Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/661228
decrease of the VDV importance as a strategic reserve (General Staff reserve), and as a consequence taking over of that role by a component of the land forces. In the case of the conflict, the VDV units without the fighting vehicles providing firepower and mobility could only be deployed as air-mobile infantry. A lean concept with regard to a part of the VDV units is supposed to increase an air transport capabilities, first and foremost of the independent air assault brigades and an exchange of all tracked vehicles in their units for the air-transportable lightweight wheeled vehicles. It is a visible change of the VDV role during the war- time: from the offensive role, conducted in the form of the mass air-drops behind enemy lines (including armored vehicles), for a more flexible model, characteristic for airmobile rapid reaction forces. During high intensity conflicts those forces could also provide cover heavy forces which deployment at the longer distances is time-consuming. The above mentioned modification of the idea of using the airborne forces, was a subject of the fierce discussion at the top mili- tary and government levels in Russia in 2012-2013. Still in 2012 the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, supported by the Ministry of Defense, suggested a liquidation of the VDV as an independent branch – all units were supposed to be subordinated to the land forces and used for creating task forces subordinated to respective tactical and strategic level com- mands. Nevertheless a strong position of the Airborne Forces made it impossible to implement an idea of including them into the land forces component into life. Moreover, by 2020 the next airborne and air assault divisions and brigades will be formed, based on currently existing units. www.fragoutmag.com