Return of divisions
The Armed Forces summed up the final results of 2015. The first, as expected, was made by the Minister of Defense, followed by the commanders-in-chief, commanders of the military branches. How much the face of the army has changed and fleetHow do our military respond to the challenges of the times? Colonel General Oleg Salyukov, Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, answered questions from the military-industrial complex.
- Oleg Leonidovich, what was the past year for your troops?
- In general, 2015-th has developed for us successfully. All tasks that faced the Ground Forces, we have completed with dignity and in full.
“Commanders will have a good“ personnel window ”for professional growth. Previously, after the brigade commander, the post of army commander or his deputy, the chief of staff, at which without intermediate steps of knowledge and experience could not be enough, followed
I note that the year was tense both in the number of combat training events and in their scope. More than 4500 exercises of various levels, 15 thousands of fire training and shooting, 7 thousands of driving exercises, which is one and a half times more than in 2014, have been carried out.
The number of subunits, rated as good and excellent, increased, and the preparedness of formations and military units increased by five percent. In the course of sudden inspections, they were transferred over long distances, overcame water obstacles, conducted offensive and defensive actions on unfamiliar training grounds.
Last year there were five surprise inspections in the Army, conducted at the direction of the Supreme Commander.
The results of the Center-2015 strategic command and staff exercise, which took place in September, showed an increased level of coherence of the military command and control units of the formations and their readiness to perform diverse tasks. A distinctive feature was the fact that for the first time we formed six combined-arms units based on 14 subjects of the Russian Federation, which made marches using the combined method up to five thousand kilometers. We saw a positive change in the attitude of the heads of administrations to measures related to mobilization readiness, especially in the Novosibirsk, Chelyabinsk and other regions.
Evaluating the results of sudden inspections, I can say with confidence: the level of training of personnel fully ensures the solution of problems in any situation.
But as you understand, everything cannot be reduced only to numbers and points. It is equally important that in the eyes of the servicemen there was a keen interest in the results of the training, a desire to improve their skills.
–12 on January, at a conference call at the National Center for Defense Management of the Russian Federation, the Minister of Defense announced the formation of three new divisions. What will be their composition and deployment?
–The composition of troops in strategic and operational areas is being improved in order to respond to emerging military threats. The basis of these groups are compounds and military units of the SV. They are capable of conducting combat operations in various physiographic and climatic conditions.
Three combined arms will be deployed in the western direction. I emphasize: these divisions are not formed from scratch, but on the basis of brigades and will surpass them in firepower, striking force, and successfully carry out tasks on a broader front. At present, the most modern weapons and military equipment are being used by the formations and units of the Ground Forces, which can significantly increase combat capabilities.
“Why are we from the brigades back to the creation of divisions?”
- The fact is that we once created a certain bias towards the brigades. Then we reduced almost all the divisions, leaving only one - the 49 machine gun and artillery in the Kuril Islands, where, by the way, I was a divisional commander.
But our country is big, with different theaters, which cannot be ignored. Somewhere need highly mobile brigades, and somewhere divisions. In addition, all groups of troops are created for specific tasks, and the divisional structure is well matched with the regimental and brigade. I will add that it was sudden checks that prompted us to make such a decision.
No less important is another. A good “personnel window” for professional growth appears, an opportunity to pass such a level as a division commander. Previously, after the brigade commander, she immediately followed the post of army commander or his deputy, chief of staff, where knowledge and experience might not be enough.
Believe me, we do not suffer, figuratively speaking, by gigantism, and there is no question of militarization of the country. Not less importance is given to small units, in particular battalion tactical groups (BTG). The painstaking analysis of the formation, support and use of tactical groups by the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union, the Russian Federation and the leading countries of the world, carried out by the General Command of the Ground Forces in 2014 – 2015, allowed the creation of the optimal composition of the BTG connections of the SV.
At present, all formations have formed and prepared for the actions of BTGs based on motorized rifle or tank battalions. These are self-sufficient units capable of completing the assigned task at any moment. In the future, they will only consist of contractors. Now the main emphasis is on preparing the BTG command and control bodies for operations in difficult conditions, in unfamiliar terrain.
–Effective solution of defense tasks is impossible without close cooperation with defense industry enterprises. You groped the middle ground between the modernization and the creation of new technology?
–In the year 2015, more than 2500 units of new and modernized equipment came to the military units of the permanent readiness of the Ground Forces, which allowed to re-equip six units. In 2016, three more will be equipped.
Until recently, the main emphasis was placed on the modernization of existing weapons. Such an approach made it possible to systematically distribute financial resources in the current economic situation for the country and to fulfill the tasks assigned by the Supreme Commander for bringing the share of modern designs to the established level. At present, the security of the Ground Forces with weapons and military equipment is 95 percent, of which 35 percent are modern designs. By 2020, their percentage will be 70.
