serviceable samples - 89%. In accordance with the State Program, in 2015 it was required to bring the share of new samples to 30%. As you can see, the defense industry and the Ministry of Defense not only fulfilled the assigned task, but also significantly exceeded the required indicators.
Construction of facilities
The Armed Forces need not only new equipment, but also new facilities for various purposes. In 2015, military construction continued, and some innovations in this area made it possible to increase the pace of construction and, to some extent, reduce costs. Thus, the standard standards adopted last year made it possible to reduce the cost of 1 square meter from 37 to 32 thousand rubles, thereby saving about 5 billion in a year.
During the year, in the interests of the army, more than 600 objects with a total area of about 2.5 million square meters were built. Due to modern technologies, the terms of construction of housing stock and shelters for equipment have been halved. In addition, operating costs have been reduced by a third. It is noted that due to fast and high-quality construction, the construction of infrastructure for submarines at the bases of Gadzhievo and Novorossiysk was completed. In addition, all new missile systems supplied to the troops received full-fledged shelters. All construction programs for such important facilities were completed in 2015.
Updating other branches of the armed forces
The Ministry of Defense, with the participation of oil companies, is implementing plans to build 22 refueling complexes. Eight such complexes have already been built this year. Three more will be commissioned in 2016.
Last year and this year, 390 new storage facilities for weapons and ammunition were built that meet modern requirements. Another 190 such facilities should appear next year, which will provide the armed forces with all the necessary infrastructure for storing ammunition. In addition, in the foreseeable future, the construction of 24 production and logistics complexes in Naro-Fominsk will be completed, which will replace about 30 facilities in the Moscow region.
Personnel training
In 2015, the military department completed the formation of a new look for the system of higher military educational institutions, which is to train young specialists. Now 26 universities and 8 of their branches will be engaged in education and training of future officers. In addition, all educational institutions will be linked through the so-called. electronic university - a means of information exchange between them.
In the outgoing year, uniform standards for electronic textbooks were approved, and a pilot project for an electronic library was implemented. Such modern means of providing education will be applied from the next academic year, which starts in September 2016.
General measures aimed at enhancing the prestige of military service have led to a significant increase in those wishing to enter the universities of the Ministry of Defense. This year, the competition in various educational institutions reached up to 9 people per place. In addition, some other measures are being taken, with the help of which it is planned to eliminate the existing shortage of military specialists by 2017.
In 2015, the work of the so-called. scientific companies in which graduates of higher educational institutions serve. To date, 12 such divisions have been formed; graduates of 42 universities serve in them. Based on the experience of creating scientific companies, a program was launched to create scientific and industrial companies.
Combat training
For several years in a row, the Ministry of Defense has been conducting not only exercises at various levels, but also sudden checks of combat readiness, during which sufficiently large formations are transferred to remote training grounds, followed by the execution of combat training missions. In the context of training and inspections, the latest Defense Ministry report pays special attention to the Center-2015 exercises, which took place in August and September.
In the course of this event, it was possible to successfully solve the problem of creating a large strike aviation group. As part of these exercises, a massive airstrike was carried out, in which one and a half hundred aircraft participated. In addition, an airborne assault was carried out in the composition of 800 fighters. The Center-2015 exercise showed all the capabilities of the armed forces in combat work in the Central Asian region.
Regular training activities at different levels have made it possible to improve a number of important indicators related to the training of personnel. Thus, the flight time of military pilots increased by 10%, and the naval crew overlapping - by 7%. The mechanics-drivers of the ground forces covered 22% longer routes on their vehicles, and the total number of parachute jumps in the Airborne Forces increased by 1 thousand, and more than half of these jumps were performed in difficult conditions.
Renewal of the materiel, primarily through the supply of modern weapons and equipment with high performance, as well as an increase in the number of supplied ammunition, allows the troops to meet the standards for the expenditure of various materiel. One of the main factors in this is a fivefold increase in the order for ammunition for various purposes, as well as the widespread use of simulators used for preliminary training of specialists.
Syrian operation
The most important event in 2015, which can maintain a similar status in 2016, is the operation in Syria. At the request of the official Damascus, a grouping of the Russian Aerospace Forces was deployed at the Khmeimim airbase, which included aircraft and helicopters of various types, anti-aircraft missile systems, etc. As the existing plans were implemented, not only the Aerospace Forces, but also the navy were connected to the operation: a number of attacks on enemy targets were delivered by ships and submarines. In addition, the naval ships are involved in the implementation of air defense of the area where the aerospace forces are deployed.
General information about the operation in Syria
Since the end of September, the main combat work has been assigned to the aircraft and helicopters of the Aerospace Forces. Over the past months, they flew more than 4 thousand sorties and destroyed at least 8 thousand various terrorist facilities: firing points, fortifications, workshops, headquarters, etc. In addition, attacks are being made on oil infrastructure facilities used by terrorists for illicit enrichment.
Already in early October, the first ever massive launch of Kalibr cruise missiles against real targets was carried out. This strike was carried out by several missile ships of the Caspian Flotilla. In December, the fleet again took part in strikes against terrorist targets. This time the Caliber missiles were launched by the newest diesel-electric submarine Rostov-on-Don from the Mediterranean Sea.
Long-range aviation, represented by Tu-160, Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3 bombers, was repeatedly involved in destroying targets in Syria. Such strikes were carried out both with the use of free-fall bombs and with the use of the latest air-launched cruise missiles, which made it possible to test new weapons in a real conflict.
The Syrian operation has become a serious test for military transport aircraft and maritime transport. To supply the grouping at the Khmeimim base, a constant supply of fuel, ammunition, provisions, etc. is required. According to official figures, in the first two months of the operation, ships and planes delivered 214,000 tons of various cargoes to Syria.
The most important feature of the Aerospace Forces operation in Syria is the information support of combat work. The Department of Defense regularly conducts briefings and reports on the results of combat missions in recent days. In addition, video recordings of the results of airstrikes made from unmanned aerial vehicles are published in large numbers. Photos and videos with the results of combat work attract a lot of public attention. A large number of domestic and foreign journalists are constantly at the Khmeimim airbase, who have the opportunity to receive first-hand information about the operation and promptly report on the progress of flights.
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The military modernization program continues. In the course of its implementation, the Ministry of Defense carries out various transformations, creates new structures and formations, masters promising materiel and solves other important tasks. According to the latest data from the Ministry of Defense, with all the complexity of the tasks set, the armed forces and related structures are coping with them and continue to carry out existing plans. Success in this matter is clearly shown in the published statistics on the number of personnel, new materiel, new infrastructure, etc.
The Department of Defense has already set out the basic plans for next year. The construction of new facilities and the purchase of weapons will continue. In addition, it is planned to continue various training activities, surprise checks of combat readiness, etc. Experience has already shown the need for such activities, due to which they will be carried out in the future.
Currently, the military department faces a number of important tasks related to the development of the armed forces. Over the past several years, the Ministry of Defense has been carrying out existing plans with some success and is carrying out all work aimed at increasing the combat capability of the army. 2015, as follows from recently published data, was no exception to this rule. Despite all the difficulties, the military continues to work on existing programs and update the armed forces. Thus, 2015, for all its complexity, can be considered a successful year for the army. She enters the new 2016 with new successes and skills gained in the past year.
