In the current and future state weapons programs, certain attention is paid to the renewal of the materiel of the airborne troops. Taking into account the special role of this type of troops, the programs provide for the supply of a significant amount of weapons and equipment of both existing and prospective types. To date, such deliveries have already led to a noticeable increase in the share of new samples. Current trends will continue, and soon the Airborne Forces will receive new weapons and equipment.
In recent years, the military department and the defense industry, having overcome the existing disagreements, have begun to renew the fleet of combat vehicles of the airborne troops. Also, new contracts were signed for the supply of certain weapons. The implementation of such agreements has already led to the most serious results. The share of new models is constantly growing, which has a positive effect on the potential of the troops.
On December 1, the publication of the Ministry of Defense "Krasnaya Zvezda" published several interesting statements by the commander-in-chief of the Airborne Forces, Colonel-General Andrei Serdyukov. The military leader spoke about the latest achievements in the training of personnel, the formation of new units, as well as the supply of modern weapons and equipment. So, to date, a significant upgrade of the material part has been carried out, and in the foreseeable future it will continue.
According to A. Serdyukov, at the moment the share of new weapons, military and special equipment in the Airborne Forces exceeds 60%. The process of building new equipment made a significant contribution to the renewal of the fleet of combat vehicles. For two years, the army received four battalion sets (120 units) of BMD-4M airborne combat vehicles and armored personnel carriers BTR-MDM "Shell". Two sets of four were delivered this year and entered service with the Ulyanovsk separate airborne assault brigade.
As part of the purchase of new systems and weapons, the airborne forces are also modernizing their air defense. About five hundred complexes for various purposes have been delivered to air defense units. These are reconnaissance and control equipment, communications equipment and the latest Verba portable anti-aircraft missile systems.
The most important role in the current rearmament is played by the modernization of existing combat vehicles and weapons. In 2017, the industry has repaired and updated over a hundred armored combat vehicles. The 2S9-1M self-propelled artillery mounts, Strela-10MN anti-aircraft missile systems and other military equipment for various purposes have undergone modernization.
In accordance with the existing contracts, the defense industry will continue to build weapons and equipment for the airborne troops. Some of the new vehicles currently under construction will go to the troops as early as next 2018. Other products will be completed by the end of the decade. So, the total number of airborne combat vehicles and armored personnel carriers of new models by 2020 is planned to be increased to three hundred. At the same time, the delivery of several dozen of these machines is planned for next year.
In 2018, the artillery units of the Airborne Forces will have to receive three dozen Sprut-SD self-propelled guns. The delivery of some new self-propelled anti-aircraft systems should also begin. The industry will continue to modernize already built machines. In particular, the next year it is planned to update three dozen repair and recovery vehicles BREM-D.
Reportedly, the supply of new equipment of the latest models will continue the process of abandoning outdated samples. BMD-1 airborne combat vehicles, armored personnel carriers BTR-D and self-propelled guns "Nona" have already become obsolete morally and physically, but now - if there is a replacement - their write-off will not have negative consequences in the context of the combat capability of the troops.
A characteristic feature of the Airborne Forces technology is the possibility of parachute landing from military transport aircraft. The start of deliveries of the newest multi-dome parachute systems "Bakhcha-UPDS" is planned for the next 2018. According to known data, such systems are fully compatible with all types of equipment that have the ability to parachute landing. With their help, it will be possible to lower combat vehicles BTR-MDM and BMD-4M, armored cars of the Typhoon and Tiger families, etc. to the ground.
The airborne forces development program takes into account the latest domestic achievements in the field of radio-electronic technologies. Next year, separate groups will appear in all the amphibious formations, which will have to exploit the "fruits of progress." These units will be armed with unmanned aerial vehicles of various types, with the help of which they will be able to carry out reconnaissance and solve various other tasks.
In early November, the press service of the military department disclosed some details of the procurement of UAVs for the airborne forces. Until the end of this year, they planned to transfer about two dozen complexes of several models. Multifunctional vehicles of the "Orlan", "Tachyon" and "Eleron" types, purchased for the Airborne Forces, carry optical-electronic equipment and are intended for reconnaissance. The data collected using this technique can be used by different units, both riflemen and artillerymen.
