Following the invasion of Russia in Ukraine it is appropriate to learn more about the state apparatus that allows the modern tsar, Vladimir Putin to keep the whole world in check. In the face of a GDP of just over 1700 US dollars (year 2020), Moscow spends around 4 percent annually on military spending ($ 70 billion). The main sources of internal income derive from the sale of gas, oil, aluminum and steel, while foreign dependence is mostly concentrated on the need to import raw materials.
Russian military personnel employed abroad (source Cia Factbook). 3.000-5.000 Armenia, 1.500 Belarus, 7.000-10.000 Georgia; 100 Central African Republic, 500 Kyrgyzstan, 1.500-2.000 Moldova (Transnistria), 3.000-5.000 Syria, 5.000-7.000 Tajikistan, 190.000 Ukraine. Russia has deployed around 2020 peacekeeping troops in and around the Nagorno-Karabakh area as of 2.000 as part of a truce agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. At the end of 2021, Russia sent a considerable number of contractors in the Central African Republic (about 1-2000), in Libya (1-2.000) and in Mali (about 1000).
Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Army (three hundred thousand), Navy (one hundred and fifty thousand), Air Force (forty thousand), Aerospace forces (one hundred and sixty thousand), Airborne troops and missile troops (seventy thousand) for strategic purposes commonly referred to as strategic missile forces. Special Forces (twenty thousand) and men dedicated to cyber, logistics, command and control and security (one hundred thousand).
Federal National Guard of the Russian Federation (FSVNG) created in 2016 as an independent internal security agency dedicated to the fight against terrorism, drug trafficking, the protection of important state structures and government personnel, and border security (two hundred and fifty thousand units).
Moscow disputes abroad
Russia is committed to combating the smuggling of poppy derivatives fromAfghanistan. through the countries of Central Asia.
China and Russia settled a centuries-old border dispute over the disputed Amur and Ussuri islands and the Argun River in 2004.
However, there remains a dispute over the sovereignty of the islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan and Habomai, known in Japan as "Northern Territories" and in Russia as "Southern Kurils", occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945, now administered by Russia, but claimed by Japan.
The military support of Russia and the subsequent recognition of the independence ofAbkhazia and Ossetia southern in 2008 continue to tighten relations with the Georgia.
Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Russia have ratified Caspian Sea floor delimitation treaties based on equidistance, while Iran continues to insist on a slice of the sea in the same area.
Norway and Russia signed a comprehensive maritime border agreement in 2010.
Different sensitivities in Finland they support the restoration of Karelia and other areas ceded to the Soviet Union after World War II, but the Finnish government has never made any formal territorial claims.
Russia ed Estonia signed a technical border agreement in May 2005. The Estonian parliament added to its internal ratification act a historical preamble referring to the Soviet occupation and the borders of pre-war Estonia, under the 1920 Tartu Treaty. Russia argues that the preamble allows Estonia to make territorial claims against Russia in the future, while Estonian officials deny that the preamble has any legal impact on the treaty text.
Russia calls for better treatment of the Russian-speaking population in Estonia e Latvia.
Lithuania and Russia committed to delimit their borders in 2006, in accordance with the land and sea treaty ratified by Russia in May 2003 and by Lithuania in 1999. Lithuania applies a simplified transit regime for Russian citizens traveling from the former coastal enclave of Kaliningrad, while remaining compliant, as an EU Member State with an external EU border, where border rules apply "Schengen".
The delimitation of the boundaries of the Kazakhstan and Russia was ratified in November 2005 and the demarcation of the camp is expected to start in 2007.
The Russian Duma has not yet ratified the maritime border agreement of the Bering Sea of 1990 with the United States.
La Denmark (Greenland) and the Norway submitted comments to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) and Russia is collecting additional data to expand its 2001 CLCS submission.
Russian armaments of the new generation
In 2022, Russian ground, airborne and coastal troops will receive over 1.000 pieces of equipment.
Hypersonic anti-ship Zircon cruise missiles
On December 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the successful launch of the Zircon missiles. This test launch marked a milestone in many years of development and testing. Defense Minister Sergei Shoygu spoke about the serial supplies of the new missile in 2022. As part of the tests, the missile was launched by the Severodvinsk submarine and then by the frigate Admiral Gorshkov.
