MOSCOW. Feb 24 (Interfax-AVN) - Russia's military leaders are considering a possible increase in the Airborne Force personnel by 10,000-12,000 servicemen, a source in the Defense Ministry told Interfax-Military News Agency.
"Prospects of increasing paratroopers' strength will be considered during the instructional and methodical exercises that will take place at the Ryazan Military Institute in early March under supervision of Airborne Force Commander Alexander Kolmakov," the source said.
Armed Forces Chief-of-Staff Anatoly Kvashnin and over 100 high-ranking officials of the presidential administration, Defense Ministry and General Staff will observe the exercise, he said.
They will see new combat hardware that is to enter the Airborne Force inventory in 2004, including a light tank that can be airdropped, a new airborne fighting vehicle, new firearms and other types of arms.
The exercise will be devoted to firing capabilities of a paratrooper company on the offensive and defensive. According to military experts, paratroopers' firepower will nearly double upon commissioning new types of armament and hardware.
The Airborne Force currently totals less than 35,000 servicemen. It consists of four divisions, a detached brigade, a reconnaissance regiment, a signal regiment, a training center, the Ryazan Institute and support units.