The compounds are being re-equipped with modern equipment, which in its characteristics is not inferior to foreign analogues, and even surpasses them. I am convinced: our weapons and military equipment are the best in the world.
Recently, a lot of new equipment has been received. In particular:
- Air defense complexes of ZRS C-300-B4, MANPADS "Verba", air defense systems "Tor-M2", "Buk-M2" and "Buk-M3";
- “Coalition-SV” - an interspecific artillery complex that possesses an innovative shooting regime and creates a barrage of fire: several projectiles fired at different angles arrive at the aiming point at the same time;
- “Tornado-S” - reactive MLRS of a new generation with an increased range of fire, new projectiles of increased power;
- “Tornado-G” - a volley fire system that has the ability to automatically aim at the target;
- “Chrysanthemum-S” is a self-propelled ATGM with a unique ability to penetrate the armor of almost all tanks.
He continues to replace the rocket complexes “Tochka” and “Tochka-U” of the Iskander OTRK. The Rocket Forces and Artillery of the Ground Forces are today equipped with six brigades with the Iskander-M missile system, in 2016 it is planned to ship it to another two brigades.
- Is there no friction with defense companies, as it happened before, at the price of products or their performance characteristics?
- Of course, close cooperation with the defense industry is of great importance. The unified day of acceptance contributes to precise terms of receipt of equipment, which enhances the role of military missions of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation and military representatives.
When the State Defense Forces are formed, the command of the Ground Forces expresses its opinion directly. It happens, it diverges from the position of the industry. A number of samples of weapons and military equipment that were planned for production, at our proposal, were sent for revision and improvement.
If we are sure that this or that product is expected in the troops, we take the most active part in its release, we accompany the ROC. We understand: for each sample weapons and technology - jobs, families of specialists. Therefore, we try to look for compromises in many situations, consult with the management of enterprises, and listen to veterans of military forces and the military-industrial complex. Only after that a collective opinion is expressed. But competition in models of weapons and military equipment should be maintained in any case.
–Finally known expression: cadres decide everything. What is the situation with their preparation?
–Currently, the network of military educational organizations of the Ground Forces is optimized in accordance with the need for specialists. Their training is conducted in seven military organizations of higher and in three - pre-university education.
In 2015, the next set of students and cadets was held; more than 1500 people were recruited for training. The competition among applicants grew 2,3 times and made 5 – 9 people into place. This, firstly, allows you to complete the personnel order of the Ministry of Defense in full. And secondly, it speaks of the unconditional growth in the country of the authority of military labor, the defender of the Fatherland.
We receive education and students from abroad. Now more than a thousand people from 32 countries are studying in the universities of the Ground Forces. This gives a lot in addition to knowledge - it allows us to learn our culture in live communication, to communicate with officers, to better understand the soul of the people. There are listeners from NATO countries. Our military universities provide very good training. In the same Mulino training center, for example, it is possible to simultaneously train an entire brigade, which is not done anywhere else abroad.
In general, the system of training of specialists of the Ground Forces has more than 16 centers, where training in 183 military accounting specialties is organized. It is based on five district training centers. In 2015, in them, as well as in training centers of the armed forces, they were prepared and sent to recruit personnel to more than 40 thousands of junior specialists.
There have been structural changes in the military education system. By the decision of the Minister of Defense, our two combined-arms schools (Novosibirsk and Far Eastern) were removed from the All-Arms Academy of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (Military Academy named after M. Frunze) and became independent. In 2016, it is also planned to withdraw the Moscow Military School and the Kazan Tank School. We returned to the former, more faithfully reflecting their purpose, the names of military schools: from institutions they became schools. I remember well, for example, how we, the cadets of the Ulyanovsk Guards Higher Tank Command School, were proud of its name and the orders on the banner. Return to basics is our moral duty.
–The samples of the “Warrior” equipment have been transferred to the troops. How do they show themselves?
–State test kits completed in 2014 year. I want to remind you that more than half of the equipment has been developed anew and has not been used before by our servicemen - starting with simple knee pads and elbow pads, a combat knife, a multipurpose knife and ending with thermal sights and thermal television reconnaissance devices. At the same time, the weight of the wearable part has decreased from 35 to 24 kilograms, and security from bullets and fragments has increased - the vest can withstand the penetration of 7,62 millimeter 10 caliber from the SVD from XNUMX meters.
All the combined arms and reconnaissance units of the Ground Forces, as foreseen, will be equipped with modern combat equipment "Warrior" in full by 2021. Over the past year, 80 thousands have been provided with it, and in 2016, it is planned to equip even more 50 thousands of servicemen.
