MOSCOW. Oct 13 (Interfax-AVN) - Combat training in Russian troops will be changed starting from 2004 to take into account changes in the vector of military and other threats to the country, Colonel General Alexander Skorodumov, chief of the Armed Forces combat training directorate, said on Monday.
"Combat training of troops in 2004 will focus on the training of battalions (battalion-size task forces) as the main tactical units in local and border military conflicts and in anti- terrorist and peacekeeping operations," Skorodumov told Interfax- Military News Agency.
Mobility of mixed forces and assets and their close interaction will be in the spotlight of next year's tactical exercises, he said.
"Participants in tactical exercises will work on issues pertaining to mobility of mixed forces and assets and their close interaction in various types of present-day joint-arms combat on raid and in regrouping of forces," the general stressed.
According to Skorodumov, the essence of combat and operational training will be linked to the new military doctrine made public by Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov on October 2. "The doctrine clearly outlines seven priorities in the Russian Armed Forces development for the near future, and among them are specific missions concerning improvement of combat and operational training taking into account military threats to this country," the general said.