In the coming months, a number of Russian departments will have to finalize the current version of the Concept for the construction and development of the Russian Armed Forces, as well as formulate plans for its implementation. The Security Council recently reviewed the draft Concept and approved it, but indicated the need for some improvement. All the required measures will take several months, and in the fall of 2020 the security forces will be able to start implementing new plans.
Plans and terms
The draft Concept for the Development of the RF Armed Forces was ready several weeks ago. On November 22, an enlarged meeting of the Security Council took place, but at which a new document was considered and discussed. The project received support, but some of its features require adjustment.
As a result of the meeting, Secretary of the Security Council Nikolai Patrushev said that the necessary improvements will be carried out in the coming months. The Ministry of Defense and other departments will prepare an updated draft of the Concept and submit it to the Security Council. Then the document will be sent to the president for signature. All this will be completed by the end of March.
By July 1, 2020, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the FSB and other power structures must develop concepts for the construction and development of their own bodies and armed formations. Then, no later than October 1, based on these concepts, work plans for 2021-25 will be drawn up.
Targets and goals
The main task of the Concept being developed, as its name implies, is the construction and development of the armed forces. At the same time, it is necessary to develop and improve not only the army, but also other structures responsible for the security of the country and the population.
During a meeting of the Security Council on November 22, Russian President Vladimir Putin indicated that in the next decade, the main task in this context will be to strengthen and develop the military, technical and personnel potential of the country's military organization. When developing real measures for implementation, the President proposed to pay attention to several fundamental points, due to which the differences of the new Concept will be ensured.
First of all, it is necessary to ensure the balanced development of all components of the armed forces - through the competent distribution of forces and resources. It is also necessary to improve the management system of the military organization. We need intelligence equipment, information and analytical systems and an established system of interaction between departments.
It is proposed to continue rearmament. In the coming years, the average share of new models in the armed forces should reach 70% and then remain at this level. The share of modern systems in strategic nuclear forces should be even higher. In the future, the purchase of new samples will be carried out within the framework of the next State Arms Program, calculated until 2033. Its development will begin in the near future.
In the context of rearmament, it is necessary to ensure an increase in the production readiness of the industry, which will allow the creation and production of modern samples. Such issues should be resolved before the immediate launch of the State Armaments Program.
Risks and challenges
The new Concept for the Development of the Armed Forces should take into account all existing risks and factors that threaten national security. As has been repeatedly noted at different levels, the world is changing rapidly, and the Russian military organization must meet current requirements.
One of the main threats to security is the change in the military-political situation in the world with the deterioration of relations between large and developed countries. With all this, Russia has to confront not specific states, but military and political blocs.
The leading countries of the world are developing their armed forces, incl. due to new technologies in the field of weapons and military equipment. Developing states do not stand aside and are trying to master new offensive technologies.
The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty terminated this year. Discussions are continuing on the START III offensive arms reduction agreement with unclear prospects. The emergence of new players in the world arena and the disappearance of restrictive documents have a significant impact on the development of the political situation, and also lead to new requirements in the context of the development of the armed forces.
The new Concept for the construction and development of the RF Armed Forces in its final form may provide for various measures, incl. the most serious. Thus, the Secretary of the Security Council did not rule out that, taking into account the new Concept, changes may be made to the current Military Doctrine of Russia.
Methods and means
The draft Concept itself, adopted for further development, was not published. The finished document, which has passed all the necessary procedures and approved, will also remain secret. However, this circumstance does not prevent domestic and foreign media from making forecasts about the goals and methods of the Concept. Such assumptions can be made based on the available data and programs already being implemented.
It is expected to improve the structures and systems that ensure the interaction of various departments. Due to this, law enforcement agencies will be able to more effectively interact with each other and together solve tasks to ensure national security. However, detailed information on this matter was not published due to their nature.
The rearmament of the army and the re-equipment of other power structures will continue. In this context, special attention will be paid to strategic nuclear forces. By the middle of the next decade, the share of modern samples in the Strategic Missile Forces will reach 100%, in other components - at least 80-90%. At the same time, the completion of the main stage of rearmament of the aerospace forces is expected with an almost complete renewal of the fleet of equipment. The rearmament of other combat arms will continue, but in their case the results will be more modest.
It should be noted that the exact indicators, rates and measures in the rearmament business will be directly related to the developed Construction and Development Concept. On the basis of her recommendations, in the near future, a new State Armaments Program will be formed, which, in turn, will lead to the emergence of new orders and subsequent deliveries of finished samples.
As follows from the available data on plans in the field of military construction, the most active work of this kind will be carried out until the mid-twenties. By this time, the required renewal will be provided in all main areas with an exit to the required level of development and novelty. After that, the pace of renewal of the material part can be reduced within reasonable limits, taking into account the continuation of rearmament.
Actions and results
On the example of the new Concept for the construction and development of the RF Armed Forces, one can observe how the modernization of the domestic military organization of our country is carried out. At different levels and with the involvement of different departments, the necessary work is being carried out, the result of which is an increase in the combat capability of the army and the development of other power structures.
Taking into account the current threats and challenges to security, a general Concept is being developed and accepted for implementation, which is capable of influencing other documents, up to the Military Doctrine of the country. On its basis, more specific plans and programs are being worked out. In particular, the Construction Concept forms the basis of the State Armament Programs.
Currently, a new Concept is being worked out, laying the foundation for the development of the armed forces until 2030-2033. So far, we are talking only about the draft document, but in the spring it will be completed and approved, and by the beginning of 2021 a full package of plans will be prepared. The development of the armed forces will continue taking into account all new requirements and needs.
