Conquering the Arctic

(To Tiziano Ciocchetti)
05/11/18

Given the increasingly important role it will play in the near future, the Far North, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have started a program (acquiring new means and intensifying training) to allow their departments to operate effectively in the Arctic.

In the celebration of the victory in the Great Patriotic War (so the Russians define the Second World War), last 9 May, we were able to see some white paint vehicles (on which the white bear, symbol of the Arctic Brigade) stood out: snowmobiles TTM-1901-40 BERKUT-2, transported on KamAZ-65117 trucks, armored personnel carriers BTR-82A, surface-to-air missile systems Kupol Tor-M2DT (SA-15 GAUNLET) and KBP Pantsir-SA (SA-22 GRAYHOUND ), both installed on Vityaz DT-30PM two-piece tracked hulls.

Moscow's interest in the northernmost parts of Russia is due to the possibility of access, due to the gradual thinning of the ice, to large deposits of oil and natural gas. To this end, in the 2017, the Northern Fleet received substantial quantities in naval units and weapon systems, including the new ILYA MUROMETS icebreaker. In fact, as underlined by President Putin the 1 ° March last: Russia has always had and wants to continue to have the most powerful Arctic naval force in the world.

The jurisdiction of the units operating in the arctic theater belongs to the Northern Fleet Combined Strategic Command, whose control extends over the military areas of Murmansk, Arkhangelsk, Komi, Nenets and most of the Russian islands in the Arctic Sea.

The 14 ° Army Corps controls the ground forces of the Arctic Brigade (made up of several brigades of the Russian Armed Forces), which are mainly the 80ᵃ and the 200ᵌ Motorized Autonomous Brigade. Also included are the 61ᵃ Navy Infantry SPUTNIK Brigade, the 536ᵃ Coastal Defense Missile Artillery Brigade, the 516 ° Signaling Division and the 180 ° Genieri Navali Battalion.

Tor and Pantsir self-propelled anti-aircraft aircraft belong to the Air Defense Command, in addition, a MiG-31M FOXHOUND-B interceptor hunting regiment is set up on the Tiksi air base.

Regarding the strategic potential, the Arctic Brigade can use the Tupolev Tu-160 BLACKJACK bombers, in the various versions, and Tupolev Tu-95MS BEAR-H.

It is now evident that the future theater of confrontation between the Powers will be the Arctic, due to its precious resources, equal, it would seem, to the value of the entire American economy. Russia, but also China, have been preparing for some time now, the United States and Norway are trying to limit their designs.

(photo: MoD Russian Federation)