The big myth about the belonging of the reconnaissance units of the ground forces to the units Airborne Troops... (Airborne Forces) This issue is not the first time that all the Associations of Veterans of the Airborne Forces of the Russian Federation touch upon this issue. At first glance, it seems that there is nothing special here, but if you think about it more deeply, it becomes clear that in the ranks of the veterans of the Airborne Forces there are the most real "disguised" (disguised). "Masked paratroopers" mainly assign units and subunits of the ground forces to the regiments and divisions of the Airborne Forces. This, in turn, causes a huge controversy in our circle. Taking into account the fact that reconnaissance and landing companies (RDR), separate reconnaissance battalions (ORB) are part of motorized rifle divisions and brigades, they have nothing to do with the Airborne Forces. The Airborne Forces today are an independent branch of the army (the Reserve of the Supreme High Command) and are not subordinate to the command of the ground forces. Therefore, various units of the ground forces were not and cannot be part of the Airborne Forces. A prime example serves the fact that those who served (demobilized) in the 907th separate reconnaissance battalion vehemently ascribe themselves to the winged guard and shout loudly that they served in the Airborne Forces. This cannot be! The 907th separate reconnaissance battalion (ORB city of Totsk) is part of the 27th motorized rifle division (MSD) and is primarily a motorized rifle reconnaissance formation. I would like to emphasize motorized riflemen! Since when are motorized rifles related to the Airborne Forces? If their training program includes parachute jumping, then this does not say anything. And the Marines do jumps from the Military Transport Aviation (VTA), but they do not identify themselves as an Airborne Force. And it is not surprising that on the second of August the "paratroopers" are distorting the moral character of the Airborne Forces. The composition of the airborne troops of the Russian Armed Forces includes three main components: airborne assault; airborne; airborne assault mountain Division 7th guards air assault (mountain) division (until January 2006 - airborne) (Novorossiysk) 76th guards airborne assault division (until January 2006 - airborne) (Pskov) 98- I Guards Airborne Division (Ivanovo) 106th Guards Airborne Division (Tula) Brigades 31st Guards Separate Airborne Assault Brigade (Ulyanovsk) (until May 1, 1998 - 328th and 337th Guards parachute - airborne regiments of the 104th Guards Airborne Division) There are also airborne assault brigades of district subordination that were not part of airborne forces Armed Forces, but since the fall of 2013 they were included in the Russian Airborne Forces. RF 11th separate airborne assault, 56th separate airborne assault, 83rd separate airborne, 100th guards separate airborne brigade, they are the equivalent of motorized rifle troops that are part of the ground forces, which do not have The Airborne Forces does not have any relationship, but the command of the Airborne Forces decides on personnel and material support. There are also reconnaissance companies and battalions of tank units and motorized rifle troops (907 ORB, the city of Totsk), these units in the training program have airborne training, but they are also not part of the Airborne Forces. The reconnaissance and landing companies of the Marine Corps, tank and motorized rifle troops are not part of the Airborne Forces. Regiments 38th Separate Signal Regiment (Monino) 45th Separate Guards Special Purpose Regiment (Kubinka) Educational Institutions Ryazan Higher Airborne Command School (Ryazan) 242nd Airborne Training Center (Omsk) Ulyanovsk Guards Suvorovskoe military school (Ulyanovsk) Commander of the RF Airborne Forces Colonel-General Vladimir Anatolyevich Shamanov
In our country, they enjoy well-deserved respect and unfading fame. airborne troops... Not everyone falls to serve in them, but those who felt the power fighting brotherhood "Uncle Vasya's troops" will never forget about it. But even among the Airborne Forces, intelligence is something special. The scouts are revered more than others, since the lives of all the fighters participating in the operation often depend on their work.
Features of reconnaissance units of the Airborne Forces
In Soviet times, it prescribed the participation of airborne troops in offensive operations. In them, the elite of the Airborne Forces, intelligence, was supposed to provide only a more or less "smooth" landing, with minimal losses of personnel.
The tasks were set by the commander-in-chief of the district to which the corresponding unit was assigned. It was this person who was responsible for obtaining reliable and timely intelligence. The headquarters of the Airborne Forces could order everything, up to space images of the proposed landing areas, full descriptions of the captured objects (up to floor plans). The GRU specialists were directly responsible for providing this data.
When did the airborne troops get down to business? Reconnaissance began to work only after the landing, and supplied information exclusively to its units. And here we come to the most important thing: the Airborne Forces did not have an operational (!) Intelligence service, no matter how paradoxical it may sound. This played a cruel joke with the paratroopers: when in the 80s their units began to participate in local conflicts, it immediately became clear that the current organization was no good.
Difficulty obtaining information
Just imagine: practically all the operational information (route, weapons, equipment of the enemy) intelligence (!) Received in the central apparatus of the KGB, in and even in the Ministry of Internal Affairs! Of course, in this state of affairs, no one was surprised by the poorly confirmed data, or the delays in obtaining them, and the backstage intrigues spoiled a lot of blood for the landing ...
Having gained all the necessary information, the group flew to the landing site, studied the situation on the spot, and immediately marked the route. Only after that, the data went to the commanders, on whom the airborne reconnaissance depended. "The bats » from the GRU, as far as possible, helped their colleagues, but their possibilities were not limitless: some specific information could only be obtained by the paratroopers themselves.
It often happened that the intelligence was blown away both for themselves and for the main units: they not only paved the way for the group, but also constantly entered into fire contacts with the militants (which in itself is unacceptable in such conditions), making sure that they did not arrange provocations, literally "by the hand" they led units of both the Airborne Forces and other combat arms to the places of operations.
Due to high losses and lack of readiness to perform such specific tasks in the early 90s, a separate battalion was created, which was tasked with performing operational intelligence activities. The creation of all the necessary "infrastructure" necessary for the successful implementation of the tasks set by the command belongs to the same period.
About technical equipment
How, in technical terms, were the Airborne Forces equipped? The intelligence service had nothing particularly outstanding: for example, in Afghanistan, specialists had to make do with ordinary binoculars and artillery compass. It was only there that they received some types of radar stations, which were designed to detect moving targets, and it should be noted that Western intelligence officers used these "modern" devices for a very long time, which was largely proved by Afghan. Airborne reconnaissance in action is a terrible force, but the number of losses in a collision with a better equipped enemy was still great.