Also, the new groups will receive modern electronic warfare equipment. As the commander-in-chief of the Airborne Forces said, the first electronic warfare systems have already been transferred to the troops and are now in trial operation. According to known data, the paratroopers will have to operate electronic warfare systems of various types and for various purposes. With their help, they will be able to identify the location of various enemy targets, and such information should increase the situational awareness of units.
According to RIA Novosti, one of the new type of electronic warfare systems will be built on a modular basis and should include means of direction finding of radio signal sources. In addition, this system can get the ability to suppress enemy communication channels. Its main task in this case will be the issuance of data on the location of enemy objects. In 2021, according to the commander of the troops, deliveries of a new electronic warfare complex "Lorandit-AD" will begin. This system will be assembled on the basis of a serial armored vehicle with high cross-country ability. Its main task will be to identify and jam radio channels.
The delivery of the first serial vehicle of a different type, also carrying special electronic equipment, is planned for 2018. We are talking about a command and staff vehicle with the equipment of the automated command and control system "Cassiopeia-D". This sample is built on the basis of the serial armored personnel carrier BTR-MDM and is equipped with a large number of new equipment. The crews of such vehicles will be able to coordinate the actions of troops in areas of a large area, ensuring the timely transmission of information through all available channels.
In addition to adopting new weapons and equipment, the command of the airborne troops is implementing an update of the combat equipment of personnel. To date, a significant part of the Airborne Forces has managed to receive the "Ratnik" combat equipment sets, adapted to the needs of this type of troops. In the next 2018, it is planned to complete the transition to such equipment and completely abandon outdated systems for a similar purpose. Mastering the specialized version of the "Warrior" noticeably increases the combat effectiveness of both individual soldiers and subunits as a whole.
In the recent past, new connections have been formed. Similar processes will take place in the future. The latest result of such work at the moment is the formation of a new separate airborne assault battalion of the Novorossiysk airborne assault division, stationed in Feodosia. In addition, a separate repair and restoration battalion began service in the Moscow region. The organizational arrangements for the creation of the two parts ended on December 1.
Along with the creation of new connections, it is planned to reorganize the existing ones. So, at present, several formations of the airborne troops have tank companies equipped with T-72B3 combat vehicles. Earlier this month, Colonel-General A. Serdyukov announced that next 2018, six existing companies will be reorganized. These units will be reinforced and converted into battalions. After such a change in structure, the former tank companies will be part of the 7th and 76th airborne assault divisions, as well as one of the airborne assault brigades.
Plans have already been drawn up that affect the processes of combat training of personnel. The main goal of the Airborne Forces in this context is to improve the quality of training for servicemen at different levels. Various battalions, regiments, brigades and divisions will be involved in the exercises.
Next year, it is planned to hold six command and staff exercises, including under the leadership of the commander of the Airborne Forces. Also, 40 tactical-level training events will be held, during which the fighters will have to land on the ground. Airborne troops will take part in seven international exercises, some of which will be held abroad.
According to the information of the command of the airborne troops, by now the process of their modernization has already led to the most noticeable consequences. To date, 70% of the troops are manned with contract servicemen. Military and special equipment of the Airborne Forces are provided for 100%. At the same time, the share of new types of weapons, combat and special vehicles has already exceeded 60%. Thus, the Airborne Forces ends 2017 with a number of positive results.
In the next 2018, the "winged infantry" will continue to develop new materiel and develop the existing structure. This will again have to lead to a certain increase in the main indicators and an increase in the combat effectiveness of troops as a whole. The second way to increase combat effectiveness is the correct conduct of a variety of training activities. Such activities are being carried out in accordance with the Plan of Troops Activities for 2016-20. As the commander-in-chief of the Airborne Forces notes, the intensity of troop training is constantly growing.
As one of the key elements of the Russian armed forces, the airborne troops continue their development. The units receive new weapons and equipment of the latest models, and also send the existing samples for modernization. In parallel, plans for combat training are being implemented, which makes it possible to fully use all the capabilities of the new materiel. The Airborne Forces are finishing this year with good results, and next year the main work will be continued. There is reason to look to the future with restrained optimism and believe that the troops will meet expectations and cope with the implementation of existing plans.
