MOSCOW, February 23 (AVN) - Lack of funds and materiel prevents the Russian Land Forces from holding division-level tactical exercises envisaged by combat training requirements this year, a high-ranking official of the General Staff told the Military News Agency on Friday.
The situation was the same in 2000, the official said.
Only three out of five originally planned brigade-level tactical exercises and only 22 out of 35 regiment-level tactical exercises will take place in 2001 due to various reasons, mostly because of the ongoing North Caucasus warfare, the official went on. Nevertheless, the Defence Ministry has taken all required measures to ensure that the exercises take place at the highest possible level and that they take into account as much experience gained in the North Caucasus operation as possible, he said.
For instance, the main stress in commanders' training will be laid on practising terrain orientation, reconnaissance, fire system organisation, target indication, fire adjustment, summoning of attack and army aviation and control over strikes of their aircraft. The main stress in combat co-ordination will be laid on preparations for a march, troops management on the march and rebuffing a sudden enemy attack on military columns. Commanders of all levels are required to ensure that their subordinates act skilfully as part of two- and three-strong combat groups, which is especially important in city warfare and in forest-covered mountains, the official noted.