The active phase of exercises of the Collective Rapid Deployment Forces of the Central Asian Region has begun in Kyrgyzstan.
The actions of reconnaissance and shock FPV drones, helicopter landings and attacks by mountain units - the active phase of the exercises of the Collective Rapid Deployment Forces of the Central Asian region "Frontier—2025" has begun in Kyrgyzstan. On them, Russian military personnel pass on to their allies the experience gained during their military operations: first of all, they practice the use of UAVs, as well as tactics to counter this relatively new type of weapon. Experts note that during the special operation, Russia gained a unique experience in using drones and it is now of interest to the military around the world.
Assembled on the Edelweiss
The combat operations of the units of the Collective Rapid Reaction Forces of the Central Asian region "Rubezh-2025" are being practiced at the Edelweiss training ground in Kyrgyzstan. According to the scenario, the allied units are rehearsing conducting military operations to destroy illegal armed groups that have invaded the territory of a member state of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).
Military contingents from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, as well as operational groups of the CSTO Joint Staff and Secretariat are taking part in the maneuvers.
Photo: TASS
Image Source: iz.ru
The Russian contingent is based on military personnel of the 201st military base of the Central Military District: mountain and assault units, reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles and FPV attack drones.
Crews of Mi-8 multipurpose helicopters from the Kant United Russian military air base in Kyrgyzstan are involved in the exercises.
In addition, combat operations in the waters of Lake Issyk-Kul are being practiced, during which combat groups on high-speed boats are used.
The total number of participants in the exercises is about 1.2 thousand people and more than 500 units of military and special equipment, including airplanes, helicopters, combat boats, as well as crews of attack and reconnaissance UAVs.
The Russian army gained advanced experience in modern combat operations during a high-intensity conflict, said Andrey Grozin, head of the Central Asia Department at the Institute of CIS Countries.
Photo: TASS
Image Source: iz.ru
"Since the Second World War, such large military formations on different sides of the front line have not been concentrated, and the principles of warfare are changing before our eyes," he noted. — There is a powerful development of military construction, military-scientific thought, tactics, strategy and military-technical support of troops. Our army has gained this experience. And it's interesting to everyone — it's being studied under a microscope by the military of all countries. The use of unmanned platforms is an important area that has changed a lot on the battlefield. And everyone wants to get undistorted first-hand information.
Our allies are interested in the principles of operation of unmanned platforms, tactics of use, changes in fortifications and logistics, the expert noted.
In particular, our CSTO allies have no experience in the combat use of FPV drones or Mavics, military expert Yuri Lyamin told Izvestia.
"We also need to show you how to practice protection against them: detect them, shoot at them," he explained. — It is necessary to understand the tactics of using drones in small groups, using them in defense.
According to the expert, the allies may also be interested in a combination of the use of attack drones and assault groups on motorcycles: the strikes distract the enemy, and at this time stormtroopers penetrate into the battle formations. Of course, the issues of countering electronic warfare to a new threat are being carefully studied.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Stanislav Krasilnikov
Image source: iz.ru
In addition, according to the expert, the participants may be interested in the armored vehicle protection system.
Based on this knowledge, a number of countries in Central Asia have already begun to rebuild their armies, noted Andrei Grozin.
—First of all, this concerns Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, which is not a member of the CSTO, but is linked to Russia by a separate bilateral agreement on close military-political and military-technical cooperation," the expert stressed.
Threats on the southern borders
The situation in Central Asia is relatively calm now, Andrei Grozin noted.
Photo: TASS
Image source: iz.ru
"At the same time, it can change quickly," he said. — The situation in Afghanistan is far from stable. The country's territory is poorly controlled by the new Afghan authorities, and there are now a significant number of international terrorist organizations there — at least two dozen.
New outbreaks of classic military conflicts in the immediate vicinity of Central Asia are not excluded, the expert noted.
— The Indo-Pakistani and Iranian-Israeli-American confrontations have not been completed — a serious escalation of even one of them will certainly affect the Central Asian republics, — Andrei Grozin is sure. — It will affect the region simply because of its geographical and geopolitical location. This kind of conflict can create a lot of problems: refugees, environmental degradation, and increased competition for resources.
According to the expert, international terrorism has largely mutated. These are no longer scattered gangs of lightly armed militants in "wheelbarrows" converted from Japanese SUVs, he explained.
"These are large units of well—trained and armed fighters, including those with heavy weapons, with the same drones," Andrei Grozin explained. — It is necessary to counteract this threat on a new technical, tactical and strategic level.
Joint exercises of Russia and Belarus "Zapad-2025"
Image source: Photo: TASS/Press Service of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Russia is interested in ensuring that the situation in Central Asia remains calm, experts interviewed by Izvestia noted.
"The armies of the CSTO countries should be prepared so that they can cope with possible crises on their own," said Andrei Grozin. — Such exercises are also useful for the Russian army. Our military personnel get acquainted with the local landscapes, the peculiarities of urban and rural development, and work out cooperation with the allied forces.
The Russian Armed Forces, despite the continuation of its military operations, are actively conducting military exercises. On September 16, the Russian-Belarusian Zapad-2025 maneuvers ended. They were held in Belarus, in the Nizhny Novgorod, Kaliningrad, Leningrad and Murmansk regions, in the waters of the Baltic and Barents Seas. They involved 100,000 military personnel and about 10,000 weapons and equipment systems.
Bogdan Stepovoy
Roman Kretsul
