| Now their weaponry has improved and the training of some units has been improved. However the institutionalized problems within Russia's command and control remain. Secondly, their military is composed of two year conscripts rather than volunteers. These two weaknesses are where another conventional enemy (ie China, USA, Norway) would wreak the most havoc.
Though not battle tested the T-95 would be a farsight harder to knock out than the T-72s or T-80's. Also the avionics and weapons systems of MiG and Sukhoi have improved drasticly over the Cold War era components. The material and specialists who operate them (tankers, pilots etc) are better but the centralised C&C remains. Morale problems and embittered division between officers and NCOs and between NCOs and enlisted is at pandemic proportions. The crucifixion of the Russian Army in Chechnya by the politicos abandoning it in the field and making deals with people like Basayev have left a distrust that runs deeper than that of the end game of Vietnam in the US. The Russian military machine is ripe for Psyops.
__________________ "The purpose of fighting is to win. There is no possible victory in defense. The sword is more important than the shield and skill is more important than either. The final weapon is the brain. All else is supplemental." - John Steinbeck |