07 February 2009: Interpress News
The IISS (The International Institute for Strategic Studies) launched The Military Balance 2009, the annual assessment of the military capabilities and defense economics of 170 countries world-wide.
She cast doubt on Russia’s ability to project force, and despite the ‘victory’ of Russian troops in Georgia last August; their performance had highlighted their limited capabilities – The balance reports.
‘The confict between Georgia and Russia highlighted a number of capability gaps among the Russian forces deployed to Georgia, as well as obvious strengths. Russia miscalculated Georgia’s air-defence capabilities and failed to initially suppress its air-defence systems; Georgian forces were able to operate at night to a greater degree than Russian forces. Meanwhile, Russia’s forces were well prepared for the operation, with sufcient logistical support and frepower; and the Russian ability to coordinate forces from diferent Military Districts and arms of service at short notice showed that the command and control at the operational and strategic levels was well prepared. The modernisation of the strategic forces remains a priority, as in previous years, with aerospace modernisation also proceeding‘.
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