Organizational Change in The Russian Airborne Forces: The Lessons of The Georgian Conflict
The airborne divisions are undoubtedly the most impressive formations within the Russian army. The troops of the airborne forces (VDV) are the best trained and most professional in the army. Unlike their Western airborne counterparts, they are capable of fielding both armored personnel carriers and artillery assets. That affords them additional battlefield protection and
firepower. VDV forces also have shown themselves—as in the 2008 war with Georgia—able to respond very quickly in crisis situations. Indeed, the airborne troops performed very creditably overall in Georgia. Such disciplined and professional airborne forces will likely form the vanguard of any interventionary operation beyond Russia’s borders. Other than Georgia, the last time VDV forces were employed operationally abroad was in Kosovo in 1999. It was there at Priština International Airport that VDV troops had a potentially explosive showdown with British paratroopers. That may not be the last time lead elements of U.S. or North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces come face-to-face with the VDV. Given that such confrontations cannot be ruled out in the future, Russia’s current airborne forces need to be understood.
This monograph examines the VDV and seeks to highlight what makes its formations such noteworthy potential allies or opponents. In particular, the monograph looks at the process of organizational change that the VDV has undergone since the war with Georgia.
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Organizational Change in The Russian Airborne Forces: The Lessons of The Georgian Conflict
The airborne divisions are undoubtedly the most impressive formations within the Russian army. The troops of the airborne forces (VDV) are the best trained and most professional in the army. Unlike their Western airborne counterparts, they are capable of fielding both armored personnel carriers and artillery assets. That affords them additional battlefield protection and
firepower. VDV forces also have shown themselves—as in the 2008 war with Georgia—able to respond very quickly in crisis situations. Indeed, the airborne troops performed very creditably overall in Georgia. Such disciplined and professional airborne forces will likely form the vanguard of any interventionary operation beyond Russia’s borders. Other than Georgia, the last time VDV forces were employed operationally abroad was in Kosovo in 1999. It was there at Priština International Airport that VDV troops had a potentially explosive showdown with British paratroopers. That may not be the last time lead elements of U.S. or North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces come face-to-face with the VDV. Given that such confrontations cannot be ruled out in the future, Russia’s current airborne forces need to be understood.
This monograph examines the VDV and seeks to highlight what makes its formations such noteworthy potential allies or opponents. In particular, the monograph looks at the process of organizational change that the VDV has undergone since the war with Georgia.
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Organizational Change in The Russian Airborne Forces: The Lessons of The Georgian Conflict

Organizational Change in The Russian Airborne Forces: The Lessons of The Georgian Conflict

by Rod Thornton
Organizational Change in The Russian Airborne Forces: The Lessons of The Georgian Conflict

Organizational Change in The Russian Airborne Forces: The Lessons of The Georgian Conflict

by Rod Thornton

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Overview

The airborne divisions are undoubtedly the most impressive formations within the Russian army. The troops of the airborne forces (VDV) are the best trained and most professional in the army. Unlike their Western airborne counterparts, they are capable of fielding both armored personnel carriers and artillery assets. That affords them additional battlefield protection and
firepower. VDV forces also have shown themselves—as in the 2008 war with Georgia—able to respond very quickly in crisis situations. Indeed, the airborne troops performed very creditably overall in Georgia. Such disciplined and professional airborne forces will likely form the vanguard of any interventionary operation beyond Russia’s borders. Other than Georgia, the last time VDV forces were employed operationally abroad was in Kosovo in 1999. It was there at Priština International Airport that VDV troops had a potentially explosive showdown with British paratroopers. That may not be the last time lead elements of U.S. or North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces come face-to-face with the VDV. Given that such confrontations cannot be ruled out in the future, Russia’s current airborne forces need to be understood.
This monograph examines the VDV and seeks to highlight what makes its formations such noteworthy potential allies or opponents. In particular, the monograph looks at the process of organizational change that the VDV has undergone since the war with Georgia.

Product Details

BN ID: 2940148781479
Publisher: ReadCycle
Publication date: 09/02/2013
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
File size: 810 KB

About the Author

ROD THORNTON lectures at the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom (UK). He previously spent 9 years in a British Army infantry regiment, including 3 years in Northern Ireland and 1 year as a Serbo-Croat interpreter in Bosnia (1992-93). He has lived and worked in both Moscow and Sarajevo. Dr. Thornton taught for 5 years at the UK’s Joint Services Command and Staff College (working for King’s College London), which included guest lecturing at the NATO Defense College in Rome. He is the author of Asymmetric Warfare: Threat and Response in the 21st Century (2007) and is currently working on a book with Dr Bettina Renz on Russian military modernization. After leaving the army, he began an academic career that included a degree in Russian and led eventually to a Ph.D. focusing on comparative peacekeeping operations.
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