Russian Army Restructuring

[Feanor]

The Russian Army plans to switch from a divisional and regimental system, to a brigade system by the 2012 timeframe. In the same time period, the size of upper level officer corps is planned to be reduced by about 2.5 times, from around 21500 to 8500. Overall planned officer reductions number around 150 000. The number of generals is planned to be reduced from 1100, to 900, while the total number of lower level officers will actually increase by 10000.

This, in combination with the earlier announced professionalization of NCOs, looks like a transition to a more modern military force organization. The current officer corps is ~350 000 strong and rather top heavy, due to large cuts in actual units since the USSR's collapse, but less corresponding cuts in upper tier positions.

http://arms-tass.su/?page=article&aid=61356&cid=24
http://arms-tass.su/?page=article&aid=61350&cid=25
http://arms-tass.su/?page=article&aid=61358&cid=25

So what do you guys think? Is this a real reform or more just for show (for example the Ukranian Army switched to brigade force org. by renaming divisions into brigades :roll ?


EDIT: And a few more changes. The military education system currently has 65 universities/academies. Many are very small in terms of attendance. This will be replaced by 10 large univerisities,

Additionally reservists which come to annual trainings will now be paid for it.

http://vz.ru/society/2008/10/14/218876.html

 

[merocaine]

Concentrating more funds on fewer officers should help improve the quality.
Is the cutting of officers going to rely on natural wastage, or will it be performance based, or both?
There's probably a lot of old timers just waiting for retirement that aren't going to replaced.

 

[Feanor]

It's actually both. Many officers are in command of units that practically don't exist, and many officers are occupying high-ranking but useless posts. There are also many older officers that will be retired due to age.

On an interesting sidenote Russian MoD and Thales are singing another deal for 331 thermals, including 130 for Russian Army, and 201 for re-export as part of Russian equipment.

EDIT: Rian.ru published a more detailed listing of the proposed cuts. There is a proposed reduction in number of actual units in the military. Combined with the statement that officers need to command actual units, and not storage bases, this probably means a large scale dismantlement of the current system where storage bases are essentially reserve divisions.

The Land Forces will have 172 units after the new re-organization. The VVS will go from 340 to 180 units (I suspect many in storage airframes will no longer be considered "units"), the Navy from 240 to 123 (probably retirement of many mothballed ships with skeleton officer crews, possibly some reduction of active service Navy), the RSVN (nuclear) forces will go from 12 to 8 units, Space troops from to 6, and Marines from 6 to 5.

In terms of the officer corps, there are 10 523 officers in the MoD central organs, and another ~11 000 in military management and control structures. This is going to go down to ~8500. The number of generals will go from 1107 to 886. Colonels from 25 665, to 9114, majors from 99 550 to ~25 000, Captains from ~90 000 to ~40 000. The number of lieutenants will go up from 50 000 to 60 000. Overall the purpose is to reduce the proportion of soldiers to officers, from 32% officers, to between 7-20% depending on the type of forces in question.

http://rian.ru/defense_safety/20081015/153214162.html

Given that this comes in conjunction to re-organizing to a western-style brigade system, and with the planned professionalization of the NCOs by the 2011 timeframe, this seems like a legitimate attempt at comprehensive reform.

 

[CyberSpec]

Does the restructuring mean the abolishment of the Divisions in the Russian Army ?.....If it does, I find that a bit strange considering the size of the Russian Army.

Would the new structure look like:

Battalion -> Brigade -> Corps?

For comparison, the US Army has Brigades as well as Divisions.

Otherwise the reduction of the number of high level officers is a good idea

On an interesting sidenote Russian MoD and Thales are singing another deal for 331 thermals, including 130 for Russian Army, and 201 for re-export as part of Russian equipment.

Is there a link for this info?

 

[Feanor]

The new structure will look like this. MD -> Operational Command -> Brigade at least that's what I know. Yes it does mean abolition of divisions and even regiments. I don't know if armies or Corps will be retained.

Here's a link to the thermals deal.

http://arms-tass.su/?page=article&aid=61420&cid=25

Here's another link to the article about the opening of the new maintenance center in Vologda, for the thermals. It mentions future licensed assembly and technology transfer of everything needed for the thermals.

http://arms-tass.su/?page=article&aid=61384&cid=24

 

[comrade004]

doesnt this just mean that there will be higher quantites in less places?? and i guess this is good thing, bu getting rid of things they dont need

 

[StevoJH]

If they have their Combat formations based around brigades, there is nothing stopping them from Building divisions from these brigades on an as needed basis, right? By placing a divisional HQ in charge of the three brigades.