About the characteristics of the developed set of second-generation combat equipment, I can say that it is not inferior to foreign analogues, and surpasses them in the protection system. Already, there are reviews of the results of troop exploitation, no fundamental comments have been identified.
At the same time, we have created a scientific and technical reserve, which we will use when creating equipment of the third generation, taking into account new solutions and modern production technologies.
- What exercises have been and will be held with our foreign partners?
–In 2015, the Ground Forces High Command held three joint exercises with units of the armies of foreign countries. These are the Russian-Mongolian teaching "Selenga-2015" in the territory of the Russian Federation, the teaching of the peacekeeping forces of the CSTO "Indestructible Brotherhood-2015" in Armenia, the Russian-Indian teaching "Indra-2015" in India. Questions were worked out of the transfer of units with weapons, ammunition and military equipment to perform peacekeeping, anti-terrorist and combat training tasks as part of mixed units, actions in the desert terrain.
In 2016, seven such exercises will take place. Among them are “Selenga” (with India), “The Indestructible Brotherhood” (CSTO), “Boundary” (with Vietnam). Final schedule agree. There are proposals for joint exercises with military personnel from Argentina, Cuba and other countries. So to speak about the international isolation of Russia, as shouting in the West, as we see, is not necessary.
- How important is the holding of the Army international games? Some people think that this is, excuse me, window dressing and a waste of service life.
–Games are not held for their own sake, although any advertisements for military service and military professionalism are not out of place. And it's not only that the games unite the teams. The main task is to prepare people to the appropriate level. In each method of controlling tanks, infantry fighting vehicles are elements that are in driving courses, combat firing, which means they are really necessary. So this is not window dressing. I'm not talking about the fact that the preparation for the games begins long before each platoon, company, battalion - from the ground units. This is a good school of combat training.
Five contests held in 2015 (within the framework of the Army International Games), in which 28 teams and 16 teams of observers from Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America took part, were visited by more than 192 thousands of spectators. The games helped to increase not only competitiveness in formations and military units, but, I repeat, the prestige of military service, became the best form of testing the level of training of the Ground Forces.
In all competitions, the Russian teams took the first places and became champions, which we are very proud of, and the winners received cars, ATVs, cash awards, the priority right to enter military academies and colleges as prizes. Now we are thinking of attracting girls-servicemen to the competitions.
In 2016, the main command of the Ground Forces organizes six international competitions: "Tank Biathlon", "Suvorov Onslaught", "Clear Sky", "Masters of Artillery Fire", "Excellence in Military Intelligence", "Sniper Frontier". Invited teams from 46 states. So Army international games are becoming increasingly popular.
This year, the geography of the Army International Games-2016 has been significantly expanded. Thus, the competitions “Sniper Frontier” and “Masters of Artillery Fire” are planned to be held in Kazakhstan.
Now the questions are being worked out on making a number of changes to the program of the competitions assigned to the main command of the Ground Forces. In particular, to increase entertainment and attract viewers, it is planned to increase the number of firing on Tank Biathlon and Suvorov Onslaught three times. For this purpose, additional firing positions will be equipped.
The contest "Masters of air combat" renamed to "Clear Sky". The program added the contest of calculations of anti-aircraft installations ZU-23, mounted on army trucks.
- How else is the attractiveness of the service in the Ground Forces ensured?
–In 2015, more than a hundred Open Doors and campaign days, “Military service under contract in the Armed Forces - your choice!” Were held in the cities of the country. All activities were carried out with a demonstration of various types of weapons and military equipment and military uniforms. I want to note that this year, wherever there are military units, high schools of the Ground Forces, such events are surely organized.
We have reached a new level of professional holidays of various types of troops. From 2014, the Day of the Ground Forces begins with honoring the commander-in-chief of Land Forces of previous years with laying flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the first Commander-in-Chief of the Land Forces Marshal of the Soviet Union Georgy Konstantinovich Zhuku.
A landmark event last year for us was the decree of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia about giving the Transfiguration of the Church on Preobrazhenskaya Square in Moscow, whose name is directly connected with the legendary Preobrazhensky and Semenov regiments, the status of the main military for our troops.
You must admit that one of the greatest achievements of the Ministry of Defense in recent years is that so much has become transparent. Troops are open to the media, parents of recruits. And the service has become another - more saturated with exercises, shooting, flights, driving military vehicles. Appeared beautiful clothes. In the canteens there are three first courses, three second ones, vegetables and fruits. You want to master a computer - please, a modern specialty - for God's sake, use a cell phone - there is no ban.
Our army has changed dramatically for the better: it has become mobile, technically equipped, highly mobilized, motivated.
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