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Worldwide Equipment Guide (WEG): Providing Deeper Insights into Russia’s Arctic Capabilities by Stuart Curtis and James (Jamie) Stevenson
25 April, 2020 – Training at Franz Josef Land Russian-Arctic archipelago, Russian paratroopers testing new equipment developed for extreme cold weather operations. Image distributed by Russian Ministry of Defense.
Image URL: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/russian-arctic-training-1.5563691
TRADOC G-2 continually updates content for the Worldwide Equipment Guide (WEG). Over the last year, based on continuing community interest in the Arctic and the publication of the Army’s January 2021 Arctic Strategy, WEG content analysts have updated a wide range of assets to better account for Russia’s Arctic-capable military equipment. Previous updates were highlighted in the October-December 2019 edition of Red Diamond.
In Spring 2021, DoD once again identified Russia as an advanced threat that poses a persistent challenge to U.S. national security.[1] Russia’s formidable, sustained military presence in the Arctic exacerbates this challenge. Russia views itself as the natural leader in the Arctic for several reasons. Roughly one-third of the country lies above the Arctic Circle.[2] More than half of the inhabitants of the Arctic and more than half of the Arctic landmass are Russian. Also, the Arctic represents the shortest route to North America, so much of Russia’s strategic deterrent is based in the Arctic. This region provides the Russian economy with large amounts of hydrocarbon resources and, during the summer months, provides a sea line of communication between Russia’s easternmost and westernmost territories. Russian military improvements that enable Arctic influence and control and secure long-term strategic interests are not surprising.[3]
[1] Roger McDermott, Russia’s Northern Fleet Upgraded to Military District Status, Eurasia Daily Monitor, The Jamestown Foundation, January 6, 2021, https://jamestown.org/program/russias-northern-fleet-upgraded-to- military-district-status/
[1] Andrew S. Bowen, Russian Armed Forces: Capabilities, IN FOCUS, June 30, 2020, Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF11589
Russia’s presence and operations in the Arctic are managed primarily by its Northern Military District, formerly known as the Northern Fleet Joint Strategic Command, which serves as both a military district and an operational strategic command.[4] Highlights of the Northern Military District’s activities in the Arctic area of responsibility (AOR) include deploying ground and air mobility systems, increasing its combat aircraft presence, improving coastal missile defenses, sustaining sea combat patrols and exercises, conducting combined arms training, and refining electronic warfare capabilities. With these Russian activities in mind, the additions and updates to the WEG provide a linkage between Russian activities in the Arctic region and the relevant systems and platforms in use.
Russian military priorities in the Arctic include strategic deterrence, employing conventional power in the Barents Sea region, and securing Russia’s Arctic sea lanes. Forces assigned to the Northern Military District include air defense division in Severomorsk and an Arctic Air Squadron with fighter-bombers. The Northern Fleet includes Russia’s only aircraft carrier and nuclear cruiser, seven ballistic missile submarines, and dozens of submarine, naval aviation, and surface assets. Ground forces include two Army Arctic motorized rifle brigades and a Naval Infantry brigade in addition to support formations. These are the forces who operate much of the equipment below. If needed, Arctic-based forces can draw upon three Guards airborne/air assault divisions that are based south of the Arctic Circle but have reinforcement of the Arctic forces as an assigned mission. These units will not have as much purpose-built equipment as the Arctic units do, but they do train in the Arctic, including the high Arctic, regularly. Other Russian forces rotate periodically to high latitudes for training exercises.
[1] Lloyd J. Austin III, United States Secretary of Defense, Memorandum for All Department of Defense Employees, Message to the Force, 4 March 2021. Address Advanced Threats, Extract: “… we will ensure that we remain fully ready to respond to and effectively deter nation-state threats emanating from Russia….”
[2] Nicolay Laverov, Russia – Volume 1, Area Studies, Regional Sustainable Development Review, 2009
[3] Roger McDermott, Russia’s Northern Fleet Upgraded to Military District Status, Eurasia Daily Monitor, The Jamestown Foundation, January 6, 2021, https://jamestown.org/program/russias-northern-fleet-upgraded-to- military-district-status/
[4] Andrew S. Bowen, Russian Armed Forces: Capabilities, IN FOCUS, June 30, 2020, Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF11589