A series of portable direction finders “Aqualang-R / U / K” became a real gift. Unlike previously used equipment of this kind, this equipment made it possible to reliably detect radiation sources, the fighters were able to guarantee the interception of enemy conversations on HF and VHF waves, as well as on frequencies that are traditionally used by airborne reconnaissance. The "Bats", the GRU special forces, also praised this technique.
Veterans recall that this technique provided invaluable assistance in detecting bandit groups and gangs, which, before the adoption of the "Aqualangs" into service, very often left along secret paths. The army command finally managed to persuade the party elite to give the order to start creating a special reconnaissance vehicle designed specifically for the Airborne Forces, but the collapse of the Union prevented these plans from being realized. In principle, the fighters were also satisfied with the Rheostat machine, which had been in use until that time, and had good technical equipment.
The problem was that no weapons were put on it, since initially it was intended for completely different purposes, which the airborne reconnaissance was not interested in. Afghan once again proved that all (!) Military equipment must have a standard weapon.
About what you didn't get
Despite the fact that the Afghan campaign clearly showed the vital need to equip reconnaissance units with weapons with laser target designation, it never appeared in the Airborne Forces (however, as in the entire SA). In fact, active army tests of such weapons began in the Soviet Union in the mid-80s, but there was one subtlety here. The fact is that "homing" does not mean the presence of intelligence in the rocket: aiming is carried out according to a laser "pointer", which is corrected from the ground or water. The scouts were ideal candidates to work with laser spotters, but our army never got one.
Paratroopers (as well as ordinary infantry, by the way) often had to master aviation "jargon". So it was possible to direct attack aircraft and helicopters to the target much more accurately using a conventional radio. And we ourselves didn’t want to get hit by “friendly” fire. Even then, the Americans were different: they had means of indicating targets, which in a truly automatic mode, having received data from ground services, could direct combat aircraft and helicopters to the target.
The well-equipped Iraqi troops were completely defeated during Desert Storm: US troops simply "stacked" missiles with precise guidance on their tanks. There was practically no risk, but Iraq was almost immediately left without heavy armored vehicles. Our deep reconnaissance of the Airborne Forces could only envy them.
Chechen everyday life
If in Afghanistan the intelligence service was at the very least engaged in really specialized activities, then in Chechnya the fighters again became “broad-based specialists”: they often had to not only find, but also destroy the militants. Chronically there was a shortage of specialists, many branches of the armed forces did not have either equipment or trained fighters at all, and therefore the Airborne Forces (intelligence in particular) were officially re-profiled to conduct reconnaissance and sabotage activities.
Fortunately, by 1995, the manning of the 45th Special Purpose Regiment (which has become a real legend) was almost completed. The uniqueness of this unit is that during its creation, the experience of all foreign armies was not only studied, but also actively used in practice. Taking into account the lessons of Afghanistan, the prepared groups were immediately trained not only for reconnaissance, but also for direct fire clashes with the enemy.
For this, the 45th regiment was immediately transferred the necessary amount of medium and heavy armored vehicles. In addition, the paratroopers, finally, have got "Nons" - unique mortar and artillery systems that allow them to fire shells with "honest" homing ("Kitolov-2").
Finally, in the reconnaissance divisions of others, intelligence in this regard has gone far ahead), finally, line departments were created. To equip them, BTR-80s were transferred, which were used only as reconnaissance vehicles (there were no fighters in the troop compartment), calculations of AGS (automatic grenade launchers) and flamethrower systems were actively prepared and coordinated.
There was another difficulty as well. Our soldiers immediately began to say that the intelligence of the Airborne Forces of Ukraine (from selected nationalists) was participating in the war on the side of the militants. Since only experts trained the fighters, even friends often met in battle.
Why all this was done
All these measures made it possible in the shortest possible time to prepare for the exit groups prepared and equipped to perform combat missions in difficult mountainous terrain. Moreover, these units had a sufficient amount of heavy weapons, which made it possible, when large concentrations of the enemy were detected, not only to report on their deployment, but also to independently engage in battle. Armor often rescued scouts who suddenly encountered superior forces enemy.
It was the experience of the airborne troops that gave impetus to the re-equipment of reconnaissance units of other types of troops, which also received heavy armored vehicles. The fact is that the reconnaissance of the Airborne Forces in action has proved that a couple of armored personnel carriers can greatly improve the effectiveness of military operations.
Drones
It was in the 45th regiment for the first time in our history that combat tests of UAVs began, which are now a real "hit" among the same Americans. A domestic drone appeared far from empty space: since the end of the 80s, the Stroy-P reconnaissance complex was actively developed, the main "olfactory sense" of which was to be aircraft "Bee-1T".
Unfortunately, before the start of the war, it was never brought to mind, since the method of landing was not thought out. But already in April, the first Stroy-P went to Khankala. Five "Bees" were attached to it at once. The tests immediately proved the highest efficiency of this kind of weapon in the conditions of modern wars. So, it was possible, with an accuracy of literally up to a centimeter, to tie all the identified positions of the militants to the map, which the artillerymen immediately appreciated.
Difficulties of operation
In total, 18 launches were made, and all of them were made into the mountains, in which the military reconnaissance of the Airborne Forces was forced to operate most often. The military immediately had complaints about the Bee's undercarriage. However, the technicians were able to achieve satisfactory operation of the engines, after which the depth of exploration immediately increased to 50 kilometers or more.
To the greatest regret, the difficulties of the 90s led to the fact that in the whole country there were only 18 Pchela-1T devices in service. Ten of them were stored at the base of the Black Sea Fleet in the Crimea, where tests were carried out to launch them from the deck of ships. Alas, they were not treated in the best way there: the design bureau had to work hard to bring the "Bees" up to a condition after their storage in inappropriate conditions.
In the end, 15 vehicles began flying in the Chechen mountains. Two by that time had been lost in combat conditions, and one "Black Sea" was never restored.
Gold or unmanned vehicles
It was originally planned that at least a hundred such devices would be in service with the airborne forces throughout the country. The joyful military immediately transferred all the technical documentation for their production to the Smolensk Aviation Plant. The working proletarians immediately disappointed them: even by the most modest estimates, unmanned vehicles were almost more expensive than gold.
