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1 1 (June 30, 2020)

handle is hein.crs/govdarm0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Russian Armed Forces: Capabilities June 30,2020 Since 2008, Russiahas sought to modernize its military and engaged in several armed interventions outside its borders. The 2018 U.S. National Defense Strategy prioritizes long- term strategic competition with Russia (and China). To help guide policymaking in response to challenges posed by Russia, Members of Congress may have an interestin assessing the capabilities of the Russian Armed Forces. This report briefly describes Russia's current military capabilities, including strengths and weaknesses. P - Official figures suggest Rus sia's military expenditures have ranged between $60billion and $65 billion a year, or roughly 4% of its gross domestic product (GDP). However, the extent of defense spending may be greater if as sessed on the basis of purchasing powerparity rather than market exchange rates. Russia's long-termdefense s pending priorities are detailed in State Armament Plans (GPVs), which run in 10-year increments. GPV 2020, which ran from 2011 to 2020, focused on increasing the military's overall share of modernized equipment to 70%. The newestplan, GPV 2027, calls for total spending of about $330billion (in 2018 dollars) and 3%-4% of GDP from 2018 to 2027. Russian military reforms have emphasized the streamlining of command and control structures. Rus sian forces are organized into five military districts (MDs) and operational/joint strategic commands (OSK; see Figure 1). Russia also has created a Moscow-basedcentral command center, the National Defense Management Center. Figure I. Russian Federation Military Districts ........................... @ ........ ........................................................................................iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii~ii ii~ i~ i~ ii Source: Russian Ministryof Defence. Notes: The Southern MD/OSK is responsible for Ukraine's occupied Crimea region. Over the last decade, Russia has significantly changed its ground forces. Recruiting professional soldiers has increased, along with upgrading heavy artillery, missile artillery, and electronic warfare units. Additional priorities have included reconnaissance, conmunication, and the creation of permanently readyunits at full staffing levels. Ground forces emphasize mobility and are increasingly capable ofconducting short but complex, high-tempo operations. At the same time, Rus sian ground forces continue to rely on conscription, multiple types of similar equipment, and relatively limited personnel and units to guard Rus sia's expansiveborders. Russian ground forces are organized into 11 combined anms armies, one tank army, and four army corps. Russia's most advanced capabilities are in the Western Military District, and the Southern Military District appears to havethe most competent units. Russianunits exhibit a mixture of division and brigade structures; brigades are utilized primarily in regions or areas where full divisions would be unwieldy. Both generate ad hoc, task-specific Battalion Tactical Groups, which have artillery and air defense units attached and can be combined with otherunits as needed. Even with a focus onpermanentreadiness, however, only a few subunits canbe considered deployable. Recruiting professional soldiers has been a priority. Conscription is unpopular and, at 12 months, considered too short by the Russian military to effectively train new conscripts. Most conscripts occupy secondary support roles, although in most maneuverunits conscripts comprise upto one-third of personnel. The Russianimilitary's experiences in Ukraine and Syria have reaffirmed for it the importance of mas sed artillery, rocket fire, and armored forces. However, ground forces have been a relatively low funding priority in Rus sia's modernization; mostof these efforts went intoupgrading existing platforms, which decreased standardization across units and increased maintenancecosts. The Aero space Forces (VKS) combine AirForce, Air Defense, Space Forces, and Army Aviation. Alongside the Navy, Aerospace Forces received top priority during GPV 2020, allowing for the introductionofnew and upgraded legacy systems, including substantially improved missiles and precis ion-guided munitions. Additionally, effort has gone into expanding training and flight times for pilots and air crews. Russia's air forces feature numerous types of capable fighters, fighter interceptors, and tactical bombers. Russia's intervention in Syriahas given the Aerospace Forces significant operational experience and has beenused as a testing ground fornew capabilities, including precision- A A '2 \\\\wg ,\g nmq\ \\q pgpg\\\ \\ \ \ gmvmww \gmm

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