Russian military secrets revealed online

Striking changes have started taking place in Russia’s Armed Forces after Sergei Shoigu took over as defense minister. For example, last week the military posted what had until then been top-secret data online, specifically the nation’s Army and Navy development and building plans until 2020.

Truth be told, this didn’t happen overnight, but had been preceded by a discussion of those plans at a Board meeting of the Defense Ministry. 

The meeting reviewed the results of a surprise inspection of the air forces' combat readiness that took place at the end of May, the recruitment of professional servicemen for the Army and Navy, and, most importantly, a draft of the Defense Ministry’s plan for carrying out presidential decrees concerning the improvement of military service.

Curiously, those plans had been posted on the Defense Ministry’s website before the Board had a chance to discuss and approve them. According to the Defense Ministry’s press and information department head, Major General Igor Konashenkov, all comments on those plans will be immediately posted on the website without modification and forwarded to the commanders to whom they are addressed.

Naturally, Armed Forces development plans will always have classified sections that nobody is going to post online. However, according to military experts, more than enough non-classified data has already been disclosed.

For example, anyone interested could learn how and when contract crews will be recruited for submarines and surface vessels. The plan sets a December 2013 deadline for this goal.

Paratrooper battalions should also be fully staffed with contract soldiers by the end of this year. 

Sergeant positions must be 75% filled by the end of this year and 100% filled by the end of next year. Technical specialists (drivers, mechanics, operators of the most technologically sophisticated systems and weapons) must all be recruited by the end of 2017.

The number of contract servicemen to be recruited by 2020 has been scheduled on a year-by-year basis. They are to number 241,400 by the end of 2013 and 295,000 in 2014. A total of 425,000 professionals are expected to serve in private and junior commander positions by 2020.

General Valery Gerasimov, chief of the General Staff of Russia’s Armed Forces, told the Board meeting that this year’s plan was to recruit professional soldiers for five brigades, including four motorized infantry and one paratrooper assault brigades, one regiment, 14 special-purpose detachments, 27 paratrooper battalions, and seven marine battalions.

You also can find some interesting data on combat equipment and arms supplied to the Armed Forces in the web. For example, 47% of all submarines listed in the State Armament Program until 2020 are to be delivered this year.

Military analysts will understand what and how many submarines are covered by this percentage given that two Borey-class Project 955 strategic submarine cruisers carrying 16 strategic Bulava missiles are to be delivered this year in addition to one Yasen-class Project 885 multi-purpose nuclear-powered submarine, while two diesel-electric Amur-class Project 636 submarines are scheduled for delivery next year.

The same kind of analysis could be applied to the percentage of surface vessels scheduled for delivery to the Navy, fighters and frontline bombers to the Air Force, or the Iskander-M theater missile systems, tanks, self-propelled artillery systems, multiple rocket launchers, and other armored equipment intended for the Ground Forces. 

As a matter of fact, General Gerasimov made the task even easier as he revealed a "military secret." He said the troops would be receiving between 70 and 100 aircraft per year, more than 120 helicopters, eight or nine surface vessels and submarines, and up to 600 units of new armored equipment.

Those plans also include deliveries of the most advanced and experimental equipment and arms, repairs and upgrades of all military hardware, the construction and reconstruction of training centers, ranges, residential quarters, and many other things.

According to Gerasimov, the mass delivery of experimental arms would begin in 2016. Before that, development will be completed on the new Armata tank and the Kurganets IFV and APC in 2015, the T-50 Prospective Airborne Complex of Frontline Aviation, the S-500 anti-aircraft missile system and a corvette in 2016, and a new-generation destroyer in 2018.

The question is why did the generals put their plans online? 

The answer is multifaceted. On the one hand, Presidential Decree No. 603 dated May 7, 2012 mandates such openness. On the other hand, the disclosure of Armed Forces development and building plans could become a stage on the path towards the emergence of a civil society in Russia and progress towards public control over the Army and Navy. Now that Sergei Shoigu has become defense minister, such control seems to be within reach.