A separate logistics brigade will be formed in the Airborne TroopsIn Russia, the first brigade of logistics (MTO) of Airborne troops will be formed.
This compound will be fully equipped with equipment adapted for transportation by military transport aircraft and helicopters. Some vehicles from the brigade's fleet will be able to be parachuted. The new formation will significantly increase the combat capabilities of the "winged infantry". According to experts, the MTO brigade will be indispensable for long-term combat operations and deployment abroad. When creating the new structure, the experience already gained in the use of CSTO forces in peacekeeping operations was used.
In Russia, the first brigade of logistics (MTO) of Airborne troops will be formed. This compound will be fully equipped with equipment adapted for transportation by military transport aircraft and helicopters. Some vehicles from the brigade's fleet will be able to be parachuted. The new formation will significantly increase the combat capabilities of the "winged infantry". According to experts, the MTO brigade will be indispensable for long-term combat operations and deployment abroad. When creating the new structure, the experience already gained in the use of CSTO forces in peacekeeping operations was used.
Rear for airborne troops
The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation has made a fundamental decision on the formation of a brigade of logistics for Airborne troops. The organizational and staff structure, composition and tasks of the compound are being worked out, sources in the military department told Izvestia. The brigade will report directly to the Airborne command and work in the interests of paratroopers. Almost all the equipment of the connection will be able to land by landing, and some of the machines will be able to parachute.
— In general, it is difficult to organize a system of interaction with the structures of the common rear subordinate to the Deputy Minister of Defense for Logistics, - said Colonel Alexander Perendzhiev, associate professor of Plekhanov Russian University of Economics. — As they say, "the wagons are late." And airborne troops move very quickly, and it is necessary that the "baggage trains" keep up with them. I think that the experience of not only Syria is used here, but also the CSTO operation at the beginning of the year in Kazakhstan, where paratroopers formed the basis of the Russian forces.
The activity of Airborne troops is very specific, the expert noted.
— And ordinary general—profile logistics officers do not act clearly and quickly enough — because they are not paratroopers, - said Alexander Perendzhiev. — They can normally supply motorized rifle and tank units. But the airborne forces are special forces and rapid reaction forces. And today, the winner is the one who builds a more effective system of combat and logistics support. A lot depends on the delivery of shells, cartridges, grenades, the ability to quickly repair equipment that has been damaged.
In January of this year, at the request of the Government of Kazakhstan, the peacekeeping forces of the CSTO countries arrived in the republic in turmoil. The Russian contingent was represented by Airborne troops. All units, together with equipment, were transferred to the airfield near Alma-Ata by IL-76 military transport aircraft within one or two days. After the situation stabilized, the units of Russia and other countries participating in the treaty left this state just as quickly. This was the first experience in the history of the real use of the CSTO forces.
The operational transfer of troops to a particular direction and the organization of their supply are also actively being worked out during the exercises of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization countries. So, last year, near Orenburg, a helicopter landing was landed in the rear of a conditional enemy, which cut off the escape routes. During the maneuvers, the "militants" were squeezed out of the border.
The airborne is a separate branch of the armed forces, which is not included in any type of armed forces. Historically, they remain troops of direct subordination, which are closed to the highest military leadership of the country. Paratroopers are considered the reserve of the Supreme Commander. Unlike heavy formations of the ground forces, regiments, brigades and divisions of the Airborne Forces are ready to go anywhere in the world to perform combat missions at any time. However, the rear organs that are available in the staff of the landing units are not enough for long-term autonomous actions. Until now, the troops depended on the logistics structures, which had a different subordination.
Since Soviet times, the rear of the armed forces has been providing the troops with everything they need — uniforms, food, fuel and other things. It was a separate branched structure, commanded by a general with the rank of Deputy Minister of Defense. The types of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and the branches of the Armed Forces had their own quartermaster structures. In particular, the airborne troops also had their own rear. However, in 2010, during the reformation, the rear was abolished, and its entire economy was reorganized into a new structure - the logistics system. It was closed directly to the leadership of the military department. It was he who was subordinate to 12 separate MTO brigades. Now, at least, the command of the Airborne Troops will have its own brigade, which will allow planning long-term operations without the need for lengthy coordination between the paratroopers and the heads of the MTO system.
Amphibious reform
In recent years, the military department has been carrying out a large-scale reform of the Airborne Troops. Their role and application have been largely revised. Since Soviet times, the airborne forces have been trained for mass amphibious operations in the European theater of operations. It was assumed that airborne regiments and divisions in full strength should be parachuted into the enemy's rear. Therefore, the paratroopers did not have heavy weapons and equipment. In the post-Soviet period, airborne units were used as well-trained infantry in local conflicts.
A few years ago, the military leadership decided to rethink the use of "blue berets". The troops began to revive the airborne assault brigades. These are heavier formations than airborne divisions. They are equipped with tanks, artillery, drones. And since last year, the Airborne Forces have begun to create a new type of battalions. These are airmobile units that disembark from helicopters and engage in combat. This allows you to quickly concentrate forces in the direction where the enemy is not waiting for a blow.
In the end, the Airborne troops, along with the marines, should become the basis of Russia's rapid reaction forces. They are preparing to arrive in any region of the world where it is required, to fulfill any military and military-political tasks. In accordance with this concept of the use of troops, they began to be equipped with everything necessary to be able to operate autonomously for a long time. The commander of the paratroopers must have his own means of reconnaissance, communications, fire damage, heavy equipment, a fleet of helicopters and, as it now turns out, his own MTO structures.
Izvestia has already written that the Ministry of Defense has decided to start purchasing self-propelled artillery installations "Octopus-SDM1". In terms of fire capabilities, the vehicles are not inferior to tanks, while they are able to overcome water obstacles and parachute in a parachute way. The airborne operations, in which they will be received, will be much more efficient, experts noted. In addition, according to experts, such equipment is indispensable in areas where there are many water barriers.
