Russia forming Aerospace Forces - military source
MOSCOW. Dec 10 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian Armed Forces will have a new service, the Aerospace Forces, an informed source in the Defense Ministry told Interfax-AVN.
"All decisions required for the formation of a new service of the Armed Forces have been made. A formal announcement is pending. The Aerospace Forces will incorporate air defense forces and aviation which are currently attached to the Air Force and information and attack means and forces currently belonging to the Aerospace Defense Forces," the source said.
He noted that the Air Force will cease to be a service of the Russian Armed Forces.
"Thereby the Armed Forces will have three main commands - the Ground Forces, the Navy and the Aerospace Forces," the source noted.
The composition and the fundamental structure of the prospective Aerospace Forces have been approved, the source said.
"The new service will be formed in several stages over a number of years. During this period units and means attached to the Aerospace Forces will unify and standardize their complexes controlling information and attack systems," the source said.
The Aerospace Forces will operate a number of systems, including an aerospace attack reconnoitering and warning system, an aerospace attack deterrence system, a unified control system and a comprehensive support system, he said.
"A military district commander is expected to be the first commander of the new service of the Armed Forces because [military district] commanders are experienced in controlling large multi-service groups of forces, including aviation and air defense units. The most probable candidate is Central Military District Commander Col. Gen. Vladimir Zarudnitsky," the source said.