Because of this, production was abandoned. The other 15 vehicles served the scouts to glory: they were taken to restore to the design bureau, they were launched again and invariably received the most accurate information that the landing force could not always get. The reconnaissance of the Airborne Forces is very grateful to the developers of the "Pchela", as the hardworking machines have saved many lives.
Scouts-propagandists
Alas, the intelligence command was far from always able to correctly use all the means that it had at its disposal. So, at one time, at least five dozen people, specialists in "psychological operations", were transferred to Mozdok. They had at their disposal a mobile printing house and a receiving and transmitting television center. With the help of the latter, the intelligence services planned to broadcast propaganda materials.
Only the command did not foresee that the staff specialists could provide television broadcasting, but there were no operators and correspondents in the detachment. With the leaflets, things turned out even worse. They turned out to be so bad in content and appearancethat only caused despondency. In general, the position of specialists in psychological work was not very popular among the scouts.
Logistics and supply issues
Starting from the first campaign, the disgusting equipment of the reconnaissance groups of the Airborne Forces (and other types of troops too) began to affect, which contributed to an increase in injuries and an increase in the risk of detection. As a result, the paratroopers had to attract veterans who raised funds to equip their fellow soldiers. Alas, but the Second Chechen War was characterized by exactly the same problems. So, in 2008, the "Union of paratroopers" collected money for comfortable unloading, imported boots, sleeping bags and even for medicines ...
Unlike in previous years, the command began to pay much more attention to the training of small reconnaissance and combat groups. It finally became clear that in modern conditions they are much more important than divisions. Simply put, the role of the individual training of each soldier has sharply increased, which is simply vital for scouts, since each of them can rely solely on their own forces in a combat output.
What has remained unchanged are the chevrons of the Airborne Forces reconnaissance: they depict a bat (like the GRU). In 2005, a decree was issued that ordered all intelligence agencies to switch to a chevron depicting an eagle clutching a carnation and a black arrow in its paws, but so far there has been little progress in this direction. Of course, the form of reconnaissance of the Airborne Forces has also completely changed: it has become much more convenient, it has a regular unloading.
Correspondence of airborne reconnaissance to modern realities
Experts say that today the situation is not too rosy. Of course, the process of rearmament that has begun is encouraging, but the technical equipment does not reach the generally accepted standards.
So, among the Americans, up to ¼ of the personnel of a division of any kind of troops refer specifically to intelligence. Our share of personnel who can engage in such operations is at best 8-9%. The difficulty is also in the fact that previously there were separate reconnaissance battalions, which trained first-class specialists. Now there are only specialized companies, the level of personnel training in which is far from so high.
How to get here
And how to get into the reconnaissance of the Airborne Forces? First, each candidate must pass a standard medical commission for fitness for combat service. The state of health must correspond (A2 as a last resort).
It will not be superfluous to submit a report addressed to the military commissar of the recruiting station from where you intend to go to repay your debt to the Motherland. On all subsequent commissions, also voice your desire. In the meantime, information about your desire to serve in the intelligence of the Airborne Forces will appear in your file. At the assembly point, try to make personal contact with the "buyers" from the landing troops.
As soon as you arrive at your place of service, submit a report to the unit commander with a request to transfer you to a reconnaissance company. It is important to withstand further screenings, which is done by passing a fairly tough physical fitness exam. The competition is high. The requirements for candidates are extremely high. Immediately, we note that it is necessary to learn about them before being drafted into the army, since the standards change quite often.
Do not forget about psychological tests, designed to identify those fighters who can really serve in such a specific branch of the military, which is the intelligence department of the Airborne Forces. And these checks should be taken very seriously: "having closed their eyes", their results will not be looked at here. Only a person who is brave enough, smart enough and can be extremely cold-blooded in a deadly situation is worthy of being enrolled in an intelligence unit. And further. Preference is given to those candidates who have a VUS. In addition, people who have a civilian profession that could be useful (communications, electronics) are highly rated.
Do not forget about intelligence. As is the case with many of the most important branches of the military (border guards, in particular), the priority is now given to those soldiers who have served military service in the same troops where they apply for enrollment on a contract. Here's how to get into airborne reconnaissance.
Military landing troops - this is one of the strongest components of the army Russian Federation... IN last years, in connection with the tense international situation, the importance of the Airborne Forces is increasing. The size of the territory of the Russian Federation, its landscape diversity, as well as the borders with almost all conflict states, indicate that it is necessary to have a large stock of special groupings of troops that can provide the necessary protection in all directions, which is what the air force is.
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Because structure air forces is extensive, the question often arises between the Airborne Forces and the DShB are the same troops? The article deals with the differences between them, history, goals and military training of both organizations, composition.
Differences between troops
The differences lie in the names themselves. DShB is an airborne assault brigade organized and specializing in attacks on the enemy's close rear in the event of a large-scale military action. Air assault brigades obey the Airborne Forces - the airborne troops, as one of their units and specialize only in assault captures.
Airborne forces are airborne troops, the tasks of which are the capture of the enemy, as well as the capture and destruction of enemy weapons and other operations from the air. The functionality of the Airborne Forces is much wider - reconnaissance, sabotage, assault. For a better understanding of the differences, consider the history of the creation of the Airborne Forces and the Airborne Forces separately.
History of the Airborne Forces
The Airborne Forces began its history in 1930, when an operation was carried out near the city of Voronezh on August 2, where 12 people were parachuted from the air as part of a special unit. This operation then opened the eyes of the leadership to new opportunities for the parachute troops. Next year, at the base Leningrad Military District, a detachment was formed, which received a long name - airborne landing and consisted of about 150 people.
The effectiveness of the paratroopers was obvious and the Revolutionary Military Council decided to expand it by creating airborne troops. The order was issued at the end of 1932. At the same time, in Leningrad, instructors were trained, later they were distributed to the districts by special-purpose battalions in aviation.
In 1935, the military district of Kiev demonstrated to foreign delegations the full power of the Airborne Forces, arranging an impressive landing of 1200 paratroopers, who quickly captured the airfield. Later, similar exercises were held in Belarus, as a result of which the German delegation, impressed by the landing of 1,800 people, decided to organize its own airborne detachment, and then a regiment. In this way, Soviet Union is rightfully the birthplace of the Airborne Forces.
