The Defense Ministry officials are considering the option to reorganize the six military districts and four fleets into “North”, “South”, “East” and “West” strategic command areas. The initiators of the reforms claim that the new army structure will guarantee more efficient management.
Even though the new system may take effect in two years, it is all but a project at the present. The authors say it has passed the efficiency test in many countries. The United States army is managed through large groups of different troop divisions thereby guaranteeing better control and efficiency. In Russia, the newly proposed system is expected to be linked with a brand new automatic tactical control system, which allows for an efficient centralized command of aviation, artillery, combat vehicles and personnel.
Experts are unanimous that the Russian Armed Forces do need change to meet the demands of the day. Nevertheless, many warn against any hasty moves. Among these is the Chief Editor of “National Defense” Igor Korotchenko:"Abolishing military districts is a revolutionary decision and it will require a thorough scrutiny and testing, he says. A large-scale experiment has to be carried out before the Russian army management system can shift to strategic command. Automatic control systems are crucial in reforming the army.
Equally important is the technological potential of Russian industry. Otherwise, it will be only talk. Among the package of novelties planned by the Russian Defense Ministry is to introduce a five-day working week with two days off for conscripts, so as to overcome the traditional isolation of the army units and guarantee better protection of the conscripts’ rights."
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