Russian airborne troops were the first in the world to land in the Arctic from a height of 10 thousand meters, according to the website of the Ministry of Defense. Landing in the Franz Josef Land archipelago was provided by three Il-76 military transport aircraft. During this operation, the paratroopers tested new equipment and equipment adapted to the harsh Arctic conditions.
“Today, for the first time in world history, we conducted group landing of personnel on special parachute systems in arctic conditions from a height of 10 thousand meters using oxygen equipment and followed by combat training missions. Nobody has done such a thing before us, ”said the Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, Lieutenant General Yunus-Bek Evkurov.
Experts interviewed by RT called the landing of “winged infantry” from an altitude of 10 thousand meters a feat: as a rule, during exercises, landing takes place from an altitude of 3-5 thousand meters, moreover, in more favorable climatic zones. According to Dmitry Drozdenko, an observer for Arsenal of the Fatherland magazine, the paratroopers took quite a bit of risk by jumping in the area of Franz Josef Land.
“This is truly a landmark event. Let me remind you that jumping from a height of 4-4.5 thousand meters already requires special oxygen equipment, and then there was a landing from a height at which passenger aircraft fly, and even at low temperatures. This was a very difficult task, and its implementation only confirms the high professionalism of the Blue Berets, ”Drozdenko emphasized.
In a conversation with RT, the head of the Bureau of Military-Political Analysis Alexander Mikhailov drew attention to the fact that the airborne troops used the latest equipment and parachute systems. As the analyst suggests, special equipment and uniforms that withstand frosts of -50 ° C were tested in the Arctic.
“Now in the Airborne Forces there is a full-scale replacement of parachute equipment, which can also be used for landing in the Arctic. Most likely, the landing from 10 thousand meters allowed to test the reliability of new special equipment and uniforms in extreme conditions. But be that as it may, our paratroopers showed great courage, deserving the highest ratings, ”Mikhailov said.
“In the absence of navigation”
High-altitude landing in the Arctic was dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War and the 90th anniversary of the formation of the Airborne Troops. According to Yevkurov, “this is a direct order of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation” Sergei Shoigu, which was successfully completed.
According to the commander of the military transport aviation (BTA), Lieutenant General Vladimir Benediktov, before landing, the crews of the IL-76 carried out the appropriate training and training at the points of permanent deployment. In the class, pilots monitored the behavior of aircraft, evaluated the handling, reliability of on-board equipment and power units at an altitude of 10 thousand m.
- The positions of Russian troops in exercises in the Arctic
- © mod.mil.rus
In turn, and. about. Colonel Ivan Zolotko, the chief of combat training of the BTA command, noted that high-altitude landing in the Arctic was complicated by the lack of visible landmarks, and therefore it was a difficult task for the flight crew.
“The performance of high-altitude landing in the arctic latitudes imposed additional complexity on the crew, on the navigational service, since the flight was carried out over non-reference terrain, in the absence of ground-based navigation aids. At the same time, it was necessary to withstand all flight parameters and go exactly to the indicated landing zone strictly at the appointed time, ”Zolotko explained.
Landing from a height of 10 thousand meters was one of the episodes of the tactical and special exercises to neutralize the enemy sabotage and reconnaissance group (DRG) in the Arctic. After landing, the paratroopers using unmanned aircraft revealed a conditional enemy camp.
“Subsequently, having transmitted the coordinates of the DRG camp by means of communication, the scouts launched an attack aircraft and destroyed it. Following was a raid on the DRG camp, during which the destruction of the enemy was completed by fire from standard small arms, after which the groups advanced to the collection point, ”the Russian Defense Ministry said.
During the march to the evacuation area, the paratroopers held classes on survival in the Far North and the construction of shelters from snow. At the final stage of the exercises, some of the servicemen left the island on a DT-30PM Vityaz two-link tractor adapted for movement in the polar and forest-boggy terrain.
According to Yevkurov, such maneuvers are planned to be carried out annually, "in different regions of the Arctic, with a different composition of involved participants and at different periods of training." Maneuvers should instill in the military the knowledge and skills necessary to perform tasks in the absence of roads, an abundance of ponds and swamps.
Rich interaction experience
From the materials of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation it follows that the Airborne Troops regularly conduct exercises in the Arctic. In previous years, they practiced landing on ice floes, search and rescue activities, dog sledding, long marches, the construction of ice camps, the provision of medical care and anti-terrorist operations in extreme conditions.
Also, the Airborne Forces together with parts of the Northern Fleet participate in interspecific maneuvers. At these exercises, the interaction of ships, air defense forces, aviation and ground units is worked out. For example, at the end of August last year, a group of the Northern Fleet army corps and airborne units landed at the port of Dudinka and completed the task of defending an important industrial facility with the support of artillery and air force aircraft.
- Airborne troops work out the destruction of the DRG camp
- © mod.mil.rus
As previously stated by the commander of the Northern Fleet, Vice Admiral Alexander Moiseev, conducting interspecific exercises is necessary for an objective assessment of the capabilities of new equipment used in unfamiliar areas in the Arctic. In addition, he believes that the units of the RF Armed Forces receive rich experience in working together to fulfill the tasks of protecting economic facilities in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation.
Airborne troops contribute to improving the conditions of military service in the Far North. So, at the international forum “Army-2019”, the Ryazan Higher Airborne Command School (RVVDKU) presented a project of an engineering reconnaissance system for ice crossings using GLONASS and a radar station.
According to Colonel Vasily Elistratov, head of the research department of the RVVDKU, this development is capable of determining the thickness of snow cover, ice, and also “shining through” reservoirs to a depth of 5 m. Another function of the system is the detection of explosive devices “having electrical contact”.
Also at the “Army-2019” the “Resident” complex was demonstrated, designed to maintain the body’s optimal body temperature. The product protects military personnel from arctic winds and frosts. Specialists of the RVDKU developed it together with the Institute of Engineering Physics.
“We created a fiber that conducts electricity. It is implanted directly in the elements of clothing - vests, pants, shoes, gloves. The complex is equipped with a rather powerful battery, but at the same time it requires a small amount of electricity, ”RT Elistratov told RT on the sidelines of the Army 2019 forum.
According to Alexander Mikhailov, the involvement of the Airborne Troops in maneuvers in the Far North will allow the Arctic grouping of the Russian Federation to more effectively carry out anti-sabotage missions and defend critical civilian and industrial facilities. In parallel with this, the means of Arctic intelligence, armament and equipment of the Blue Berets are being improved.
“The main advantage of winged infantry is mobility. The paratroopers are better than the rest can land in unfamiliar areas, liquidate the enemy’s grouping, take control or protection of any infrastructure object, ”Mikhailov explained.
From the point of view of Dmitry Drozdenko, the transfer of "blue berets" to the Far North regions, Russia also demonstrates to NATO members the willingness to defend their borders and economic interests from any provocations.
“The struggle for the Arctic, its resources and the Northern Sea Route will only escalate. The United States and other Western states openly talk about the need for military rivalry with our country for the control of this macro-region. However, high-altitude landing, interspecific exercises and other actions, Moscow makes it clear that attempts to create a threat to the interests of the Russian Federation will certainly find a worthy answer, ”Drozdenko emphasized.