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TERMINOLOGY DATABASE OF 500,000+ ENTRIES UPDATED DAILY!

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NEWSLETTER Archive

• behind The LINES! Summer 2018 “Future Major Naval Exercise on the Northern Flank of NATO?”
• behind The LINES! Summer 2015 “What is Putin's Endgame?”
• behind The LINES! Winter 2014 “Guns and Butter?”
• behind The LINES! 3 March 2014 “Let the (War) Games Begin!”
• behind The LINES! Winter 2013-2014 “Russian Exceptionalism and 2014”
• behind The LINES!Late Summer 2013 “A Short Russian Lesson”
• behind The LINES!
  Late Spring 2012 “Putin’s Dilemma on the Southern Front”
• behind The LINES! Summer 2011
  “Putin Flexes and Perplexes: Bending Frying Pans and Youthful Minds”
• behind The LINES! Late Winter 2011 “To the Barricades!”
• behind The LINES! March 2010 “Military Commands”
• behind The LINES! New Years Day 2009 “Glancing Back, Peering Forward”
• behind The LINES! Autumn 2008 “Prognosis: Six Months to a Year?”
• behind The LINES! Summer 2007 “Soviet Behavior Revisited”
• behind The LINES! Spring 2007 “Cold War 2.0”
• behind The LINES! February 2006 “Perfidious Vladimir?”
• behind The LINES! August 2005 “Chinese Checkers or Russian Roulette?”

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RUSSIAN MILITARY DISTRICT HIGHLIGHTS

CURRENT MILITARY DISTRICTS/OPERATIONAL-STRATEGIC COMMANDS

As part of the 2010 Russian military reforms, four military districts (военный округ/ВО) were created to replace the six previous military districts: Moscow MD (Московский ВО), Leningrad MD (Ленинградский ВО), Northern Caucasus MD (Северо-Кавказский ВО), Volga-Ural MD (Приволжско-Уральский ВО), Siberian MD (Сибирский ВО), and Far East MD (Дальневосточный ВО). On 1 December 2014 the Northern Fleet Joint Strategic Command was established:

• Western MD (Западный ВО [ЗВО]) incorporating the Moscow MD and Leningrad MD as well as the Baltic Fleet (Балтийский флот) with headquarters in Saint Petersburg;
• Southern MD (Южный ВО [ЮВО]) incorporating the Northern Caucasus MD with headquarters in Rostov-na-Donu;
• Central MD (Центральный ВО [ЦВО]) incorporating the Volga-Ural MD and the western part of the Siberian MD, as well as the Black Sea Fleet (Черноморский флот) and the Caspian Flotilla (Каспийская флотилия) with headquarters in Yekaterinburg; and
• Eastern MD (Восточный ВО [ВВО]) incorporating the Far East MD and the eastern part of the Siberian MD, as well as the Pacific Fleet (Тихоокеанский флот) with headquarters in Khabarovsk.
• Northern Fleet Joint Strategic Command (Объединённое статегическое командование <Северный флот>) was separated from the Western MD with primary responsibility in Northern European Russia and the Arctic. It has equal status as a military district and is headquartered in Severomorsk.

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RUSSIAN GROUND FORCES HIGHLIGHTS

Сухопутные войска (СВ)
Ground Forces (SV)

• The Ground Forces are commanded by a colonel-general with main headquarters in Moscow.
• They are located in four military districts consisting of twelve armies and one army corps with the following components: motorized rifle (MR), tank, rocket, artillery, air defense (AD), motor vehicle, intelligence, communications, electronic warfare (EW), engineers, chemical-biological-radiological (CBR) defense, logistics, as well as military units and rear services installations.
• Equipment includes:
  • main battle tanks (MBT) [ОБТ] [T-90]
  • light tanks (LT) [ЛТ]
  • infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) [БМП]
  • armored personnel carriers (APC) [БТР]
  • towed artillery (TA) [БА]
  • self-propelled artillery (SPA) [САУ]
  • antiaircraft artillery (AAA) [ЗА]
  • multiple rocket launchers (MRL) [МПУ/МРУ]
  • mortars
  • antitank guided missiles (ATGM) [ПТУР]
  • man-portable antiaircraft systems (MANPADS) [ПЗРК]
  • surface-to-air missiles (SAM) [ЗУР]

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RUSSIAN NAVY HIGHLIGHTS

Военно-морской флот (ВМФ)
Navy (VMF)