In 1939, our airborne troops there is an opportunity to show oneself in practice. In Japan, the 212th brigade was landed on the Halkin-Gol River, and a year later 201, 204 and 214 brigades will be involved in the war with Finland. Knowing that the Second World War will not pass us by, 5 air corps of 10 thousand people were formed and the Airborne Forces acquires a new status - the Guards troops.
The year 1942 was marked by the largest airborne operation during the war, which took place near Moscow, where about 10 thousand paratroopers were dropped into the German rear. After the war, it was decided to attach the Airborne Forces to the High Command and appoint airborne commander The USSR Army, this honor falls to Colonel-General V.V. Glagolev.
Big innovations in airborne troops came with "Uncle Vasya". In 1954 V.V. Glagolev replaces V.F. Margelov and holds the post of commander of the Airborne Forces until 1979. Under Margelov, the Airborne Forces is supplied with new military equipment, including artillery installations, combat vehicles, special attention is paid to work under conditions of a sudden attack by nuclear weapons.
Airborne troops took part in all the most significant conflicts - the events of Czechoslovakia, Afghanistan, Chechnya, Nagorno-Karabakh, North and South Ossetia. Several of our battalions carried out UN peacekeeping tasks on the territory of Yugoslavia.
In our time, the ranks of the Airborne Forces includes about 40 thousand fighters, during special operations - paratroopers form its basis, since the Airborne Forces is a highly qualified component of our army.
History of the formation of the DShB
Air assault brigades began their history after it was decided to rework the tactics of the airborne forces in the context of the outbreak of large-scale military operations. The purpose of such DSBs was to disorganize opponents by massive landings close to the enemy, such operations were most often carried out from helicopters in small groups.
Towards the end of the 60s, in the Far East, it was decided to form the 11th and 13th brigades at the helicopter regiments. These regiments were deployed mainly in hard-to-reach areas; the first attempts at landing took place in the northern cities of Magdachi and Zavitinsk. Therefore, in order to become a paratrooper of this brigade, strength and special endurance were needed, since the weather conditions were practically unpredictable, for example, in winter the temperature reached -40 degrees, and in summer there was an abnormal heat.
The location of the first DShB the Far East was not chosen for nothing. It was a time of difficult relations with China, which escalated further after the clash of interests on Damascus Island. The brigades were ordered to prepare to repel an attack from China, which could attack at any time.
High level and significance of the DShB was demonstrated at exercises in the late 80s on the Iturup island, where 2 battalions and artillery landed on MI-6 and MI-8 helicopters. The garrison, due to weather conditions, was not warned about the exercises, as a result of which they opened fire on the disembarked, but thanks to the highly qualified training of the paratroopers, none of the participants in the operation was injured.
In the same years, the DShB consisted of 2 regiments, 14 brigades, about 20 battalions. One brigade were attached to one military district, but only to those that had access to the border by land. Kiev also had its own brigade, 2 more brigades were given to our units located abroad. Each brigade had an artillery battalion, logistical and combat units.
After the end of the USSR, its existence, the country's budget did not allow the massive maintenance of the army, so there was no choice but to disband some parts of the DShB and Airborne Forces. The beginning of the 90s was marked by the withdrawal of the DShB from subordination The Far East and transfer to full subordination to Moscow. Airborne assault brigades are transformed into separate airborne brigades - 13 Airborne Brigades. In the mid-90s, the plan to reduce the Airborne Forces disbanded the 13th Airborne Brigade.
Thus, from the above, it can be seen that the DShB was created as one of the structural units of the Airborne Forces.
The composition of the Airborne Forces
The composition of the Airborne Forces includes the following units:
- airborne;
- airborne assault;
- mountainous (which operate exclusively on mountain heights).
These are the three main components of the Airborne Forces. In addition, they consist of divisions (76.98, 7, 106 guards airborne assault), brigades and regiments (45, 56, 31, 11, 83, 38 guards airborne). In Voronezh, a brigade is created in 2013, which received the number 345.
Airborne personnel prepared in educational institutions military reserve Ryazan, Novosibirsk, Kamenets-Podolsk, in Kolomenskoye. The training was carried out in the directions of the parachute (airborne assault) platoon, commanders of reconnaissance platoons.
The school graduated annually about three hundred graduates - this was not enough to meet the personnel requirements of the paratroopers. Consequently, it was possible to get into the servicemen of the Airborne Forces by graduating from the landing faculties in special areas of such schools as combined arms and military departments.
Training
The commanders of the DShB were selected most often from the Airborne Forces, and the battalion commanders, deputy battalions, and company commanders from the nearest military districts. In the 70s, due to the fact that the management decided to repeat its experience - to create and staff the DShB, the planned enrollment in educational establishments who trained future airborne officers. The middle of the 80s was marked by the fact that officers were released for service in the DShV, being trained in educational program for the airborne forces. Also in these years, a complete rearrangement of officers is underway, almost all of them were decided to be replaced in the DShV. At the same time, excellent students went to serve mainly in the Airborne Forces.
To get into service in the Airborne Forces, as in the DShB, it is necessary to meet specific criteria:
- height 173 and above;
- average physical development;
- secondary education;
- no medical restrictions.
If everything matches, then the future fighter begins training.
Particular attention is paid, of course, to the physical training of airborne paratroopers, which is carried out constantly, starting with a daily rise at 6 in the morning, hand-to-hand combat (special training program) and ends with long marches of 30-50 km. Therefore, every fighter has great endurance. and endurance, in addition to their ranks are selected guys who were involved in any sport that develops that very endurance. To check it, they pass an endurance test - in 12 minutes a fighter must run 2.4-2.8 km, otherwise there is no point in the Airborne Forces service.
It should be noted that it is not for nothing that they are called universal fighters. These people can operate in different areas in any weather conditions absolutely silently, can disguise themselves, own all types of weapons, both their own and the enemy, control any type of transport, communications. In addition to excellent physical training, psychological training is also required, since the soldiers have to overcome not only long distances, but also "work their heads" to get ahead of the enemy, throughout the operation.
Intellectual fitness is assessed using tests drawn up by experts. Psychological compatibility in the team is taken into account without fail, the guys are included in a certain detachment for 2-3 days, after which the senior employees assess their behavior.
Psychophysical training is carried out, which means tasks with an increased risk, where there is both physical and mental stress. Such assignments are aimed at overcoming fear. Moreover, if it turns out that the future paratrooper does not feel, in general, a feeling of fear, then he is not accepted for further training, since this feeling is quite naturally taught to control him, and not completely eradicated. The training of the Airborne Forces gives our country a huge advantage in the face of fighters over any enemy. Most of the VDVeshniks lead their usual way of life even after retirement.