RS-28 Sarmat strategic missile system
According to Defense Minister Shoygu, Russia's Strategic Missile Forces will receive 21 ICBM launchers, including the Sarmat missile. Previously, the commander of the Strategic Missile Forces, Colonel General Sergei Karakaev, said that the first regiment armed with the Sarmat ICBM will take up combat service in 2022. It is believed that the RS-28 Sarmat can launch a warhead weighing in at ten tons anywhere in the world. The future silo-based strategic missile system will replace the R-36M2 Voevoda missiles.
Gibka-S anti-aircraft missile system
In 2022, air defense units will receive Gibka-S anti-aircraft missile systems for the first time. Lieutenant General Alexander Leonov, the chief of military air defense of the Russian Armed Forces, said the new air defense system received reconnaissance equipment and an automatic control system. This allows the military to maintain 24-hour service and control the fire in real time. The Gibka-S system became the first Russian short and ultra-short-range self-propelled complex of the VSHORAD (Very Short-Range Air Defense) type. This air defense system can target planes, helicopters, drones and cruise missiles flying at minimal altitude. Gibka-S uses ammunition for portable air defense systems (MANPADS), such as Igla, Igla-S and Verba.
Ka-52M reconnaissance and attack helicopter
During the Army-2021 international military-technical forum, which was held in August, the Ministry of Defense and Russian Helicopters Holding Company signed a contract for the supply of upgraded Ka-52M helicopters. As part of the deal, the army will receive 30 reconnaissance and attack helicopters. Supplies of the helicopters will begin in 2022, an aviation industry source said. The Ka-52M has been upgraded with the optoelectronic system and a new radar system equipped with an active phase antenna array. In addition, the upgraded helicopter will be able to carry new weapons, including Ataka, Vikhr and Vikhr-M missiles.
KUB-UAV drones
In 2022, the Russian army will receive a new type of weapon. On December 17, the press service of ZALA Aero (part of the Kalashnikov group of companies) announced the successful completion of the KUB-UAV drone tests. The vehicle has been recommended for adoption, while its supplies could begin in 2022. The KUB-UAV is equipped with an electric motor that ensures a maximum speed of up to 130 kilometers per hour. The vehicle can fly up to 30 minutes. Its warhead weighs three kilos.
Uran-9 robotic complex
In October, the commander-in-chief of the ground forces, Army General Oleg Salyukov, announced that the Uran-9 combat robot experimental military operation would take place in 2022. After this phase, the army will determine the number of robotic systems to purchase. In 2021, Uran-9 systems were successfully used in the joint strategic exercises Zapad 2021 of Russia and Belarus. The robots successfully hit the fake enemy's armored vehicles at a range of up to 5.000 meters.
Sukhoi Su-57, fifth generation fighter
The fifth-generation Su-57 multipurpose fighters will be supplied to troops in the Eastern Military District as early as 2022, said Colonel General Alexander Chaiko, commander of the air defense forces. The Su-57 fifth generation stealth fighter is designed to destroy all types of ground, air and surface targets. The aircraft features a radar-absorbing coating and weapon compartments within the body. The first aircraft in the series was delivered to the Russian Aerospace Forces in December 2020.
Tupolev Tu-160M strategic bomber
The base model of the Tupolev Tu-160 bomber made its maiden flight in 1981. Production of the modernized Tu-160M model began at the Kazan Aviation Plant in 2018. In December, Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov announced that the new Tu-160M will take off for the first time in 2022. The Tupolev Tu-160 remains the largest supersonic aircraft in aviation history. The Tu-160 also remains the heaviest fighter aircraft and the fastest bomber. The Tu-160 is designed to hit targets in remote areas with conventional and nuclear weapons.
Mi-26T2V multipurpose heavy helicopter
Serial production of the Mi-26T2V helicopter will begin in 2022. In November, Andrei Boginsky, CEO of Russian Helicopters Holding, announced that the manufacturer would receive permission for mass production by the end of 2021. The updated version of the largest series transport helicopter made its maiden flight in 2018. The Russian Defense Ministry plans to acquire ten helicopters. The transport capacity of the Mi-26T2V is 20 tons.