• The Russian Navy (VMF) is commanded by an admiral with main headquarters in Saint Petersburg.
• Naval forces are comprised of the Baltic Fleet, Black Sea Fleet, Northern Fleet, and Pacific Ocean Fleet, as well as the Caspian, Kamchatka and Kola Sea Flotillas.
• Naval assets include:
  • One aircraft carrier cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov (Адмирал Кузнецов) (CV)
  • Kirov class heavy nuclear-powered guided missile cruisers (CGN)[ТАРКР]
  • Slava class guided missile cruisers (CG) [ПКР]
  • Delta III/IV, Typhoon and Borey class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) [ПЛАРБ]
  • Oscar class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarines (SSGN) [ПЛАРК]
  • Akula, Sierra and Victor III class fast attack submarines (SSN) [ПЛАП]
  • Kilo class diesel-electric hunter-killer submarines (SSK) [ДЭПЛ]
  • Sovremennyy and Udaloy class guided missile destroyers and heavy ASW destroyers (DDG) (DDGS) [РЭМ] [БПЛК]
  • Neustrashimyy, Admiral Grigorovich and Burevestnik class frigates (FFG) [СК]
  • Grisha, Buyan, Nanuchka and Steregushchiy class corvettes (FFC/FSG/FSS)[МРК]
  • Ropucha and Zubr class landing craft (LST/LCAC/LCM) [ДК/БДК/МДКВП]
  • Tarantul class patrol boats (PGM) [РК]
  • Aleksandrit class mine countermeasures minesweepers (MCM) [КПМО]

NOTE: Военно-морской флот (ВМФ) is used to refer only to the Russian Navy.
Военно-морские силы (ВМС) refers only to foreign navies.

Балтийский флот (БФ)
Baltic Fleet (BF)

• The Baltic Fleet is commanded by a vice-admiral with headquarters in Kaliningrad.
• It consists of a surface ship division which includes a surface ship brigade, destroyers, and missile patrol boats; amphibious assault ship brigade; amphibious assault ship division; offshore defense force brigade comprised of small ASW ships and minesweepers; missile patrol boat brigade; missile patrol boat division; intelligence collection ship division; rescue ship division; and ship construction and repair brigade.

Северный флот (СФ)
Northern Fleet (NF)

• The Northern Fleet is commanded by an admiral with headquarters in Severomorsk.
• It consists of two nuclear submarine squadrons comprised of three submarine divisions, one missile ship division, and two ASW ship divisions along with supporting aviation assets, naval infantry, as well as coastal missile and artillery troops; inventory includes the (Адмирал Кузнецов)heavy aircraft carrier cruiser flagship of the Russian Navy, the (Пётр Великий)heavy nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser flagship of the Northern Fleet, as well as guided missile destroyers and large ASW destroyers.

Тихоокеанский флот (ТОФ)
Pacific Ocean Fleet (TOF)

• The Pacific Ocean Fleet is commanded by an admiral with headquarters in Vladivostok.
• It consists of a maritime flotilla comprised of guided missile cruisers, large ASW destroyers, and guided missile destroyers; a nuclear submarine squadron; ASW ship brigade; amphibious assault ship brigade; diesel submarine brigade; surface missile ship brigade; small ASW ship division; intelligence collection ship brigade; and support ship brigade, as well as naval infantry, coastal missile and artillery troops, and naval air assets. brigade.

Черноморский флот (ЧФ)
Black Sea Fleet (ChF)

• The Black Sea Fleet is commanded by an admiral with headquarters in Sevastopol’.
• It consists of a surface vessel division which includes an ASW ship brigade comprised of the “Moskva” (Москва) guided missile cruiser, a minesweeper division, large ASW ships, and missile patrol boats; amphibious assault ship brigade comprised of large amphibious assault ships and separate submarine division; offshore defense ship brigade comprised of small ASW ships and small minesweepers; missile patrol boat brigade; intelligence collection ship brigade; ship repair brigade; a fleet support brigade; a coastal defense ship brigade, along with naval infantry, coastal missile and artillery troops, and naval air assets.

Камчатская (военная) флотилия (КВФ)
Kamchatka (Military) Flotilla (KVF)

• The Kamchatka (Military) Flotilla consists of a diesel submarine brigade, small missile patrol boat division, offshore defense force brigade comprised of small ASW ships and minesweepers, intelligence collection ship brigade, and other support and supply ships.

Каспийская флотилия (КаФ)
Caspian Sea Flotilla (KaF)

• The Caspian Sea Flotilla is commanded by a rear-admiral with headquarters in Astrakhan’.
• It consists of an offshore defense ship brigade comprised of a missile ship, missile patrol boats, and small combatant craft; and offshore defense brigade comprised of a minesweeper brigade; support ship brigade; rescue ship division; hydrographic ship division; separate coastal missile division; and surface-effects craft storage base.

