MOSCOW. Feb 14 (Interfax-AVN) -Regiment- and battalion-size task forces of the Russian Airborne Troops are undergoing intensive training and harmonization for replacement of airborne units in Chechnya this spring, a spokesman for the Airborne Staff told Interfax-Military News Agency on Thursday.
The training was launched in line with a directive of Russian Armed Forces Chief-of-Staff Anatoly Kvashnin. It corresponds to a plan approved by Airborne Commander Georgy Shpak.
The priorities are set on individual training of servicemen within so-called combat groups, or triads, and airborne assault groups. Taking into account combat experience of the Chechnya campaign considerable changes have been made to the training program of scouts, snipers, sappers and medical instructors.
The training will end with an exercise with live firing in close-to-combat conditions.
Airborne units serving in Chechnya will be replaced from late March to early April this year. It concerns two regiment- size and one battalion-size task forces as well as a composite unit of the 45th separate reconnaissance regiment.
The total number of paratroopers to be replaced makes some 2,500 people.