Over the past years Russia has been working hard to increase its military capabilities. The reorganisation in a new brigade-structure, trying to switch to an all-out volunteer army and increasing the reaction times of its units during snap exercises as well as the modernisation of equipment are just a few examples of Russia’s commitment of creating a modern army. A recent development in the Russian Armed Forces is the creation of the 1st Guards tank army.
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| The 1st Guards tank army will recieve priority in getting equiped with Russia's latest vehicles |
Tank armies were generally the main formations of the Soviet Army but were dissolved when Russia faced new security challenges. The wars in Chechnya didn’t require large tank formations in the size of an army since they focused more on counter-insurgency doctrines then armoured warfare. At the same time the relative peace on the European continent didn’t create the security environment where large tank armies were needed. Russia could secure her borders with a few motorized and tank brigades while her divisions were placed in low-readiness but able to mobilize quickly when needed.
Over the past years the security challenge for Russia has worsened. Russia feels threatened by NATO moving ever closer to her borders. Her wars in Georgia and Ukraine were clear warnings that Russia will from now on actively resist and halt NATO’s expansion in Russia’s sphere of influence. Russia will increase her military strength even further in order to accomplish this.
The 1st Guards tank army is Russia’s answer to what it views as NATO’s aggressive moves against Russia. The entire army will be a permanent readiness army, capable of mobilizing and being on the move in just a couple of hours. Its total strength is predicted to be four motorized and armoured divisions, supplemented by separate brigades. This will make the 1st Guards tank army the largest permanent readiness unit on the European continent. The headquarters of this new tank army are located in Moscow and it will be deployed in the Western Military District as a strategic reserve force. In all likelihood the 1st Guards tank army will become the main military unit that will be involved in every big exercise or operation Russia will be doing.
The tank army is scheduled to be created in 2016 and it remains uncertain where Russia will find the necessary units to man it. Two existing divisions, the 4th Guards tank and the 2nd Guards motorized rifle, have been put in permanent readiness but it remains unclear if these will become part of the 1st tank army. It is known that this army will be the first military unit in the Russian Army to receive the Armata, Kurganets and Bumerang vehicles that are currently under production to modernize the Russian armed forces.
