ikalugin

https://translate.google.ru/translate?sl=ru&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=ru&ie=UTF-8&u=https%3A%2F%2Ftass.ru%2Farmiya-i-opk%2F5559825&edit-text=&act=url Overview of the actual action, note how participating formations are represented by their subunits (ie - BTGs) Kofman for the day-2 https://russianmilitaryanalysis.wordpress.com/2018/09/13/vostok-2018-day-2-september-12/

Yes, Chinese are using wheeled IFVs and wheeled mobile gun platforms, much like Stryker units, in addition to the new Type-99A tanks. A Chinese serviceman commented that the gear they are using is brand new and they only had one year to train with it. A rising global power, that could use foreighn military experience (which we are sharing on Vostok-2018). In terms of the Ground Forces they suffer much the same problems that we do, that is - they do not have the production capacity to quickly modernise their entire force. The large multi-MD exercise could be a part of training for any number of large scale, high intensity, contingencies, for example Ukraine. Some of the units that participate on the BLUEFOR side may be a part of contingency planning for an Ukrainian operation, for example the 90th tank division from Central MD. Expendable cost reduction for operations we want to conduct but won't conduct with the regular forces. If they screw up (die or kill civilians) we do not care, as they are technically illegal in Russia anyway. Western PMCs follow a different set of rules and overall mindset, so I don't think that they are being applied in the same way.

Can we please stay on topic? If you are not interested in the exercise itself (ie first use of Type-99As outside of China), we can discuss how it could be projected onto the more interesting topics, ie how Russia may plan Ukraine contingency. Note, the scale of the exercise is greater than the alleged scale of Russian intervention into the Ukrainian civil war (5? BTGs)

The big photo-op.

Interesting to see how PRC uses a mix of wheeled gun platforms and tanks:

https://bmpd.livejournal.com/3339440.html Some photos from the events. https://translate.google.ru/translate?sl=ru&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=ru&ie=UTF-8&u=https%3A%2F%2Ftvzvezda.ru%2Fnews%2Fforces%2Fcontent%2F201809130839-mil-ru-mt4rv.html&edit-text= We also plan to paradrop some 51 BMDs and 700 troops.

https://tvzvezda.ru/news/forces/content/201809121214-an89.htm/player/ Bear long range bombers and their Flanker escorts delivering cruise missile strikes as part of Vostok-2018.

Same applies to SOFs in Lybia? I mean we can play this game for a while, but it would be OT. Maybe do that in another thread?

You know that this is not true for the 1991-2018 time period. You just need to know how to read Soviet patern maps, but I guess that is also an acquired skill. Now, back on topic, some of the interesting Zvezda headlines over the past two days: https://translate.google.ru/translate?hl=ru&sl=ru&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Ftvzvezda.ru%2Fnews%2Fforces%2Fcontent%2F201809110638-mil-ru-a28qo.html Over 6000 VDV troopers would participate from 3 VDV formations and 2 VDV detached regiments. https://translate.google.ru/translate?hl=ru&sl=ru&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Ftvzvezda.ru%2Fnews%2Fforces%2Fcontent%2F201809110709-mil-ru-uzb1v.html A centrally controlled detached engenier-sapper brigade would participate https://translate.google.ru/translate?hl=ru&sl=ru&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Ftvzvezda.ru%2Fnews%2Fforces%2Fcontent%2F201809110759-mil-ru-45vtk.html https://translate.google.ru/translate?hl=ru&sl=ru&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Ftvzvezda.ru%2Fnews%2Fforces%2Fcontent%2F201809111326-mil-ru-tylof.html The Northern Fleet has arrived to Chukotka (the bit opposite to Alaska) and would conduct amphib landings there. https://translate.google.ru/translate?hl=ru&sl=ru&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Ftvzvezda.ru%2Fnews%2Fforces%2Fcontent%2F201809111143-od75.htm New patern (OOB/TOE) VDV units would participate. The experience from the exercise would determine the further development of the service. https://translate.google.ru/translate?hl=ru&sl=ru&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Ftvzvezda.ru%2Fnews%2Fforces%2Fcontent%2F201809111626-i0o8.htm https://translate.google.ru/translate?hl=ru&sl=ru&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Ftvzvezda.ru%2Fnews%2Fforces%2Fcontent%2F201809111533-mil-ru-1ybqg.html A joint command a control system for the military and civilian federal services has been created in the region for the exercise, including an integrated, joint air defence C4ISR. https://translate.google.ru/translate?hl=ru&sl=ru&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Ftvzvezda.ru%2Fnews%2Fforces%2Fcontent%2F201809121122-mil-ru-0smq4.html Airpower trained getting out from under the enemy massed strike. https://translate.google.ru/translate?hl=ru&sl=ru&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Ftvzvezda.ru%2Fnews%2Fforces%2Fcontent%2F201809121223-mil-ru-l0gr4.html Long range aviation has been conducting cruise missile launches.

https://russianmilitaryanalysis.wordpress.com/2018/09/12/vostok-2018-day-1-september-11/ Kofman. He also has a good account of West-2017, esentially it's scenario implied a west supported coloured revolution in Belorussia, where forces from the Baltics participated vs a false flag operation you imply. While Russian fears about such a scenario may seem implausible in the west they are just as real as the Western fears about the Russian invasion of Baltics.