Кольская флотилия (КоФ)
Kola Sea Flotilla (KoF)

• The Kola Sea Flotilla consists of an amphibious assault ship brigade, submarine brigade, missile patrol boat brigade, offshore defense force brigade, minesweeper brigade, small coastal minesweeper brigade, intelligence collection ship brigade, and support brigade.

Морская пехота (МП)
Naval Infantry

• The Naval Infantry is an amphibious marine force of the Russian Navy with air and land assault assets and capabilities. The force is commanded by a major general. Combat equipment includes tanks, IFVs, APCs, mortar and artillery assets. Organic components of the Naval Infantry complement the missions of the Pacific Fleet, Northern Fleet, Baltic Fleet, Black Sea Fleet and Caspian Sea Flotilla.

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RUSSIAN AEROSPACE FORCES HIGHLIGHTS

Effective 1 August 2015 the Russian Aerospace Forces were created as a new branch that merges air force, air defense, antimissile and space forces, and specifically the former Военно-воздушные силы (ВВС) and Войска космической обороны (ВКО) under the command of a colonel-general.

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Военно-воздушные силы (ВВС)
Air Forces (VVS)

• The air forces consist of the Moscow Region Air Force and Air Defense Operational-Strategic Command, eight large operational-strategic formations (armies), and approximately twenty operational-tactical combined units (divisions and corps).
• They are comprised of three components: Aviation (long-range, frontal/tactical, military transport, army), SAM troops, and ELINT troops.
• Special Troops include intelligence, electronic warfare (EW), combat engineer, chemical-biological-radiological (CBR) troops, logistical support troops, communications troops, ELINT support troops, automated C2 troops, and balloon troops.
• Aircraft types include the following:
  • TACTICAL FIGHTERS: air superiority = Su-27 [Flanker] and MiG-29 [Fulcrum]; close air support/interdiction = Su-24 [Fencer], Su-25 [Frogfoot] and Su-30 [Flanker-C]; fighter-bomber = Su-24M [Fencer D] and Su-34 [Fullback]; interceptor = MiG-25 [Foxbat] and MiG-31M [Foxhound B]; multirole fighter = MiG-29SM [Fulcrum-D], MiG-35D, Su-33 [Flanker-D], Su-35 [Flanker-E] and Su-37 [Flanker-F];
  • STRATEGIC BOMBERS: Tu-22M [Backfire], Tu-95MS [Bear] and Tu-160M [Blackjack];
  • TRANSPORTS: Il-76 [Candid], Il-112V, An-12 [Cub], An-22 [Cock], An-26 [Curl], An-72 [Coaler] and An-124 [Condor];
  • TANKERS: Il-78 [Midas];
  • AWACS/EW/RECONNAISSANCE/AIRBORNE COMMAND POST: Beriev A-50 [Mainstay], Il-80, Il-22 [Coot], An-12 [Cub], An-26 [Curl], MiG-25R [Foxbat B/D], Mi-8 [Hip], Mi-24 [Hind], Mi-26 [Halo] and Su-24 [Fencer E/F];
  • ATTACK HELICOPTERS: Ka-50 [Hokum], Ka-52 [Hokum-B], Mi-24 [Hind] and Mi-28 [Havoc];
  • TRANSPORT HELICOPTERS: Ka-60, Mi-8 [Hip] and Mi-26 [Halo];
  • TRAINERS: Su-25, Yak-130 and L-39.

NOTE: Russian Air Defense Forces (PVO) [Войска противовоздушной обороны (ПВО)] were integrated with the Russian Air Forces in 1998.

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Войска воздушно-космической обороны (ВВКО)
Aerospace Defense Forces (VVKO)

• The VVKO were created in December 2011 when this branch replaced the Space Forces (KV). The VVKO mission includes aerospace and missile defense, aerospace surveillance and missile attack warning, operational control of military satellite assets, as well as responsibility for the missile/rocket launch complex at Plesetsk and the Kura missile test range.
• The Space Forces which were replaced by the VVKO consisted of a missile and space defense army comprised of:
  • a missile attack warning division with separate communications centers
  • an ABM defense division comprised of a command and computer facility, ABM launch sites, and separate communications facilities;
  • a division for monitoring outer space;
  • the Main Test and Control Experimental Center for Space Systems;
  • ГЛОНАСС (GLONASS) GPS;
  • command and tracking facilities;
  • telemetry monitoring stations; and
  • space centers at Plesetsk and Svobodnyy in the Russian Federation, as well as Baikonur on lease in Kazakhstan.

