Russian Troops to Join 9 Int’l Drills in 2016, Build High-Tech Ranges

Exercises with China, Japan, Mongolia, Vietnam, as well as three drills with India, are planned for 2016.

KHABAROVSK (Sputnik) – Russian Eastern Military District (EMD) troops will take part in nine international exercises in 2016, the district commander said Friday.

“The next year will be more abundant in terms of international military cooperation, troops are planned to take part in nine exercises,” Col. Gen. Sergei Surovikin said at a military council session.

Surovikin listed exercises with China, Japan, Mongolia, Vietnam, as well as three drills with India, as planned for 2016. This year, the commander said EMD servicemen took part in three drills, with one planned next month.

Announcing other developments for 2016, the EMD commander said seven state-of-the-art training grounds were planned to be built across four eastern regions, adding that a network of 33 training areas is expected be built by 2020.

Russia is currently undergoing a $325-billion rearmament program to achieve a 70-percent modernization of its military by 2020.

Russia's Eastern District Receives Over 850 Military Equipment in 2015

Russia's Eastern Military District has received over 850 units of military equipment this year, with plans to continue rearmament on pace in 2016, the district commander said.

"An unprecedented re-equipment of military units to new military systems and equipment has continued in 2015. To date, over 850 units of modern military equipment have been delivered to the forces."

Surovikin listed the Borey-class Alexander Nevsky strategic missile nuclear submarine, the Iskander-M mobile short-range ballistic missile system, S-400 Triumf missile defense systems, Verba man-portable air-defense systems and Tornado-G rocket launchers, T-72B3 battle tanks, electronic warfare and communication systems, as well as drones — as some of the equipment delivered this year.

Russia is currently undergoing a $325-billion rearmament program to achieve a 70-percent modernization of its military by 2020.

The EMD commander stressed that rearmament would continue on pace next year.