In Russia held large-scale command and staff exercises “Center-2019” with the participation of units from China, India, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. As reported in the defense Ministry, the active phase of the maneuvers planned for the period from 16 to 21 September, and the total number involved in the military exercises will be 128 thousand. Tasks will be carried out mainly on the grounds of the Central military district, but some events will take place in the Arctic, which has caused concern in Norway. According to experts, the maneuvers “Center-2019” is aimed at testing the operational and combat readiness of the Russian army and not a threat to foreign States.

  • Russian soldiers during a training exercise
  • RIA Novosti
  • © Vitaly ANEC

In the strategic command and staff exercises “Center-2019” will involve seven units of foreign States, the press service of the defense Ministry. In the maneuvers will be attended by members of the Uzbekistan, China, Pakistan, India and the three countries — participants of the Organization of collective security Treaty (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan).

Active phase of the exercises will be held from 16 to 21 September. The maneuvers will involve 128 thousand troops, more than 20 thousand units of military equipment, about 600 aircraft, and 15 ships.

The basis of the group will be troops of the Central military district (CVO), including the 2nd Guards combined arms army. In addition, the exercise will involve units of other military districts. For example, in maneuvers will involve the engineering units of the Western military district (ZVO). They are transferred to CVO for equipment over the Volga river “, the longest in Russia ferry and pontoon messages”.

The teachings will attract the ships of the Caspian flotilla. It will support ground units, defense communications and Maritime areas of economic activity. However, most of the tasks on maneuvers “Center-2019” will be practiced on earth in landfills CVO and member States of the CSTO.

  • The teachings of the Central military district
  • © Russian defense Ministry

“The main actions of troops (forces) will be held on six General polygons — Totsky, Donguz, Adanak, Chebarkul, Yurga, aleyskaya and the polygons of the air forces and air defense Ashuluk, Safakulevo on the territory of the Russian Federation. On grounds of the partner States for individual plans will be worked out scenes of combat with illegal armed formations”, — is spoken in materials of the Ministry of defense of the Russian Federation.

It clarifies the military Department, on the grounds of Donguz, Totsky, Adanak will involve up to 12 950 people, of whom 10 700 Russian soldiers, and the rest — representatives of foreign armies. Also working out of the tasks will involve 250 tanks, 450 armored infantry and armored vehicles, 200 jet systems of volley fire.

The necessary interaction

Teachings “Center” are held in Russia every four years. In the maneuvers of 2015 were involved in 95 thousand troops, more than 7 thousand units of military equipment, up to 170 aircraft and 20 ships. They participated units of the interior Ministry, the emergencies Ministry, FSB, FSO, Federal drug control service and the armed forces of countries — members of CSTO.

Retired Colonel Mikhail Khodarenok in an interview with RT commended the active participation of foreign forces in the maneuvers “Center-2019”. According to him, during the international exercise is always to share experiences and strengthen ties in military-technical cooperation.

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“Interaction with our partners in the CSTO is carried out each year, held dozens of tactical exercises. This is necessary to ensure the security of the southern borders of our country. If we talk about exercises with China, Pakistan and India, here, perhaps, is more important the exchange of experience and strengthening of friendly relations,” Khodarenok said.

In addition, the expert drew attention to the fact that the international format of the strategic exercise is a kind of advertisement for Russian weapons. For the convenience of foreign military personnel is often used in landfills samples of Russian military equipment. Thus they are able to check its quality and reliability.

A similar view is held by Professor of the Academy of military Sciences, senior researcher, Center for political studies of Russia Vadim Kozyulin. The expert stressed that international exercises contribute to the promotion of Russian weapons in foreign markets.

“China, India and Pakistan are the major buyers of Russian military equipment. The probability that the military-technical cooperation with them will come to a new level. To a large extent this is facilitated by the exercises, which are organized by the defense Ministry. Besides, foreigners interested in the specifics of military service in the Russian army. Maybe someone will decide to study in our universities or the Academy of the General staff,” — says Kozyulin.

Teachings “Center-2019” will take place in two stages. The first military authorities of the CVO needs to prepare troops to repel aggression of illegal armed groups. The second contingent of the enemy will be dealt a “massive fire attack”. After that Russian troops and allied units will move to the offensive.

A number of tasks to run in the Arctic. In particular, the military will test military equipment, specifically designed to combat duty in the climatic conditions of the Arctic. The test of gas turbine tank T-80BV and a few ATVs.

  • Joint strategic exercises of Belarus and Russia “West-2017”
  • RIA Novosti
  • © Eugene Biyatov

The plans of the Russian military caused concern in Oslo. Exercises in the Arctic zone of the Norwegian authorities took it as evidence of “increasingly aggressive behavior of the Northern neighbor”.

“The discontent of the Norwegians has no relation to reality. Rather, we are witnessing an ordinary manifestation of anti-Russian rhetoric. Teachings “Center-2019”, like other major maneuvers are planned. Their main goal is the validation of operational and combat training of troops of the Central military district. Any foreign countries they are not threatened,”— said Kozyulin.

The expert recalled that last year, Norway took the largest since the 2002 NATO exercise called Trident Juncture (“Uniform Trident”). It was attended by 45 thousand people, were involved 150 aircraft, 60 ships and 10 thousand armored vehicles. According to the defense Ministry of the Russian Federation, the maneuvers were carried out with the aim of testing the rapid deployment of American troops in Europe.

“We have strengthened our operational and combat readiness at our borders, increasing their intensity. Country block fulfill the task of warfare offensive,” commented NATO defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.

“Meets operational requirements”

Currently, the training exercises “Center-2019” is in the final stage. In mid-August, the chief of the General staff of the armed forces, army General Valery Gerasimov checked the infrastructure of the landfill in Donguz Orenburg region, where the second half of September will unfold conditional fighting.

RT interviewed experts believe that Russia has developed a coherent system of conducting major exercises. In 2016 Russia held command and staff exercises “Caucasus” in 2017 — “the West” in 2018 — “East”. Thus, the Ministry of defense of the Russian Federation shall verify the level of combat and operational training of military districts.

“Annual large-scale exercise meets the operational needs of the Russian army and financial possibilities of our state. We must not forget that large-scale exercises are accompanied by a significant expenditure on fuel and ammunition, laying communication lines, construction of engineering structures and so on. Conduct large-scale exercises more often than once per year, the excess measure in the current environment,” said Kozyulin.

Mikhail Khodarenok believes that the ongoing large-scale exercises allow you to increase the level of professionalism of the Russian military. In his opinion, the existing in Russia system of operational and combat training adequate to modern challenges and threats to national security.

“For the army natural only two States: it is either at war or preparing for war. As the armed forces prepare for military operations in peacetime as they will fight. You need to understand that in the event of a real encounter with the enemy magic is happening. The army is fighting as learned. The result of combat training is clearly visible on the example of a successful Syrian operations. Therefore, the annual strategic exercises are an obvious boon to our army”, — concluded the Khodarenok.