Reorganization and Modernization of the Russian Armed Forces (2008–2018)

1. Russo-Georgian War exposes readiness shortfalls

   Aug 8, 2008Labels: Russo-Georgian War, Russian Armed

   • RUSI Timeline
   • GlobalSecurity

2. Shift begins from divisions to brigades

   Oct 1, 2008Labels: Brigade Reform, Ground Forces

   • GlobalSecurity
   • GlobalSecurity

3. Defense minister announces major “Serdyukov” reform

   Oct 14, 2008Labels: Anatoly Serdyukov, Defense Reform

   • GlobalSecurity
   • CRS Report

4. Air Force restructures into new operational commands

   Dec 1, 2009Labels: Russian Air, Operational Commands

   • 4th AAD Command

5. Four joint strategic commands replace old districts

   Sep 20, 2010Labels: Joint Strategic, Military Districts

   • BarentsObserver
   • Western MD

6. State Armaments Program 2011–2020 adopted

   Dec 1, 2010Labels: State Armaments, GPV-2020

   • ERSJ Study

7. Military Police created within the armed forces

   Dec 1, 2011Labels: Military Police, Ministry of

   • Military Police

8. Aerospace Defence Forces established as a new branch

   Dec 1, 2011Labels: Aerospace Defence, Space Operations

   • Aerospace Defence

9. Sergei Shoigu appointed minister of defense

   Nov 6, 2012Labels: Sergei Shoigu, Ministry of

   • Russia Beyond
   • Shoigu Bio

10. General Staff announces creation of Special Operations Forces

    Mar 6, 2013Labels: Special Operations, General Staff

    • Interfax
    • SOF Russia

11. 1st Guards Tank Army reconstituted in Western district

    Nov 1, 2014Labels: 1st Guards, Western Military

    • 1st GTA

12. National Defense Management Center begins operations

    Dec 1, 2014Labels: National Defense, Command Hub

    • NDMC

13. Russian Aerospace Forces created by merging air and space branches

    Aug 1, 2015Labels: Russian Aerospace, VKS

    • VKS
    • Jamestown

14. Aerospace Forces launch combat operation in Syria

    Sep 30, 2015Labels: Aerospace Forces, Syria Campaign

    • TASS

15. National Guard (Rosgvardiya) established outside Defense Ministry

    Apr 5, 2016Labels: Rosgvardiya, National Guard

    • Meduza
    • Decree Ref

16. New divisions reactivated, including 150th Motor Rifle Division

    Dec 1, 2016Labels: 150th Motor, New Divisions

    • 150th Division
    • 144th Division

17. State Armaments Program 2018–2027 signed

    Feb 26, 2018Labels: State Armaments, GPV-2018

    • ArmyRecognition