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the development of russian military policy and finland

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74 · The Development <strong>of</strong> Russian Military Policy <strong>and</strong> Finl<strong>and</strong><br />

now developing new long-range multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) with<br />

improved guidance that could allow <strong>the</strong>m to strike targets up to 200 km away.<br />

That means a new generation <strong>of</strong> MLRS with a range <strong>of</strong> 200 km. The new<br />

Tornado-S rocket launcher will have a longer range <strong>and</strong> increased effectiveness,<br />

thanks to greater accuracy <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> new warhead payloads <strong>and</strong> a<br />

reduced launch readiness time <strong>of</strong> just three minutes. 261<br />

The Russian Army is planning to begin modernize its armoured <strong>and</strong> mechanized<br />

forces beginning in 2015, fielding a new family <strong>of</strong> vehicles comprising a<br />

new main battle tank, armoured infantry fighting vehicles, <strong>and</strong> various support<br />

platforms. The main battle tank (MBT) will be based on <strong>the</strong> new model Armata,<br />

<strong>the</strong> prototype is scheduled to enter field trials in 2013, about 10 months<br />

ahead <strong>of</strong> schedule. According to <strong>the</strong> First Deputy Defence Minister Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />

Sukhorukov, <strong>the</strong> new tank is under <strong>development</strong> at Uralvagonzavod in Omsk.<br />

The first deliveries <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> tank to <strong>the</strong> Armed Forces are scheduled for 2015. 262<br />

According to preliminary reports, <strong>the</strong> new tank designated T-99 will be less<br />

radical <strong>and</strong> ambitious than <strong>the</strong> failed ‘Object 195’ or T-95. It will weigh less,<br />

<strong>the</strong>refore, become more agile <strong>and</strong> will be more affordable, compared to its<br />

more ambitious predecessors. 263 The Armata platform is intended to be <strong>the</strong><br />

basis for a number <strong>of</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r vehicles too, including a main battle tank, a heavy<br />

infantry fighting vehicle, a combat engineering vehicle, an armoured recovery<br />

vehicle, a heavy armoured personnel carrier, a tank support combat vehicle<br />

<strong>and</strong> several types <strong>of</strong> self-propelled fighting vehicles. 264<br />

It should be remembered that <strong>the</strong> Russians are building <strong>the</strong>ir fighting forces<br />

not only against NATO, but more importantly, to protect <strong>the</strong>ir long sou<strong>the</strong>rn<br />

borders with radical Islamic countries that may be ga<strong>the</strong>ring <strong>military</strong> power,<br />

<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> growing dominance <strong>of</strong> China in <strong>the</strong> east. Armoured <strong>and</strong> mechanized<br />

forces are key to maintaining <strong>military</strong> superiority or parity against such threats.<br />

The level <strong>of</strong> sophistication in meeting those threats is not as dem<strong>and</strong>ing as<br />

meeting <strong>the</strong> advanced technology fielded by US <strong>and</strong> NATO forces. 265<br />

The Air Force<br />

The Russian Air Force is currently undergoing a period <strong>of</strong> significant restructuring,<br />

both in terms <strong>of</strong> general organization as well air base <strong>and</strong> unit structure.<br />

The organization will be changed from previous division–regiment struc-<br />

261<br />

Vyatkin & Lysichin, 2012.<br />

262 Eshel, 2012.<br />

263<br />

Ibid.<br />

264 Gudkov, 2012.<br />

265 Eshel, 2012.

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