• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

RUSSIAN AIRBORNE TROOPS TRY NEW AIRBORNE INSERTION TACTICS

RIA Novosti

ZHITOVO (Ryazan region), March 24 (RIA Novosti) - In a Thursday command post exercise of the 106th Airborne Division the Russian Airborne Troops, staged near the village of Zhitovo, Ryazan region the Russian Airborne Troops are making a first field test of the serial tactics of airborne insertion, Russian Airborne Troops Commander Alexander Kolmakov told reporters.

"The aircraft depart in two stages," he said.

The Airborne Troops Commander also said the 106th Division was focused on deployability training, adaptation to foreign terrain, and liaison with the Air Force.

Eight Il-76 Candid transport aircraft and two Su-24M Fencer bombers are involved in the exercise, the general said. He added new parachutes PRSM-916 were also tested.

The landing party consists of 1,328 men (458 men and 12 vehicles at the first stage, followed by 810 men) to be dropped from an altitude of 500 m at a speed of 300 to 400 kmph. Ten BMD-2 airborne infantry fighting vehicles and two B-7 armored personnel carriers are reported to be dropped.

Kolmakov also told reporters another airborne exercise was taking place at the village of Ivanovo, near the city of Kostroma, involving the 98th Airborne Division.

"The exercise is going on as planned. The landing party consists of 596 men and six vehicles," the general said.

Colonel General Alexander Belousov, First Deputy Russian Defense Minister, told reporters 39 airborne units will be manned by volunteers in 2005. Belousov is overseeing the Zhitovo command post exercise of the 106th Airborne Division.