Airborne armament
As for the technical equipment, combined arms equipment and specially designed for the nature of this type of troops are involved in the Airborne Forces. Some of the samples were created during the USSR., but the bulk was developed after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The machines of the Soviet period include:
- landing combat vehicle - 1 (the number reaches - 100 units);
- BMD-2M (about 1,000 units), they are used both in ground and in parachute landing methods.
These techniques have been tested over the years and have taken part in multiple armed conflicts that took place on the territory of our country and abroad. In our time, in conditions of rapid progress, these models are outdated both morally and physically. A little later, the BMD-3 model came out and today the number of such equipment is only 10 units, since production has been discontinued, it is planned to gradually replace the BMD-4.
The Airborne Forces is also armed with armored personnel carriers BTR-82A, BTR-82AM and BTR-80 and the most numerous tracked armored personnel carrier - 700 units, and it is also the most outdated (mid-70s), it is gradually being replaced by an armored personnel carrier - MDM "Shell". There are also anti-tank guns 2S25 "Sprut-SD", an armored personnel carrier - RD "Robot", and ATGMs: "Konkurs", "Metis", "Fagot", and "Cornet". Air defense represented by missile systems, but a special place is given to a novelty that has recently appeared in service with the Airborne Forces - the Verba MANPADS.
Not so long ago, new models of equipment appeared:
- armored car "Tiger";
- Snowmobile А-1;
- truck KamAZ - 43501.
As for communication systems, they are represented by the local developed complexes of electronic warfare "Leer-2 and 3", Infauna, system control is represented by air defense "Barnaul", "Andromeda" and "Polet-K" - automation of command and control.
Weapon represented by samples, for example, the Yarygin pistol, PMM and the PSS silent pistol. The Soviet AK-74 assault rifle is still the personal weapon of the paratroopers, but is gradually being replaced by the newest AK-74M, and the silent Val submachine gun is also used in special operations. There are parachute systems of both Soviet and post-Soviet types, which can drop large parties of soldiers and all the above-described military equipment. Heavier equipment includes automatic grenade launchers AGS-17 "Flame" and AGS-30, SPG-9.
Armament DShB
DShB had transport and helicopter regimentswhich included:
- about twenty mi-24, forty mi-8 and forty mi-6;
- the anti-tank battery was armed with a 9 MD anti-tank grenade launcher;
- the mortar battery included eight 82 mm BM-37;
- in the anti-aircraft missile platoon, there were nine Strela-2M MANPADS;
- also included several BMD-1, infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers for each airborne assault battalion.
The armament of the brigade-artillery group consisted of GD-30 howitzers, PM-38 mortars, GP 2A2 cannons, Malyutka anti-tank missile system, SPG-9MD, and ZU-23 anti-aircraft gun.
Heavier machinery includes automatic grenade launchers AGS-17 "Flame" and AGS-30, SPG-9 "Spear". Air reconnaissance is carried out using the Russian unmanned aerial vehicle "Orlan-10".
One interesting fact took place in the history of the Airborne Forces, for quite a long time, thanks to erroneous media reports, special forces soldiers (SPN) were not rightfully called paratroopers. The thing is, that in the Air Force of our country in the Soviet Union, as well as in the post-Soviet Union, there were no special forces, and there are no special forces, but there are units and units of the General Staff's Special Forces, which arose in the 50s. Until the 80s, the command was forced to completely deny their existence in our country. Therefore, those who were appointed to these troops learned about them only after they were accepted into service. For the media, they were disguised as motorized rifle battalions.
Airborne Forces Day
Paratroopers celebrate the birthday of the Airborne Forces, as well as DShB from August 2, 2006. This kind of gratitude for the effectiveness of the air units, the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation was signed in May of the same year. Despite the fact that the holiday was announced by our government, the birthday is celebrated not only in our country, but also in Belarus, Ukraine and most of the CIS countries.
Every year, veterans of the Airborne Forces and active fighters meet in the so-called "meeting place", in each city it has its own, for example, in Astrakhan "Bratsk garden", in Kazan "Victory Square", in Kiev "Hydropark", in Moscow " Poklonnaya mountain", Novosibirsk" Central Park ". IN large cities arrange demonstrations, concerts and fairs.
Thanks to cinema and television, most Russians are aware of the existence of special-purpose units that are subordinate to the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces (GRU special forces). However, these special units are far from being the only ones in the Russian armed forces, their “colleagues” are simply less known and less publicized. At the same time, with their professionalism and combat experience, they are hardly inferior to the famous special forces of the GRU. First of all, we are talking about special purpose units of the Airborne Forces of the Russian Federation or special forces of the Airborne Forces.
Special units of the Airborne Forces appeared quite a long time ago, even during the Great Patriotic War... In February 1994, a special forces regiment of the Airborne Forces was formed on the basis of two separate special-purpose battalions. Closer to our time, this unit took an active part in both campaigns in the North Caucasus, later it was involved in the war with Georgia in 2008. His place of permanent deployment is Kubinka near Moscow. At the end of 2014, the airborne regiment was deployed into a brigade.
Despite the fact that the tasks performed by the special forces of the GRU and the special forces of the Airborne Forces are largely similar, there are still differences between these units. However, before talking about the special forces of the Airborne Forces, a few words should be said about the history of the special forces in general.
Spetsnaz history
Parts for holding special operations were created in the USSR almost immediately after the Bolsheviks came to power. The units were engaged in reconnaissance and subversive work in hostile territory. In neighboring countries, pro-Soviet guerrilla units, whose work was supervised by military intelligence from Moscow. In 1921, a special department was created in the Red Army, which was engaged in the collection of intelligence information for the leadership of the Red Army.
Having gone through several reorganizations, the intelligence department of the Red Army in 1940 was finally transferred to the subordination of the General Staff. The GRU Spetsnaz was created in 1950.
Special units of the Airborne Forces appeared in the 30s, immediately after the appearance of this type of troops in the USSR. The first part of the Airborne Forces was formed in 1930 near Voronezh. Almost immediately, there was an obvious need to create its own airborne intelligence.
