Thread by @RALee85

Thread: Colonel-General Andrei Serdyukov, said that the VDV is set for a structural shake-up. It will go from 4 divisions and 5 independent brigades to 5 divisions, 4 independent air-assault brigades, an artillery brigade, and other support units. 1/
redstar.ru/desant-narashh…

Currently, those 5 independent brigades include 4 air assault brigades (11th, 31st, 56th, and 83rd) and the 45th Independent Spetsnaz Brigade, so it's not clear what where the 45th will go (it is located next to the SSO Kubinka-2 unit). 2/

Given that the VDV will still retain all 4 of those air assault brigades, this means the VDV will receive essentially an entirely new division not formed from existing regiments/brigades. In 2015, General Shamanov said the VDV's #'s would go from 45k to 60k. 3/

This also entailed the 76th and 7th Guards Air Assault Divisions receiving a third regiment, which were taken away in 2001. The 76th reestablished its 3rd regiment, the 237th Regiment, in December and the 7th's Div's 97th Airborne Assault Regiment. 4/
bmpd.livejournal.com/3457385.html

Serdyukov said during an interview last year that the VDV's numbers had increased by 48% since 2012. He also said the VDV's share of modern equipment has reached 67.9% and will be 72.1% by 2020 (it was 18% in 2012). The VDV will receive 300 pieces of equipment in 2019. 5/

Including 90 BMD-4M/BTR-MDM. He said that every VDV unit would have a UAV detachment by the end of 2019 (there are currently 6 UAV companies and 2 platoons). The VDV will also receive Bakhcha-U-PDS parachutes designed for dropping BMDs with their crews inside. 6/

He said future VDV procurement would emphasize:
-Increasing the mobility and autonomy of the VDV in difficult terrain/climates,
-Improving the VDV's ability to be transported over long distances,
-Improving the VDV's ability to operate jointly with other forces, 7/

-Improving the VDV's C2 functions,
-Procuring more precision-guided munitions and weapons.
Serdyukov also mentioned the experimental air assault unit with army aviation set up in 2018 and tested during Vostok-2018. 8/
vk.com/vectorkel

The experimental unit was based around the 31st Independent Air Assault Brigade with 2 Mi-8 squadrons, 2 Mi-26 squadrons, and attack helicopter squadrons attached. VDV experience in Afghanistan showed that helos needed to be organic assets. 9/
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Serdyukov said testing is continuing, but Alexey Ramm previously reported that the VDV is set to receive an army aviation brigade with 4 helicopter squadrons, which will be based in either Voronezh, Ryazan, or Orenburg. 10/
iz.ru/847149/2019-02…

The brigade will have 48-50 helicopters including Mi-8AMTSh-V, Mi-26T2, and Mi-35M (though apparently no Ka-52/Mi-28). It is expected to be established in 2020-2021. As Ramm reported, the VDV is moving away from mass parachute assaults in the enemy's rear. 11/

And becoming a "global strike force" capable of being rapidly deployed across the world and capable of holding territory. The VDV was previously designed for use in a large conventional conflict. As a result, VDV units are receiving more Rys, Tigr, and Typhoon-VDV vehicles. 12/

As opposed to just being based on BMDs. The VDV has also begun reestablishing organic tank units, which makes it capable of achieving more missions by itself. France's operation in Mali in 2013 was specifically sited as an example of a successful expeditionary operation. 13/

Russian Spetsnaz are rapidly deployable, as seen in Crimea, but they lack the heavier assets for many missions. Expanding the VDV's capabilities would give Russia a more effective rapid response force with helicopter, AD, EW, UAV, and logistics capabilities and spetsnaz. 14/

It is surprising these changes hadn't occurred previously. But there is still a question of where these new servicemen will come from to plus up the VDV to 60k or greater. The MoD's #'s haven't increased, and the # of contract soldiers has plateaued at 384k since 2016. 15/

So increasing the size of the VDV will likely come at the expense of the ground forces. Lastly, it will be interesting to see what happens to the 45th Spetsnaz Brigade given that Serdyukov didn't mention it. I doubt the VDV would want to lose it. 16/

But the SSO currently lacks supporting SOF units, like the 75th Ranger Regiment or the UK's Special Forces Support Group. Given that the 45th previously performed some of the SSO' missions and its location, it might be the ideal supporting asset for SSO. 17/

The helicopters for the VDV's army aviation brigade, which will report directly to the VDV commander, need to be ordered, and won't be transferred from existing units. Notably, each Mi-26T2 can carry ~80 paratroopers, nearly an entire VDV company. 18/
iz.ru/847090/aleksei…