Russian Airborne Troops (VDV) News:

Rest in peace.

Wow, I sure am late. As the title suggests, U.S Special forces and Russian Airborne Intelligence troops will be taking part in joint exercises from May 14th to June 1st 2012 at Fort Carson, in the city of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Ironically, Colorado is the State that the 1980's movie Red Dawn took place in.

The article I read this on was actually published on the 14th of March, so I'm sure many of you already know. I'm just putting it here for those of you who might not, I know I sure didn't

Russia and the USA are holding their first ever joint anti-terror military exercises on American territory. A group of Russian paratroopers has taken off to Fort Carson military base, located in the US state of Colorado.
­A special unit of American land forces and a reconnaissance unit of Russian special forces will be taking part in the exercises.
Russian paratroopers will first familiarize themselves with American small arms, military equipage, munitions, communication and reconnaissance equipment, parachute systems and types of landing operations.
In addition, Russian and American servicemen will have joint gun practice, mountain training and will take a course in demolition techniques. They will also have parachute training using American military equipment.
At the end of May the exercises will enter the “active” stage with combat training, in the course of which participants are supposed to find, seize and destroy a large base of international “terrorists”.

http://rt.com/politics/joint-anti-terror-exercises-075/
This is article of that on RT website

http://www.function.mil.ru/news_page/country/more.htm?id=11134108@egNews

This is pictures of that and small article in Russian on the website of Russian Federation the ministry of defence

Russian Airborne Gets New ECM System

Russia’s Airborne Forces (VDV) have accepted into service the new multirole Infauna electronic warfare vehicle capable of jamming radio-controlled mines and improvised explosive devices, the Defense Ministry said on Friday.

“The multirole Infauna system has undergone tests since the start of 2012 at a VDV base. It has been accepted into the service’s electronic countermeasures units,” said the VDV’s spokeswoman Major Irina Kruglova.

Infauna is designed to interfere with radio-controlled explosive devices and electronic fusing systems as well as jamming the enemy’s tactical communications systems. The service has taken delivery of the first four systems, Kruglova said.

The VDV also recently took delivery of the Judoist electronic warfare system based on the MKTK-1A vehicle, which is optimized for the electronic intelligence (ELINT) role, and locating enemy air defense radars.

http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20120706/174431747.html

Professionals in Russian Airborne Forces to Double by 2017

The number of professional servicemen in the Russian Airborne Forces is expected to reach 20,000 in the next five or seven years, more than double the current 9,500 troops, the airborne troops chief commander, Colonel General Vladimir Shamanov, has said.

The Russian Airborne Forces currently have some 35,000 servicemen, and less than 30 percent of them are professionals, Shamanov said in an interview with RIA Novosti ahead of Airborne Forces Day celebrations in Russia on Thursday.

The number of professional servicemen in airborne units across Russia differs significantly. Shamanov noted that, in the Tula and Ryazan regions in central Russia, professionals comprise no more than 15-20 percent of total airborne unit numbers, while one airborne unit in the Volga region of Ulyanovsk is 60 percent comprised of professional servicemen.

The most professional of Russia’s airborne units – where only 10 percent of the soldiers and sergeants are conscripts – is an artillery regiment stationed in the city of Kostroma, some 350 kilometers from Moscow, Shamanov added.

He also added that the number of “quick reaction” battalions in the Airborne Forces would grow. Russia now has only five such battalions which consist mainly of professional servicemen.

The expected boost will come as part of government plans to increase the number of professionals in Russia’s 1-million armed forces, which currently rely mainly on conscription and employ only 186,000 professional servicemen. By 2017, the figure is planned to rise to 425,000.

http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20120801/174898748.html

Russian Paratroopers Test New 120-mm Mortars

Servicemen from an air assault brigade deployed in the Southern military district have held live-firing drills using new 120-mm semi-automatic mortars, the district’s spokesman, Col. Igor Gorbul, said.
The firing drills were held in preparation for the Kavkaz-2012 strategic military exercises, which will take place in southern Russia in September.
Gorbul said mortar crews carried out over 30 firing missions at ranges between 800 and 8,000 meters.
NONA-M1 120-mm towed rifled breech-loaded mortars feature high accuracy and rate of fire with high-explosive projectiles. They are crewed by five men and can be dropped from transport aircraft on parachute-equipped platforms.
It can use any existing 120-mm rifle shells or projectiles and hit targets at a range of 200-12,000 meters.
The brigade received NONA-M1 mortars at the end of 2011.
The Russian government has allocated 20 trillion rubles ($641 billion) on the comprehensive rearmament of Russia's Armed Forces which will see the share of modern weaponry reach 30% by 2015, and total 70% by 2020.

http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20120821/175348147.html





Survivability
• Breech loading allows firing from the shelter and provides crew protection
• Automatic breech opening and locking, automatic change-over of the barrel
for loading

Power
• High accuracy of fire with HE projectiles (with grooves) and bombs
• Power of 120 mm HE projectiles is comparable with that of 152-155 mm ones

Universality
• It is possible to use the whole range of 120 mm mortar bombs and projectiles (with grooves)

Maneuverability
• If assembled it can be carried by any vehicle of a jeep type
• If disassembled it can be carried by all means of transportation including horses, camels and by the crew members
• Dropping on the platform with parachute
•Adjustable wheel gauge, mm: 1601, 1750, 1900
•Towed speed, km/h no more 80

In RVVDKU all set to release the first professional sergeants

In the first week of November at the Faculty of vocational education of the Ryazan Higher Airborne Command School named after Army General VF Margelov final year students complete the final preparations for the state tests.