The fact is that the Airborne Forces are designed to perform specific functions - operations behind enemy lines, destruction of especially important enemy targets, disruption of enemy communications, capture of bridgeheads and other operations of a predominantly offensive nature.
For a successful amphibious operation, preliminary reconnaissance of the landing site is required. Otherwise, the operation is threatened with failure - this happened more than once during the Great Patriotic War, when ill-prepared amphibious operations cost the lives of thousands of paratroopers.
In 1994, on the basis of two separate airborne special forces battalions, the 901st and 218th, the 45th separate airborne special forces regiment was formed. A few words should be said about the units that were included in the regiment.
The 218th battalion was formed in 1992, and before entering the airborne special forces regiment, he managed to take part in several peacekeeping missions: in Abkhazia, Ossetia and Transnistria.
The history of the 901st Battalion is much longer and richer. It was formed in 1979 in the Transcaucasian Military District as a separate airborne assault battalion, then was transferred to Europe, to the site of the alleged theater of military operations. At the end of the 80s, the Baltic States became the location of the unit. In 1992, the 901st battalion was renamed into a separate paratrooper battalion and transferred to the subordination of the Airborne Forces headquarters.
In 1993, during the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict, the 901st battalion was in the territory of Abkhazia, after which it was transferred to the Moscow region. In 1994, the unit became a separate special forces battalion and became part of the 45th Special Forces Regiment.
The regiment's servicemen took part in both Chechen campaigns, in the operation to force Georgia to peace in 2008. In 2005, the 45th spetsnaz regiment received the honorary title of "Guards", the unit was awarded the Order of Alexander Nevsky. In 2009 he was presented with the St. George Banner.
In 2014, on the basis of the 45th separate regiment, a special forces brigade of the Airborne Forces was formed.
In various conflicts, more than 40 servicemen from the unit were killed. Many soldiers and officers of the regiment were awarded orders and medals.
Why do we need airborne special forces
The functions of the special forces of the Airborne Forces are very similar to those performed by their colleagues from the units of the Main Intelligence Directorate. However, there are still differences. And they are associated with specific tasks that the Airborne Forces must solve.
Of course, the special forces of the Airborne Forces can conduct sabotage and reconnaissance operations behind enemy lines, but first of all it must prepare the possibility of landing for the main units of the Airborne Forces. The concept of "prepare" in this case is interpreted very broadly. First of all, we are talking about reconnaissance of the landing area: the leadership must have maximum information about where the paratroopers will land and what awaits them there.
In addition, the scouts, if necessary, prepare the landing site. This can be the capture of an enemy airfield or a small bridgehead. If necessary, sabotage is carried out in the area, infrastructure facilities are destroyed, communications are disrupted, chaos and panic are created. Special Forces of the Airborne Forces can also conduct operations to capture and short-term retention of important objects in the rear of the enemy. More often similar work carried out during offensive operations.
One more difference should be noted between the special forces of the GRU and the Airborne Forces. Units of the Main Intelligence Directorate can operate anywhere in the world (it is not for nothing that they have a globe on their emblem). Airborne special forces usually operate closer, within the flight range of airborne transport aircraft, usually no more than two thousand kilometers.
Airborne special forces are rightfully considered the elite russian army... Therefore, the requirements for training and equipping fighters are very strict. Not everyone is able to pass the selection and become a fighter of this unit. A special forces soldier of the Airborne Forces must be distinguished by stress resistance, endurance, excellent mastery of all types of weapons. The special forces have to operate deep behind enemy lines, without any support. big land", Carrying tens of kilograms of weapons, ammunition and equipment.
The unit fighters are equipped with the best types of weapons, ammunition, equipment of Russian and foreign production. They do not spare money for special forces. It should be noted that any special forces (Russian or American) is a very expensive "pleasure". The Vintorez sniper rifle, Kalashnikov assault rifles of the 100th series, large-caliber rifles of domestic production - this is not a complete list of small arms used by scouts.
Airborne troops. The history of the Russian landing Alekhine Roman Viktorovich
DEPTH INTELLIGENCE (RECEIVING AND LANDING MOUTH)
Back in the mid-70s, in separate reconnaissance battalions of motorized rifle and tank divisions reconnaissance and landing companies are created, which in the first years of their existence were called “deep reconnaissance companies”. Since they were usually the third in the battalions by linear count, they were unofficially called simply “third companies,” and whoever was informed knew what was at stake. The servicemen of these reconnaissance and landing companies wore the uniform of their divisions, but they were given a jump uniform for jumping. Often in these companies, fighters and commanders wore blue berets. These companies did not have their numbers, since they were not separate units.
Being abandoned behind enemy lines in the zone of offensive of their division, these companies, as part of their activities in the front zone, in fact, performed tasks similar to those assigned to special reconnaissance. On their own, reconnaissance groups of "third companies" behind enemy lines could organize the destruction of almost any rear object that they encountered on the way, and also in any case had to destroy the enemy's nuclear weapons.
The 597th separate reconnaissance battalion, located in n. p. Sandy, in the Leningrad military district. There were also several more training battalions scattered throughout the vast country.
I will try to list these reconnaissance and landing companies as of the mid-1980s, when Soviet military power was at its peak.
Group Soviet troops in Germany (Western Group of Forces):
rdr of the 5th orb (military unit 60495) of the 27th guards mstd, Halle;
rdr of the 6th orb (military unit 83059) of the 207th mstd, Stendal;
rDR of the 7th orb (military unit 47250) of the 47th Guards TD, Burg;
rDR 9th orb (military unit 47596) 11th Guards TD, Dresden;
rdr of the 10th orb (military unit 83083) of the 79th guards mfd, Jena;
rdr of the 11th orb (military unit 86881) of the 39th Guards Msd, Meiningen.
