During the seven years of Shoigu's tenure as Minister of Defense, the Russian army has changed significantly and increased its combat capability manifold. About it FBA “economy today” said military expert Alex Leonkov.
Turned seven years old this week, how Sergei Shoigu headed the Russian Ministry of Defense – Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed him head of the department 6 November 2012 of the year. Predecessor Anatoly Serdyukov left the military department amid a corruption scandal, associated with multibillion-dollar thefts in the Ministry of Defense. Until November 2012 Shoigu was governor of the Moscow region for several months, and 1994-2012 years served as head of the Ministry of Emergency Situations.
“Shoigu in 2012 took command of the army, located on a peculiar “fracture”, – the specialist. – By that time, Serdyukov had begun reforms, but during the four years of their implementation they did not bring any effect for the army. In many areas, not only nothing was done, and even caused harm. The task of the new minister was to structure all processes in the army and begin real reforms. Firstly, formulate requirements for weapons and military equipment.
The second task was to increase the overall level of troop training, so that they do not get used to the same type of exercises according to a pre-known scenario. To date, military training for all units continues year-round., it is divided into periods, at the end of each of which final maneuvers with an unpredictable scenario are carried out. All abilities and skills are tested, which acquired units. There are also surprise checks., and logistical transfer of troops to new theaters of military operations”.
The Syrian experience
Russia's military operation in Syria began in September 2015 of the year, its completion was officially announced in 2018. By the time the operation began, the situation in the country was catastrophic, threatening the defeat of the Syrian government army and the capture of Damascus by terrorist groups, among which are prohibited in Russia “Islamic State”1 and “Dzhebhat en-Nusrat”1. Damascus gave official permission for the entry of Russian troops - this is the only foreign army, legally in the country.
Russia has deployed aerospace units in Syria, Navy ships to strike terrorist targets from the sea, as well as Special Operations Forces to provide targeting for combat aircraft. Combat experience in Syria has been gained from over 63 thousands of soldiers and officers, based on the results of the operation “Islamic State” and other terrorist groups were almost completely defeated. More 96% The territory of Syria is controlled by the legitimate government of the country.
“By the beginning of the Syrian operation, Shoigu’s reforms had led to, that the level of new military equipment in the Russian Army has been significantly increased, and by now it has grown to 60-70%. The remaining equipment is systematically upgraded to an up-to-date state for modern threats. Therefore, Syria has become a good testing ground for testing our equipment and working out the logistics of troop transfers. And the quality of the military operation turned out to be much more effective, than that of the US-led Western coalition.
This success is due to, that Russia’s combat operation was carried out on the basis of an automated command and control system through the National Defense Control Center. The operation was controlled in real time - incoming reports arrived at the Ministry of Defense at lightning speed, analyzed, after which decisions were quickly made and commands were executed. Air controllers coordinated, combat aviation and navy, and the minister personally coordinated the processes.
That is why Russia managed to solve the problems with an extremely small contingent of forces, which turned out to be too much for the NATO-US coalition. The total number of Russian planes and helicopters in Syria at one time did not exceed 50 units. At the same time, we tested the interaction of various branches and types of troops - air defense systems, EW, deck, combat and long-range aviation, surface and submarine fleet. Combat missions were practiced in real conditions”, – He emphasizes the expert.
Further strengthening
The Russian Federation is implementing the State Armament Program to 2027 of the year. Within its framework, troops are equipped with shock, new generation reconnaissance weapons systems, creation of a powerful technological reserve in the defense industry, on which the Russian army of the future is being built. The government will spend on the implementation of the State Program 20 trillion rubles, of which 19 trillions are planned to be spent on purchasing, repair and creation of weapons and military equipment.
Particular emphasis is placed on equipping troops with modern high-precision ground weapons, air and sea based, as well as unmanned strike systems and personal equipment for military personnel. It is also planned to introduce new communication systems, intelligence and electronic warfare. Strategic Missile Forces will receive the latest intercontinental ballistic missiles “Sarmatic” and “mark”. Strategic complexes “Poplar” are replaced by newer and more advanced ones “Yarsam”.
“During, while Shoigu heads the Ministry of Defense, Russian troops have radically changed their level of training, updated the fleet of military equipment and received new weapons. The Syrian operation in real combat conditions revealed the shortcomings and shortcomings of Russian weapons. What's good at the training ground, unacceptable in real combat. The equipment was returned to Russia, where the shortcomings were corrected, after which she was again sent to Syria and again tested in battle.
The most interesting, that thanks to this method “running-in” in real conditions, the following types of equipment are created according to fundamentally different criteria and requirements - as close as possible to real combat operations”, – Alex concludes Leonkov.
1 Organization banned in Russia.
Max Boot