This will be the first in the history of the Russian Armed Forces sergeants professionals trained on the new training program (2 years 10 months). As of October 2012 on the faculty taught more than 500 students. A set of 2009 had nearly 300 personnel, of which up to the finish line was reached only 175. At this stage, the graduates are tested for learning theoretical and practical knowledge on core subjects, acquired over years of training. According to the results of these tests Examinations Commission will arrange access to the final state certification.

"We need to produce, above all, those who want to serve, and worthy to serve. There were such people, "- said the head of the Ryazan Higher Airborne Command School (Military Institute) named General of the Army VF Margelov Colonel Anatoly limit.

Final state tests will be held from 6 to 22 November, and most of them, the students will have to pass the training center "Seltsy."

Ceremonies dedicated to the first issue of the Faculty of secondary vocational education, will be held on November 25 in the city of Ryazan on one of the training territories RVVDKU them Army General V.F.Margelova.

Source: Office of the press service of the Russian Defense Ministry and the information on the Navy Author news: I.Kruglova

(Google Translate)

Read the rest of the article here: http://desantura.ru/news/56530/

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Holy cow, that's almost 3 years of training!

November 6 final year of the Faculty of vocational education RVVDKU them. VF Margelov, began the final state tests. They were preceded by testing students on core subjects, acquired over years of training. Summarizing the results of the tests carried out an examination board admission of students to the final state certification.

"Graduates of the faculty - the first in the history of the Russian Armed Forces sergeants professionals trained on the new training program (2 years 10 months). Very soon, they will have to demonstrate all they have learned directly in the armed forces "- the chairman of the State Examination Commission Deputy Commander of the Airborne Forces, Major General Andrew Kholzyakov.
In addition to putting items in the profile sergeant majors students will be evaluated on combined arms compulsory subjects: fire training, military topography, tactics and physical training.

Upon completion of training the cadets will be awarded diplomas in four main specialties of secondary vocational education: maintenance and repair of vehicles; radio, radio and television; multichannel communication systems and networks and switching systems.

In turn, each of the specialties divided into specialization in the form of military specialties. Diploma with specialization in vocational education "maintenance and repair of road transport" will be representatives of nine military specialties: combined arms experts, specialists airborne divisions, experts Airborne Service, specialists reconnaissance, intelligence experts (special units) and combined arms experts, designed to replace the military positions "maintenance platoon commander", "automobile platoon commander," "Platoon security."

Final state certification for graduates ACT RVVDKU them. VF Margelov last until 22 November.

Source: Office of the press service of the Russian Defense Ministry and the information on the Navy Author news: I.Kruglova

http://desantura.ru/news/56664/

Russia to Build New Airborne Fighting Vehicle

MOSCOW, November 12 (RIA Novosti) - Russian defense firm Kurganmashzavod is developing a new airborne fighting vehicle, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Monday.

“We are ready to continue the work on the new platforms that are currently being developed at Kurganmashzavod. This includes the Kurganets platform for the new airborne fighting vehicle,” Rogozin said.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces will make the final decision on the system to be adopted, he noted.

“The industry may propose a variety of technical options to the Defense Ministry but it may not act as the contracting authority,” Rogozin said.

Ground Forces commander Col. Gen. Vladimir Chirkin earlier said that the military will take delivery of new armored vehicles some time after 2015.

http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20121112/177395894.html

This makes sense... the BMD was a modified variant of the BMP that suited airborne forces.

The Naval forces are already getting a modified Kurganets-25 that has improved rough sea keeping capacity to allow it to operate in a range of sea states. (The standard Kurganets is amphibious but only intended for rivers and lakes and is not intended for operating in rough sea.)

Ryazan AIRBORNE TROOPS school will train officers to fight the BMPT "Terminator"

Special lecture on the use of tank support fighting vehicle (BMPT) "Terminator" in combat, will be held before the end of the week with teachers and commanders of the Ryazan higher airborne school, RIA Novosti reported on Tuesday a spokesman for the Russian Defence Ministry on the air-landing forces (VDV) Mayor Irina Kruglova.

BMPT is produced in Russia since 2001, but still not entered service in the Russian army. Three BMPT "Terminator" were delivered to Russia in Kazakhstan in 2011 year later Astana applied for acquisition of another party.

"With 14 on January 18, 2013, in anticipation of the return of the AIRBORNE TROOPS of the Ryazan higher airborne command school, with the team and the Faculty of the College are conducted weekly komandirskie fees. As part of the military training will be a practice session on the theme "a promising model of tank support fighting vehicle" Terminator "and the concept of application of this technology in combat conditions," said Kruglova.