By the way, this division had one very interesting regiment - the 120th Guards Motorized Rifle Regiment, which was formed on the basis of the 201st Airborne Brigade during the Great Patriotic War, thus being the heir to the very first airborne unit , The 3rd Aviation Airborne Brigade and the Airborne Detachment of the Leningrad Military District. During the defeat of the remnants of the former Soviet power, in 1993, this regiment will be ingloriously disbanded;
rdr of the 12th orb (military unit 83068) of the 94th Guards Msd, Schwerin;
rdr 13th orb 9th TD, Zeithain;
rDR of the 17th orb (military unit 35018), 16th TD, Neustrelitz;
rdr of the 17th Guards Orb (military unit 34161), 32nd Guards Msd, Yuteborg;
rDR of the 18th orb (military unit 60491) of the 12th TD, Manwinkel;
rdr of the 30th orb (military unit 60549) 90th TD, Bernau;
rdr of the 34th orb (military unit 58593) of the 21st mechanized infantry division, Perleberg;
rDR 40th orb (military unit 47368) 7th TD, Quedlinburg;
rdr of the 53rd orb (military unit 34810) of the 25th TD, Vogelzand;
rDR of the 59th orb (military unit 58545) of the 35th mechanized infantry division, Olympises Dorf;
rDR of the 68th Guards Orb (military unit 23562) of the 20th Guards Msd, Plauen;
rDR 107th Guards Orb (military unit 58447) 32nd Guards TD, Yuteborg;
rDR of the 112th Guards Orb (military unit 35094), 10th Guards TD, Halberstadt;
rDR of the 113th orb (military unit 60544) of the 57th Guards Msd, Rudolstadt.
Central group of troops:
rdr of the 20th Guards Orb of the 30th Guards Msd, Riechki;
rDR of the 31st orb of the 48th Mechanized Infantry Division Visoko Mito;
rdr 45th Guards Orb (military unit 67001) 18th Guards Msd, Decin;
rDR of the 81st Guards Orb (military unit 34965) of the 15th Guards TD, Milovice;
rdr of the 84th orb of the 31st TD Bruntal.
Northern Group of Forces:
rdr of the 96th Guards Orb (military unit 28348) of the 20th Guards TD, Svetoshuv;
rDR 126th Guards Orb (military unit 74256) 6th Guards Msd, Bialogard.
Southern Group of Forces:
rdr of the 15th Guards Orb (military unit 75569) of the 254th Mechanized Infantry Division, Szekesfehervar;
rdr of the 16th Guards Orb (military unit 64802) of the 93rd Guards Msd, Kechkemet;
rdr 56th Guards Orb (military unit 30248) 13th Guards TD, Veszprem;
rdr 99th Guards Orb (military unit 81154) 19th Guards TD, Esztergom.
Leningrad Military District:
rDR 597th training orb (military unit 54052) of the 56th Guards OTC, Sand;
rDR 789th Guards Orb 45th Guards Msd, Kharitonovo;
rdr of the 790th orb (military unit 15745) of the 54th mechanized infantry division, Alakurti;
rDR of the 792nd orb (military unit 40335) 64th mechanized infantry division, Sapernoe;
rDR of the 794th orb of the 77th Guards Msd, Arkhangelsk;
rdr of the 795th orb of the 111th mechanized infantry division, Lahdenpohja;
rdr of the 796th orb of the 131st mdd, Luostari.
Baltic Military District:
rADR of the 19th Guards Orb (military unit 14044) of the 1st Guards Msd, Dolgorukovo;
rdr of the 79th orb (military unit 71677) 1st TD, Kornevo;
rdr of the 80th Guards Orb of the 40th Guards TD, Sovetsk;
rdr of the 86th orb of the 3rd guards mdd, Klaipeda;
rDR 148-ro guards orb (military unit 48853) of the 144th guards mfd, Klooga;
rdr 640th orb 107th mechanized infantry division, Vilnius;
rdr of the 45th Guards Orb of the 18th Guards Msd, Gusev;
rdr guards orb of the 26th Guards Msd, Sovetsk;
urdr of the 381st training orb (military unit 10940) of the 54th OTC, Dobele.
Belarusian Military District:
rdr of the 3rd guards orb of the 6th guards td, Grodno;
rdr of the 6th guards orb of the 8th guards td, Pukhovichi;
rDR of the 46th Guards Orb (military unit 43194) of the 120th Guards Msd, Uruchye;
rdr of the 50th orb of the 29th TD, Slutsk;
rdr of the 52nd orb, 193rd TD, Bobruisk;
rdr of the 53rd guards orb of the 37th guards td, Borovukha;
rDR of the 56th orb of the 19th Guards Division, Zaslonovo;
rDR of the 90th orb of the 50th mechanized infantry division, Brest;
rdr of the 97th orb of the 28th TD, Slonim;
rdr of the 134th orb of the 34th TD, Borisov;
rdr orb (military unit 12344) 76th TD, Brest.
Moscow Military District:
rdr of the 136th Guards Orb (military unit 33755) of the 2nd Guards Msd, Kalininets;
rdr of the 137th Guards Orb of the 4th Guards TD, Naro-Fominsk;
rdr of the 39th Guards Orb of the 32nd Guards Msd, Tver;
Odessa military district:
rDR of the 95th Guards Orb of the 28th Guards Msd, Chernomorskoe;
rdr of the 102nd Guards Orb (military unit 48383), 59th Guards Msd, Tiraspol;
rdr of the 103rd orb of the 126th mstd, Simferopol;
rDR of the 129th orb of the 180th mechanized infantry division, Belgorod-Dnestrovsky;
Kiev military district:
rDR of the 15th orb of the 254th mechanized infantry division, Artemoven;
rdr 74th Guards Orb 17th Guards TD, Krivoy Rog;
rdr of the 117th orb of the 72nd mstd, Belaya Tserkov;
rdr of the 130th Guards Orb (military unit 24066) of the 25th Guards Msd, Lubny;
rdr of the 1377th training orb (military unit 54057) of the 169th OTC (formerly the 48th Guards Utd), Oster.
Carpathian Military District:
rDR of the 21st Guards Orb (military unit 15727) of the 51st Guards Msd, Vladimir-Volynsky;
rdr of the 29th orb of the 24th mechanized infantry division, Rava-Russkaya;
rDR of the 47th Guards Orb of the 128th Guards Msd, Mukachevo;
rdr 54th Guards Orb 30th Guards TD, Novograd-Volynsky;
rdr of the 83rd orb (military unit 22356) of the 23rd TD, Ovruch;
rdr 91st Guards Orb 70th Guards Msd, Ivano-Frankivsk;
rDR of the 92nd orb (military unit 15331), 161st mechanized infantry division, Izyaslav;
rDR of the 93rd orb of the 17th Guards Msd, Khmelnitsky;
rdr of the 94th Guards Orb of the 97th Guards Msd, Slavuta;
rdr of the 1262th training guards orb of the 110th guards OTC, Chernivtsi.
