A leaner, meaner Russian army

Posted By Joshua Keating Tuesday, April 28, 2009 - 10:19 AM Share

As I mentioned in the Morning Brief today, the Russian army is planning to fire an astonishing 35,000 officers this year as part of an effort launched under Vladimir Putin to cut the force down below 1 million by 2012. But it's not just the junior level officers who are getting the boot.

RIA-Novosti reports today that 50 of Russia's 249 generals will be fired after failing an aptitude test.

We are not going to keep officers who are not fit for their positions," Gen. Pankov told journalists, as reports indicated around one-fifth of officers had failed the military aptitude test.
"The Defense Ministry took a decision to carry out unplanned tests among officers and NCOs. A considerable number of senior officers have proved inapt and will be dismissed from the Armed Forces," he added.

Russia's military arms buildup has raised alarm lately, but its staffing slimdown might actually turn out to be more consequential. Despite their military victory over the must smaller Georgian forces, last year's August War exposed the Russian military as poorly equipped and badly organized. The Kremlin has evidently decided that smaller and smarter is the way to go.

Dmitry Korotayev/Epsilon/Getty Images

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DATROY

11:29 PM ET

April 29, 2009

It's actually going to be

It's actually going to be much more than 35,000. It's closer to 150,000-200,000. Where will these 130,000 former military go? When we disbanded the whole army in Iraq, they joined an insurgency. What will the Russians do? How many of these guys worked on nuclear or missile issues? Will they take their expertise to the highest bidder?

SALLYTHOMAS267

5:28 AM ET

April 30, 2009

Russian army

The Russian military had them since the 1970\’s. All they are is an AK-47 redesigned to take a .22 caliber cartridge based on the older 7.62×39mm cartridge. Like the M-16, the ammunition for the AK-74 is extremely deadly because of the bullet\’s very high muzzle velocity and its tendency to yaw violently and fragment within living tissue. There are a number of versions of this weapon, including one with a short barrel for tank crew and paratroopers and another one for use as a light machine gun. Today Russian soldiers, airmen and sailors use a modernized and improved version of the AK-74. More AK\’s have been made than any other type of assault rifle anywhere, including the M-16 and it\’s variants. That is why we see them in the hands of guerrillas and terrorists as well as professional soldiers.
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