Russian Airborne Troops would expand its overseas military presence

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Defence & Security News - Russia

 
 
Monday, August 4, 2014 10:35 AM
 
Russian Airborne Troops would expand its overseas military presence.
The Russian Airborne Troops (VDV) would expand its overseas military presence, the troops' commander said on Friday, August 1. "We plan to further build up our combat potential and troop presence outside the country," Colonel General Vladimir Shamanov said.
     
The Russian Airborne Troops (VDV) would expand its overseas military presence, the troops' commander said on Friday, August 1. "We plan to further build up our combat potential and troop presence outside the country," Colonel General Vladimir Shamanov said.
Russian's VDV during military exercise in March 2014
     

The VDV would receive before 2025 more than 1,500 new BMD-4M airborne infantry fighting vehicles and more than 2,500 armored personnel carriers of different versions, the Itar-Tass news agency quoted the commander as saying.

"All these will ensure the VDV's technical re-equipment and enable the troops to operate far outside Russia by the end of 2025," he said.

Shamanov also said the VDV had not planned for permanent presence in the Arctic, adding that Russia's Arctic presence would be aimed at "reliable protection of national interests."

He said the VDV, with the help of defense industry, had started the development of equipment and outfits for effective operations in northern latitudes, under special weather and temperature condition.

Shamanov said Thursday on TV that the troops planned to build attack drones for reconnaissance deep into enemy territory.

He said the VDV were cooperating closely with a range of Russian defense industries on building attack drones that would support the newly formed units, namely special task forces and reconnaissance battalions.

The first attack drones might be delivered to the VDV in 2015, according to Shamanov.