Transcaucasian Military District:
rdr of the 766th orb of the 10th guards mdd, Akhaltsikhe;
rdr of the 767th orb of the 15th guards mstd, Kirovakan;
rdr of the 768th orb of the 23rd mechanized infantry division, Ganja;
rdr of the 769th orb of the 60th mechanized infantry division, Lankaran;
rDR of the 770th orb (military unit 15729) of the 75th mechanized infantry division, Nakhichevan;
rdr of the 772nd orb (military unit 15732) of the 127th mechanized infantry division, Leninakan;
rDR 773rd orb 45th mechanized infantry division, Gonio;
rdr 774th orb 147th mechanized infantry division, Akhalkalaki;
rdr 776th orb 164th mstd, Sovetashen;
rdr of the 777th orb of the 295th mechanized infantry division, Baku.
North Caucasian Military District:
rDR of the 107th orb of the 9th mechanized infantry division, Maykop;
rDR of the 249th orb (military unit 12356) of the 19th Guards Msd, Vladikavkaz;
rdr of the 417th orb (military unit 55034) of the 173rd OTC, Grozny;
rDR 347th orb 14th TD, Novocherkassk.
Volga Military District:
rdr of the 1378th training orb of the 43rd mdd, Chernorechye.
Ural Military District:
rdr of the 206th orb of the 213rd mdd, Totskoye;
rDR of the 907th orb (military unit 35652) of the 34th mechanized infantry division, Sverdlovsk.
Turkestan Military District:
rDR of the 650th orb of the 5th Guards Msd, Afghanistan;
rdr of the 781st orb of the 108th mechanized infantry division, Afghanistan;
rDR orb of the 4th Guards Msd, Termez;
rdr orb (military unit 61205) 88th mdd, Kushka;
Central Asian Military District:
rdr of the 85th orb of the 78th TD, Ayaguz;
rDR of the 105th orb of the 8th Guards Msd, Panfilov;
rdr of the 106th orb of the 58th mechanized infantry division, Saryozek;
rDR of the 236th orb of the 155th mechanized infantry division, Ust-Kamenogorsk;
rDR of the 783rd orb of the 201st mechanized infantry division, Afghanistan;
rdr orb 167th mstd, Semipalatinsk;
rdr orb 203rd mdd, Karaganda.
Siberian Military District:
rDR of the 121st orb of the 85th mechanized infantry division, Novosibirsk;
rdr of the 172nd orb of the 242nd motorized rifle division, Abakan;
rdr of the 1263th orb of the 62nd mstd, Itatka;
rdr orb 13th mdd, Biysk.
Trans-Baikal Military District:
rdr 109th Guards Orb (military unit 15349) 11th Guards Msd, Mirnaya;
rDR of the 128th Guards Orb (military unit 21757) of the 122nd Guards Msd, Dauria;
rDR of the 186th orb of the 2nd Guards Division, Choibalsan;
rDR of the 192nd orb of the 245th mechanized infantry division, Gusinoozersk;
rdr orb 110th mdd, Bratsk;
rdr of the 1914th orb of the 49th utd, Chita;
rdr guards orb 5th guards td, Kyakhta;
rdr orb of the 52nd mstd, Nizhneudinsk;
rDR of the 110th Guards Orb (military unit 59335) of the 38th Guards Msd, Sretensk;
rdr of the 132nd orb of the 12th mechanized infantry division, Mongolia;
rdr orb of the 41st mechanized infantry division, Choiren, Mongolia;
rdr orb 51st TD, Nalaikh, Mongolia;
rdr orb (military unit 96599) 149th mechanized infantry division, Erdenet, Mongolia.
Far Eastern Military District:
rdr of the 27th orb of the 277th mstd, Sergeevka;
rdr 88th Guards Orb 21st Guards TD, Belogorsk;
rDR of the 115th orb of the 265th mechanized infantry division, Yekaterinovka;
rDR of the 118th Guards Orb of the 81st Guards Msd, Bikin;
rDR of the 127th Guards Orb of the 123rd Guards Msd, Barabash;
rdr of the 129th orb of the 121st mdd, Sibirtsevo;
rdr of the 131st orb of the 135th mstd, Grushevoe;
rdr of the 154th orb of the 73rd mdd, Komsomolsk-on-Amur;
rdr orb 22nd mstd, Elizovo;
rdr orb of the 29th mechanized infantry division, Kamen-Rybolov;
rdr orb (military unit 20187) 33rd mdd, Khomutovo;
rdr orb 40th mdd, Smolyaninovo;
rdr orb 67th mdd, Skovorodino;
rdr orb 79th mechanized infantry division, Poronaysk;
rdr orb 87th mechanized infantry division, Petropalovsk-Kamchatsky;
rDR orb 192-th mdd, Blagoveshchensk;
rdr orb 199th mdd, Krasny Kut;
rdr orb (military unit 48319) of the 262nd mechanized infantry division, Vozzhaevka;
rdr orb (military unit 04030) 266th mstd, Raichikhinsk;
rdr orb 27th utd, Zavitinsk;
rdr Orb 270th Mechanized Infantry Division, Khabarovsk.
It is clear that this list is completely incomplete (and requires clarification), but even the listed companies are an impressive force. The overwhelming majority of these companies existed in a cropped or collapsed state, but those in which there were personnel underwent full airborne training.
Usually, the scouts went to jumps in units of the Airborne Forces or special forces of the GRU. Most of the "living" reconnaissance landing companies in the second half of the 80s wore the uniform and symbols of the Airborne Forces.
From the book Big Soviet Encyclopedia (IN) author TSB From the book Great Soviet Encyclopedia (GL) of the author TSB From the book Great Soviet Encyclopedia (DE) of the author TSB From the book Great Soviet Encyclopedia (OR) of the author TSB From the book Great Soviet Encyclopedia (PE) of the author TSB From the book "Afghan" lexicon. War veteran jargon afghan war 1979-1989 author Boyko BL From the book Spetsnaz GRU: the most complete encyclopedia author Kolpakidi Alexander Ivanovich From the book Japanese manual for the preparation of tank units 1935 author USSR Ministry of Defenseairborne troops, airborne troops And the military traditions of the airborne troops live, and still every soldier, officer, general proudly says: "We serve in the airborne troops!" )