Russia's Military Modernizes

And get out of the N.Caucasus guagmire ASAP! They should also end conscription and build all-volunteer Armed Forces with better pay, living conditions and benefits. Perhaps the PLA's experince in running businesess may also be worth looking into.

Russia intensifies efforts to rebuild its military machine


Putin Says U.S. Is Undermining Global Stability


Gates to Putin: 'One Cold War is enough'

BLUEJACKET said:

And get out of the N.Caucasus guagmire ASAP! They should also end conscription and build all-volunteer Armed Forces with better pay, living conditions and benefits. Perhaps the PLA's experince in running businesess may also be worth looking into.

Russia intensifies efforts to rebuild its military machine

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The PLA was ordered to divest their interests in businesses due to the high level of corruption that occurred with the officers involved in those businesses.

But in the preceding years, they made some $ and improved their quality of life. I read that Russian commanders lease their soldiers to local enterpises and get bribed for it anyway- why not legalize it so everyone benefits?

BLUEJACKET said:

But in the preceding years, they made some $ and improved their quality of life. I read that Russian commanders lease their soldiers to local enterpises and get bribed for it anyway- why not legalize it so everyone benefits?

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Corruption in the ranks of the officers is a serious detriment to the officer corps. It distracts them from effectively commanding (see some of the battles of the First Sino-Japanese War as an example), uses and abuses state resources in an inappropriate manner, and it is a impediment to the professionalism of the military and officer corps. There should be a strong anti-corruption mechanism in any military that is composed of both indoctrination that corruption is bad, and secondarily, a good enforcement mechanism. No matter what type of army you have, there is no room for corruption in the military.

Neutral Zone said:

Just to broaden the topic out a bit, Does Russia really need a carrier fleet? China needs a CV force because of the need to protect it's oil supply routes, Russia has more oil than it can use. Traditionally Russia has been a continental as opposed to a maritime power and at the minute it doesn't appear that Russia faces any credible external threat, far more likely, IMO, would be more Chechen style insurgencies. Perhaps the money intended for future carriers would be better spent upgrading the Russian army to fight such campaigns?

But speaking purely as a naval enthusiast I'd love to see a credible and effective Russian carrier fleet. Who knows, perhaps the plans for Ulyanovsk are being dusted off?

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The Russians and Germans are building a pipe line from Russia to Germany via the baltic sea, this pipe line called nord stream will need to be protected and that is why russia is building up its navy

they are building the pipe line to by pass nations that are not friendly towards russia ie poland and the baltic states

when the pipe line is completed Russia will be able to deliver GAS directly to real europe and not have to worry about transist countries such as poland


Also Russia is doing gas and oil exploration in the arctic and that area as well will need to be guarded by a fleet

Those 2 economic projects are the reasons behind russias expansions of marine time power

I disagree that the baltic see pipeline is a reason for building up a modern CV fleet. It's just disproportional, there's no real threat to it. And I don't believe it's main intention was to bypass other nations.
Plus, I don't believe Russia would have to worry transit nations like Poland or the baltic states. What do you think these could do? Stop gas flow into western europe? They are EU members and could for sure not afford to piss off western europe states in that regard.
Maybe it's different from Russia's view in the arctic. But still I can't see these are the main reasons for building up a CV fleet.

I think their motivation for a carrier fleet is obvious enough. In fact, I believe their next carrier will be at the Syrian port, if that is built. Russia wants to challenge the U.S. on the sea and a port in Syria will help achieve the result.

Scratch said:

I disagree that the baltic see pipeline is a reason for building up a modern CV fleet. It's just disproportional, there's no real threat to it. And I don't believe it's main intention was to bypass other nations.
Plus, I don't believe Russia would have to worry transit nations like Poland or the baltic states. What do you think these could do? Stop gas flow into western europe? They are EU members and could for sure not afford to piss off western europe states in that regard.
Maybe it's different from Russia's view in the arctic. But still I can't see these are the main reasons for building up a CV fleet.

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Vladivostok is also another location of importance for the Russians, as the Russian Pacific Ocean Fleet is based there. Of course, if the Russians want to expand and protect their interests in the Pacific, a carrier group would do the trick.

Scratch said:

I disagree that the baltic see pipeline is a reason for building up a modern CV fleet. It's just disproportional, there's no real threat to it. And I don't believe it's main intention was to bypass other nations.
Plus, I don't believe Russia would have to worry transit nations like Poland or the baltic states. What do you think these could do? Stop gas flow into western europe? They are EU members and could for sure not afford to piss off western europe states in that regard.
Maybe it's different from Russia's view in the arctic. But still I can't see these are the main reasons for building up a CV fleet.

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YES that is exactly what they are afraid of, poland and the baltics have allready many time said that they will stop the flow if Russia increase the prices, that is what Russia is worried about Poland and the baltic states stealing gas like they have done before

Also when the pipe line is complete Russia will be able to give ZERO gas to Poland.

The Poles are very anti Russo or atleast some of them are.

The Baltics are all pro nazies! They are destroying everything in the country that can be linked to russia or the former Soviet Union

In The baltics Former SS soldiers get pensions but former Red Army soldiers get nothing

And the Baltic states are removeing all statues that were placed to remember the liberation of nazi troops

But the Baltics saw the Nazies as liberators and are very sad that the nazies lost.