MOSCOW. Sept 4 (Interfax-AVN) - The sharp exacerbation of the situation in the world is causing the Russian Defense Ministry and General Staff to revise their military development plans for the short-term perspective," a high-ranking military source told Interfax-AVN on Wednesday.
"Security threats to Russia have sharply increased. They are associated with the NATO plans to expand the alliance's military presence in Eastern Europe, the threats made by the Islamic State to take the military action in the Northern Caucasus, and the 'militant rhetoric' in Ukraine," the source said.
"In this situation, Russia has no choice but to revise its military development plans," he said.
"The plans of the Defense Ministry and the General Staff to increase the number and combat composition of the Air Landing Troops should be regarded in this context. In particular, the policies of the Air Landing Troops development approved by the Russian Defense Ministry envision the formation of new units, the introduction of parachute brigades (air assault) third-regiment divisions (Air Landing Troops divisions until recently had two regiments), and massive introduction of new weapons and military equipment," the source said.
A battalion tactical group staffed solely by contract servicemen will be created in every combined arms brigade of the Ground Forces. "Thus, the Ground Forces have followed the example of the Air Landing Troops, which decided to create five first-line battalions staffed solely by contract servicemen several years ago," the source said.
"The attack power of the Ground Forces will be increasing rapidly, in particular, due to the increase of the supply to the troops of operative-tactical missile systems Iskander-M and the expansion of the geography of their deployment, including using the Kaliningrad special district," the source said.
The source also said the plan of actions of the Russia Navy for the period until 2020 has been adjusted and now envisages the expansion of the presence of the Russian Navy in some key regions of the world occeans, specifically in the Arctic. The fleet construction program will be adjusted appropriately, the source said.
The source would not comment on changes to the plans for the development of the Strategic Missile Troops (RVSN) and the Aerospace Defense Troops, adding that "everything that has been planned will be done within a shorter period of time." The source did not rule out the possibility that "the implementation of these adjusted plans will be associated with the deployment in RVSN of the newest intercontinental ballistic missile RS-26."
"All these plans will be substantiated and taken into account in the new edition of the Russian Military Doctrine, on which the Security Council is working," the source said.