I can understand the need for the tanks here and now though, especially if the new divisions use "heavy" OOB.

If you can read the map there is extensive mobile defense in depth planned. This mirrors the practical experience of 080808 war, where we had to play defensive initially and the potential Ukraine related scenarios, where we would be assisting defense by the VSN before launching a counter offensive.

That is what the map says and what is consistent with earlier exercises, ie Zapad-2017.

I don't see what could get your hopes high, after all REDFOR is initially defending in the scenario, which goes to the contrary of say DPRK invasion by Russia and China. Plus there is the whole diplomatic dimension where things are going fine.

Decided to repply here, yes Kofman is a good author and has a good blog here: https://russianmilitaryanalysis.wordpress.com/ Tanks of August can be found here, in english, they are viewed as a good, authorative source: http://www.cast.ru/files/The_Tanks_of_August_sm_eng.pdf

That seems to be unlikely for the time being.

https://russianmilitaryanalysis.wordpress.com/2018/09/10/vostok-2018-strategic-maneuvers-exercise-plan/ Fresh Kofman.

The REDFOR air defenses are concentrated down south and are orientated westwards, launching (real weapons or electronically) from the east, after flanking the REDFOR from the north makes sense to me, as this is what the Northern Fleet did (they passed through the northern seaway all the way from Kola). Because of where those islands are and how ADIZ stretches away from national airspace into international airspace it would make sense for US to intercept bombers going towards their launch positions or from them. On the other hand, it makes little sense for the REDFOR bombers to fly the same path, as they could cross the "neutral" airspace with no problems on their way to BLUEFOR targets to the west. It is possible however that those specific bombers were participating in an unrelated exercise or patrol, but I find it unlikely, especially because we know that the Strategic Aviation participated, with Tu95MS refuelling at low alt, etc being reported, video related (but for the REDFOR bombers going after BLUEFOR targets): They are useful because they are the party that launches the supposed attack, which allows you to train both attackers and the defenders. Anti-ship mission for REDFOR or BLUEFOR is unlikely, as while their naval elements may be in the northern Pacific (close to US ADIZ in Alaska) the Tu95MS bombers are not fitted for that role presently. We do not really have much in terms of OPFOR, so whatever side gets the blue draw, that side plays the OPFOR (in case of CT or COIN exercises spec ops play it as a rule it seems). This is not as bad as it sounds, as our primary likely opponents are from the FSU countries (ie Ukraine) and thus it is easy for regular units to play OPFOR.

One of the objectives of the REDFOR during the snap drills was repelling a massed cruise missile attack. This is consistent with previous exercises. Morever when you look at the bases and the aircraft trajectory it would make sense for the BLUEFOR bombers to outmanuever the REDFOR defenses, as both Northern Fleet and the Strategic Aviation play as the BLUEFOR. p.s. in addition to the air defense related stuff when defending against the massed air attack, we were also training for repairing bridges and airfields, etc.

Considering the geography of the exercise they were pretending to be the BLUEFOR (US) bombers attacking the REDFOR. (in Russian tradition REDFOR are the good guys) Which, if you think about, makes perfect sense, as US tends to use massed cruise missile strikes in their campaighns.

To be honest I think it is targeted at more plausible scenarios, such as 080808 style pacification of Ukraine. The scale is certainly right, both overall alert (~300k troops were alerted and participated in some sort of drills) and on the Cugol training grounds (REDFOR had 4 armies) because we would deploy 4-6 armies (candidates are the 1st Grds TA, 20th Grds CAA, 8th Grds CAA, 49thCAA, 2nd Grds CAA, deployed in two operational echelons and two Fronts) for such an operation. p.s. it is strange that this thread has been going on for days and Steve is still not here.

I doubt that they had some 25k troops, 7k equipment items and 250 helicopters and aircraft in that movie (those are the stated numbers for Cugol training area where the main focus of the exercise would be, as well as PLA/Mongolian troops) The plan for Cugol trainin area exercsie Split between "eastern" and "western" forces

Looks like Vostok-2018 main event would be a battle of the 5 Armies, with 2 from Center and 3 from East on a single training area.

some numbers: - 2 to 3 BTGs, 800-900 strong per Brigade or Regiment, made out of contract troops only. - 126 such BTGs remain at all times in constant readiness in the Ground Forces and VDV.

Heh, but sadly that would be OT. Don't you find an exercise where China, India and Pakistan exercise together (Peace Mission 2018) exciting?