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RUSSIAN STRATEGIC ROCKET FORCES (SRF) HIGHLIGHTS

Ракетные войска стратегического назначения (РВСН)
(RVSN) Strategic Rocket Forces (SRF)

• The Strategic Rocket Forces are commanded by a colonel-general with main headquarters in the Moscow suburb Vlasikha.
• They consist of three missile armies which include eleven missile divisions, munitions depots, and military support units
• ICBMs include the following:
  • SS-18 (Satan) [“Voyevoda” with MIRVs (РГЧ ИН)]
  • SS-19 (Stilleto) [UR-100NUTTH with MIRVs]
  • SS-25 (Sickle) [“Topol’” with single warhead]
  • SS-27 MOD 1 (Stalin) [“Topol’-M” with single warhead] (Mobile/Silo)
  • SS-27 MOD 2 (Stalin) ["Yars" with MIRVs] (Mobile/Silo)
  • SS-28 (Stalin) ["Yars-M with MIRVs"] (Mobile)
  • SS-30 (Satan-2) ["Sarmat" with MIRVs] (Silo)

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RUSSIAN AIRBORNE FORCES HIGHLIGHTS

Воздушно-десантные войска (ВДВ)
Airborne Forces (VDV)

• Airborne Forces are commanded by a colonel-general with headquarters in Moscow.
• They were designated as a separate service in 1991 directly under the Ministry of Defense (MOD) to provide quicker response to contingencies.
• Airborne Forces consists of five airborne divisions, five brigades, and a training center, as well as intelligence, aviation and logistical support assets.
• Organic equipment includes:
  • airborne infantry fighting vehicles (AIFV) (БМД)
  • armored personnel carriers (APC) (БТР)
  • self-propelled artillery guns (САУ)
  • self-propelled mortars (СМ).

RUSSIAN MILITARY RANKS & GRADES

(Everyday sleeve Insignia shown)

ARMY/AIR FORCE			NAVY		U.S. EQUIVALENT
Генерал армии (General of the Army)			Адмирал Флота (Fleet Admiral)		generally equivalent to U.S. grade O-10
Генерал-Полковник (Colonel General)			Адмирал (Admiral)		generally equivalent to U.S. grade O-9
Генерал-Лейтенант (Lieutenant General)			Вице-Адмирал (Vice Admiral)		generally equivalent to U.S. grade O-8
Генерал-Майор (Major General)			Контр-Адмирал (Rear Admiral)		generally equivalent to U.S. grade O-7
Полковник (Colonel)			Капитан 1-ого Ранга (Captain First Rank)		generally equivalent to U.S. grade O-6
Подполковник (Lieutenant Colonel)			Капитан 2-ого Ранга (Captain Second Rank)		generally equivalent to U.S. grade O-5
Майор (Major)			Капитан 3-его Ранга (Captain Third Rank)		generally equivalent to U.S. grade O-4
Капитан (Captain)			Капитан-Лейтенант (Captain-Lieutenant)		generally equivalent to U.S. grade O-3
Старший Лейтенант (Senior Lieutenant)			Старший Лейтенант (Senior Lieutenant)		generally equivalent to U.S. grade O-2
Лейтенант (Lieutenant)			Лейтенант (Lieutenant)		generally equivalent to U.S. grade O-1
Младший Лейтенант (Junior Lieutenant)			Младший Лейтенант (Junior Lieutenant)		no equivalent U.S. grade
Старший Прапорщик (Senior Warrant Officer)			Старший Мичман (Senior Warrant Officer)		generally equivalent to U.S. grades W-3/W-4
Прапорщик (Warrant Officer)			Мичман (Warrant Officer)		generally equivalent to U.S. grades W-1/W-2
Старшина (Sergeant Major)			Главный Корабельный Старшина (Master/Senior Chief Petty Officer)		generally equivalent to U.S. grades E-8/E-9
Старший Сержант (Senior Sergeant)			Главный Старшина (Chief Petty Officer)		generally equivalent to U.S. grades E-6/E-7
Сержант (Sergeant)			Старшина 1-ой Статьи (Petty Officer First Class)		generally equivalent to U.S. grades E-5/E-6
Младший Сержант (Junior Sergeant)			Старшина 2-ой Статьи (Petty Officer Second Class)		generally equivalent to U.S. grades E-4/E-5
NONE			(Petty Officer Third Class)		U.S. grade E-4
Ефрейтор (Private First Class)			Старший Матрос (Senior Seaman)		generally equivalent to U.S. grades E-2/E-3
Рядовой (Private)			Матрос (Seaman)		generally equivalent to U.S. grade E-1

USEFUL LINKS

Russian News (in Russian)

LENTA.RU

RIA NOVOSTI

ITAR-TASS

Russian News (in English)

RIA NOVOSTI

ITAR-TASS

WORLD PRESS

RADIO FREE EUROPE/RADIO LIBERTY

Weather in Russia (in Russian and English)

POGODA ROSSII

World Weather

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