As i understand the UK system, they build their army around battalions, which move from brigade to brigade, with the brigades assigned to a specific division, rather then the battalions.

 

[Feanor]

There was a specific statement saying that divisions and regiments would no longer be part of the Russian Army. I gave you the chain of command that was provided in the articles. MD->Operational Command->Brigade

Also, on another curious note, there is another planned pay raise for permanent readyness formations, to take effect Jan. 1 2009. In the middle of this article.

http://www.vpk-news.ru/article.asp?pr_sign=archive.2008.257.articles.cis_02

 

[nevidimka]

I read somewhere that, even the volunteer's coming in for training will now get paid.

Btw, interesting to see the army-tass website uses a ".su" extension. Although the SU will no longer be resurrected.

 

[CyberSpec]

MD->Operational Command->Brigade

In war

- MD becomes Army (or Army Group - depending on size)
- OC becomes Corps

 

[eckherl]

Every country out there seems to be shying away from the combat heavy formations and going with smaller structured forces. With the newer weapons technologies be it for ground or air asset it makes sense to go that route. I read a article as to where Russia will most likely rely on only a estimated 1,100 to 1,300 main battle tanks that are implemented into their future Army force structure.

 

[Feanor]

In war

- MD becomes Army (or Army Group - depending on size)
- OC becomes Corps

MD is to become a Front at least up until now. Armies already exist as peace time formations (ex. 58th Army in the N-Caucus MD), and Army Groups concept doesn't exist at all as far as I know.

Eckherl 1300 MBTs is highly unlikely. Remember Russian insists on including MBTs in motor-rifles units, and in large numbers. The average motor-rifles div. has two regiments worth of MBTs. Unless that changes significantly, I don't see numbers dropping below 4-5 thousand.

 

[eckherl]

MD is to become a Front at least up until now. Armies already exist as peace time formations (ex. 58th Army in the N-Caucus MD), and Army Groups concept doesn't exist at all as far as I know.

Eckherl 1300 MBTs is highly unlikely. Remember Russian insists on including MBTs in motor-rifles units, and in large numbers. The average motor-rifles div. has two regiments worth of MBTs. Unless that changes significantly, I don't see numbers dropping below 4-5 thousand.

Of course for the time being that is not a realistic number, especially for the amount of land mass that would have to be possibly defended. But if and when Russia gets a FCS program up and running, (and they have also looked at the concept) things could change in the distant future, real world politics could play a factor also.

 

[Feanor]

It would require a change of emphasis from armored and mechanized formations to infantry and mechanized formations. I don't see it happening. At least not within the next 5-10 years. After that, who knows? Maybe the world will be run by evil dolphins.

 

[Feanor]

Sorry for the double post, but I think this is an interesting enough article to revive this thread. The Tamanskaya 2nd Gds Motor-Rifles will start disbanding in 2009 and on it's basis we will have two mechanized brigades. One of the brigades will receive the BMP-3's and the other the BTR-80 and 90 from the division. The division currently has 6 regiments (1 tank, 3 motor rifles, 1 artillery and 1 air defense), and it's unclear how they will be split. We do know that the end size of the two brigades will be 7.5 thousand men (down from the 12 000 of the division). As far as I know the division today still retains some BMP-2 and T-80 tanks. What will happen to them is unclear. Perhaps the difference in size will simply be translated to the complete disbanding of the units with older weaponry.

http://newsru.com/russia/27oct2008/tamanskaya.html

EDIT: After a moment of thought, I realized there is a third possibility. If T-90A production increases once more next year to 3 btlns, and BMP-3 and BTR production is kept up, the entire division could be re-armed completely by next year allowing the reformed brigades to be a model for the new types of motor-rifles units in the Russian Army.

EDIT2: And more news. In addition to the Tamanskaya Gds, the 106th VDV in Tula will also be turned into brigades next year.

http://newsru.com/russia/28oct2008/armyreform.html

The units being disbanded and reformed are elite units in the Russian army, and it is possible that they're being modified first because they're the most combat ready, and as such far easier to restructure then 2nd line units. Following the 2nd MR and 106 VDV, will be the 4th Kantemir Gds Tank, and the 98th VDV.

http://www.zagolovki.ru/daytheme/tamanskaya/28Oct2008

 

[Feanor]

A few more additions. The Russian Army now has 204 000 contract soldiers. An additional 64 000 contract soldiers are planned by 2015.

http://newsru.com/russia/14jan2009/kontrakt.html

At the same time a new institution for training professional sergeants is proposed. The details are currently being worked on. This comes on the heel of an earlier decision to produce an entirely professional NCO corps.

http://newsru.com/russia/25jan2009/arm.html

Finally (I don't have the article anymore ) a new military doctrine is being written. Iirc it's supposed to be ready by September.