She added that the levies are chiefs of departments and courses, as well as the staff of the departments tactical and special disciplines.

"At the training centre for senior officers and faculty members will be accepted for settlement in subjects performance training. Core subjects — fire and airborne training, driving airborne combat vehicles, "representative of the AIRBORNE TROOPS.

BMPT is intended for actions as part of Panzer formations to defeat enemy anti-tank weapons. In complex armament BMPT "Terminator" includes two 30-millimeter automatic Cannon 2a42, two launchers with Hypersonic anti-tank missiles "attack-t", two automatic grenade launcher AGS-17D and 7.62-mm machine gun.

The fire control system of the main armament of machine based on multi-channel sight and the panoramic television sight allows to detect low-level and detect small targets at long distances day and night and in adverse weather conditions. The presence of the BMPT three operators allows you to quickly detect and simultaneously hit three different targets in 360 degrees.

BMP-T FOR AIRBORNE TROOPS?

Interesting...good sign that the BMPT concept is still being considered or maybe even an airborne/air-assault version is in the works ?

High fire power is in keeping with their mission, but unless they put a helo in service that can carry 50 ton payloads it is not going to be very air mobile...

How about actually getting modern light IFVs and APCs before some absurd BMPT dreams?

The VDV are already the best equipped air borne force in the world in terms of light armour, the concept of the BMPT doesn't really fit though.

It requires a vehicle with tank level armour to operate with tanks... neither of which are likely to be air mobile.

GarryB wrote:The VDV are already the best equipped air borne force in the world in terms of light armour, the concept of the BMPT doesn't really fit though.

It requires a vehicle with tank level armour to operate with tanks... neither of which are likely to be air mobile.

Airborne forces are not equipped with air-mobile equipment exclusively. USA airborne brigades have also Strykers and Abraams

I don't think they have Abrams tanks.

If the BMPT was to enter VDV service it could be landed by transport aircraft once an airstrip is captured or established. Other alternative is to use it conventionally in a anti-guerilla type operations.

http://ria.ru/defense_safety/20130115/918187513.html

It is not Izvestya, so maybe it is correct. Anyway, I personally doubt, MoD would train commanders or crews to operate with BMPT, if they wouldn't mean to buy them. In opposite they wouldn't do such trainings.

USA airborne brigades have also Strykers and Abraams

USA's Airborne Forces are basically "bare" infantry paratroopers totally devoid of any kind of airborne armoured vehicles, antiaircraft guns or SAM systems and of any other air droppable support vehicles .


The level of equipment and the capabilities bringed on the battlefield by Western and Russian Airborne Divisions are light years apart.

Those are some of the latest vehicles introduced in VDV (in reality stop-gap measures waiting for the new generation of "Boomerang" and "Kurganet" vehicles ) give to them a look

New EW vehicles for VDV.

George1 wrote:

GarryB wrote:The VDV are already the best equipped air borne force in the world in terms of light armour, the concept of the BMPT doesn't really fit though.

It requires a vehicle with tank level armour to operate with tanks... neither of which are likely to be air mobile.

Airborne forces are not equipped with air-mobile equipment exclusively. USA airborne brigades have also Strykers and Abraams

Maybe airborne - but not air-dropped. Such capabilities disappeared from Western militaries decades ago.

TR1 wrote:New EW vehicles for VDV.

That should be the LEER-2. That's the first larger photo of it I've seen...thanks.

Some info (in Russian)

http://www.newsfiber.com/p/s/h?v=EQInuHUXXpPQ%3D+vdrch53udaY%3D

....

A report about 40 sets of "LESOCHEK" ECM system (seems to be a man portable-light system)

http://www.arms-expo.ru/049051124051048049054056.html


Also entering service with the VDV are the previously mentioned INFAUNA and MKTK-1A Judoist ECM vehicles

http://www.arms-expo.ru/049051124050056049051057.html

Infauna is designed to interfere with radio-controlled explosive devices and electronic fusing systems as well as jamming the enemy’s tactical communications systems. The service has taken delivery of the first four systems, Kruglova said.

The VDV also recently took delivery of the Judoist electronic warfare system based on the MKTK-1A vehicle, which is optimized for the electronic intelligence (ELINT) role, and locating enemy air defense radars.

http://en.rian.ru/military_news/20120706/174431747.html?id=

MKTK-1A Judoist

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DATA SHEET: http://77rus.smugmug.com/Military/Interpolitex-2012/i-cwD76R8/0/O/Interpolitex2012part04-53.jpg
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Taken from here: http://vitalykuzmin.net/?q=node/480


(smaller photos)

http://bmpd.livejournal.com/458902.html

Airdropped Chapel Trucks....freaking retarded.

Being an athiest I too find that a little silly, but then when I think about it having a sort of social worker with the troops all the time might actually be a good thing if they know what they are doing.

Put any group of people together under stress and there will be issues... perhaps having someone they can all talk to who can give them advice or settle disputes might actually be a good thing.