Alexander Tikhonov
Krasnaya Zvezda, September 07, 2016, p. 1
The strategic command staff exercises of the Armed Forces Caucasus-2016 started on the territory of the Southern Military District definitely became the main exam of the year for all their participants.
STRATEGIC COMMAND STAFF EXERCISES CAUCASUS-2016 BEGAN ON THE TERRITORY OF SOUTHERN MILITARY DISTRICT
The strategic command staff exercises of the Armed Forces Caucasus-2016 started on the territory of the Southern Military District definitely became the main exam of the year for all their participants. The information and mass communications department of the of the Defense Ministry reports that about 12,500 servicemen participate in Caucasus-2016 exercises. These exercises are the final stage of the series of sudden check of combat readiness of troops in 2016 and are conducted at training ranges of the Southern Military District and in the Black and Caspian seas in the period from September 5 until September 10 of 2015.
It is known that events of such size are organized in the Armed Forces annually (strategic command staff exercises Center-2015 took place last year). Along with certain similarity to the previous such exercises, every new exercises have their own specific.
If, for example, a check of the level of preparation of military command bodies for commanding of inter-branch groups of forces, as well as obtaining of practice by commanders and staffs in planning, preparation and conduction of military operations are traditional for strategic command staff exercises, playing of tactical episodes with practical designation of actions of not only friendly troops but also troops of the conventional enemy are not organized always. For strategic command staff exercises Caucasus-2015 such playing will be characteristic. Besides, among peculiarities of the started exercises is organization of work of command posts of all levels with use of the newest automation means, tests of new kind of armament, military hardware and command systems, practical working out of some measures of mobilization readiness and territorial defense, as well as broad use of aviation and forces of the Black Sea Fleet and Caspian Flotilla.
With regard to the Caspian Flotilla, its strike groups (about 10 combat ships, boats and auxiliary vessels) already arrived to the appointed areas. In the framework of the strategic command staff exercises they work out combat training tasks for killing of ship groups of the conventional enemy, as well as for guarding and defense of inland waterways in the coastal zone of the Caspian Sea with organization of maritime blockade, stopping of retreat of bandit forces over the sea and liberation of the ships taken by terrorists. Among the tasks set for sailors of the Caspian Flotilla are protection of seafaring, objects of oil and gas producing industry and liquidation of illegal armed forces. Marine units will conduct special operations for blocking and killing of the conventional enemy.
Tactical episodes of actions at training ranges of the Southern Military District in the framework of the strategic command staff exercises will be worked out by separate military units and formations of the Ground Forces, Airspace Forces, Navy and Airborne Forces, naturally, in the framework of inter-branch interaction.
With regard to participation of aviation in the Airspace Forces in actions of the designation troops, for example, seven Su-27 airplanes of the fighter aviation regiment of the Western Military District stationed in Karelia performed a flight at a distance bigger than 1,500 kilometers in less than two hours without aerial refueling and were relocated to the operational airfield in Adygea from this airfield they will have to fulfill combat training tasks in the framework of Caucasus-2016 exercises. At aviation training ranges of the Southern Military District pilots will participate in parrying of a massive missile and aviation strike of a conventional enemy, will fight maneuverable air battles, will work out penetration through the enemy air defense system and will kill air targets with missiles of air-to-air class.
This time, the closest attention is paid to comprehensive support of actions of the troops. In the course of 12 special exercise the military command bodies, formations and military units of combat and special support and procurement worked out matters of deployment of a system of comprehensive support of troops beforehand including the kinds of supplying of the Navy for the first time.
The active stage of Caucasus-2016 is planned for September 9. Foreign military attaches will be able to visit it too. The relevant invitations from top-ranking officials of the Defense Ministry were sent back in August.