I suspect that these additional details are coming in on the heels of a more detailed analysis of Russian performance in the Georgian conflict which revealed many deficiencies. The situation is so bad that there have even been proposals to purchase Israeli UAVs for Russia, as the Russian MIC isn't producing anything on the quality level. None the less the Russian MVD does use Russian-manufactured UAVs for border control. Tipchak UAVs are (far as I know) being delivered to artillery units, as fire correction UAVs.

All these changes show that Russia is going ahead with military reform despite the crisis. While this is certainly necessary, it's risky as funds could dry up and things could get unpleasant. The other option would be to sell of surplus stocks from disbanded cadre units to get additional finances. Given recent Peruvian interest in out of production T-72M1, and Venezueland interest in the T-72, this may be a valid option.

 

[SkolZkiy]

A few more additions. The Russian Army now has 204 000 contract soldiers. An additional 64 000 contract soldiers are planned by 2015.

http://newsru.com/russia/14jan2009/kontrakt.html

At the same time a new institution for training professional sergeants is proposed. The details are currently being worked on. This comes on the heel of an earlier decision to produce an entirely professional NCO corps.

http://newsru.com/russia/25jan2009/arm.html

Finally (I don't have the article anymore ) a new military doctrine is being written. Iirc it's supposed to be ready by September.

I suspect that these additional details are coming in on the heels of a more detailed analysis of Russian performance in the Georgian conflict which revealed many deficiencies. The situation is so bad that there have even been proposals to purchase Israeli UAVs for Russia, as the Russian MIC isn't producing anything on the quality level. None the less the Russian MVD does use Russian-manufactured UAVs for border control. Tipchak UAVs are (far as I know) being delivered to artillery units, as fire correction UAVs.

All these changes show that Russia is going ahead with military reform despite the crisis. While this is certainly necessary, it's risky as funds could dry up and things could get unpleasant. The other option would be to sell of surplus stocks from disbanded cadre units to get additional finances. Given recent Peruvian interest in out of production T-72M1, and Venezueland interest in the T-72, this may be a valid option.

MVD didn't control border, it is FSB function (Border Troops were long ago reobeyed to FSB).
About UAV FSB and MVD really use light UAVs like Tipchak but the are not such as Israel long-range UAV. As I've read there are some developments of UAV but info is not valid.
The only valid info I've read about MiG UAV SKAT but till 2007 there is no info about this project, some say that project is closed, some that it became classified.
I doubt that project of reforming RuArmy till 2012 is possible, too much money it needs. In nowadays situation we have no such money. As I know the main problem is in retirement of officers because according to law - each officer must get a flat/house.

 

[Feanor]

I recall seeing an article that the government, to bailout housing companies in crisis, and to fulfill apartment needs, recently purchased 21 000 additional apartments.

 

[Manfred2]

I never liked Brigades, and I especialy dislike the current US Army habbit of calling a Regiment a Brigade.

It seems to me that a concept from Corporate America has taken root in The Russian Army; that of making changes from time to time in order to give the illusion of making progress.

But hey, it this is what it takes to clear away some of the dead wood and streamline their officer corps, then it might prove to be worthwhile.

 

[Feanor]

I never liked Brigades, and I especialy dislike the current US Army habbit of calling a Regiment a Brigade.

It seems to me that a concept from Corporate America has taken root in The Russian Army; that of making changes from time to time in order to give the illusion of making progress.

But hey, it this is what it takes to clear away some of the dead wood and streamline their officer corps, then it might prove to be worthwhile.

The reason for the reforms is that the current Russian divisions are too large to be used as a whole in most situations. For example in the Ossetian war, none of the divisions were used as a whole. Instead elements from the 19th and 42nd MR, and 76th and 7th VDV, as well as independent rgts, brigades, and btlns were used. Generally they were grouped into 5 units, each with a rgt at it's core, and additional assets to support it. This will probably be similar to the makeup of the new Russian brigades, several MR btlns, 1-2 tank btlns, and support assets. In effect this is what the units that actually end up used look like, so organizing along those lines in the first place makes it much more efficient.