Armies of the former USSR. Soviet army Army of the USSR in 1990

Not a trace remains of the military potential of the former Soviet republics.

At the end of February Airborne Forces Commander General Vladimir Shamanov said that the Russian Airborne Troops could be sent to carry out combat missions as rapid reaction forces outside Russia, for example, to countries party to the Collective Security Treaty. “Our Version” looked into what military forces remained in the former Soviet republics: who will Russia have to protect, and who will it have to look at through the crosshairs.

More than 20 years ago, in December 1991, the Armed Forces of the USSR, numbering 4,210 thousand people, were fragmented and turned into 15 independent armies. Some managed to succeed more in development, others never became full-fledged armies. Meanwhile, all these armed formations are somewhat similar and have common features with the Russian army.

The most powerful ally is Belarus, the weakest is Kyrgyzstan

As Anatoly Tsyganok, head of the research and analytical center for national security problems of the Arms of Russia news agency, told Our Version, the main allies of Russia are the armies of the countries participating in the Collective Security Treaty - these are Belarus, Kazakhstan and Armenia, in addition, the CSTO includes Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Belarus is Russia's most combat-ready ally. And it is no coincidence: at the time of the collapse of the Soviet Union, the concentration of military formations and units on its territory was the highest in Europe. In addition, a huge number of warehouses with military equipment and various military equipment were concentrated here. There were nuclear weapons on the territory of the country, which it was decided to abandon.

Over two decades, the size of the Belarusian army has decreased from 280 to 62 thousand people. The number of armored vehicles has decreased by 1.5–2 times and amounts to more than 4 thousand tanks and armored personnel carriers, but the number of airplanes, helicopters and modern systems The air defense of the zealous Belarusians is growing. There are more than 300 aircraft in service.

The army of Kazakhstan was created on the basis of military facilities and formations of the Central Asian and partly Turkestan military districts. The republic received military equipment from the 70s, brought from Eastern Europe. The Strategic Missile Forces and strategic aviation were also stationed on the territory of the republic; in exchange for their transfer to Russia, Kazakhstan received conventional weapons. Today the Air Force has more than a hundred combat aircraft. The ground component is 1 thousand tanks, 2.5 thousand infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers, more than 800 different artillery systems and guns. The Kazakh fleet has 9 patrol boats.

The army of Kazakhstan is constantly decreasing, today the number of personnel is about 65 thousand people. There are no problems with recruiting troops in Kazakhstan; here they have managed to do what they talk about a lot in Russia: a career in government agencies is closed to those who have not served.

Basis for national army The units and military equipment of the 7th Army of the former Transcaucasian Military District became part of Armenia. This is the only army in the post-Soviet space whose numbers have almost tripled. Most experts rate it as the most combat-ready in Transcaucasia. Personnel - 60 thousand people, hundreds of tanks, 200 armored personnel carriers, more than 200 artillery systems, about 50 combat aircraft and attack helicopters. Since 2004, Russia has been supplying Armenia with weapons at relatively low prices, as a member of the CSTO. In 2005, Armenia managed to receive $7 million from the United States for the rearmament of the army.

Tajikistan inherited a minimum of weapons from the Soviet army, so there is a catastrophic lack of equipment in the troops. Although officially the army of Tajikistan consists of four brigades, an anti-aircraft missile regiment and a helicopter regiment, in fact, several battalions are combat-ready. There is a big problem with the officer corps, half of the positions are vacant, most of the current officers do not have higher education.

Kyrgyzstan is also a rather weak ally. According to experts, the army basically does not exist in this country; its weapons were sold and stolen. During the Tulip Revolution, the military did not influence the situation. The military personnel is about 8 thousand people, but about 500-600 people actually know how to fight, the so-called combined units, which are formed exclusively from officers. And this despite the active work of American instructors in the country.

The army of Moldova is under the control of the Romanian special services

After the collapse of the USSR, Ukraine inherited a modern, powerful army - three very strong military districts, three air armies and even nuclear forces. Initially total number The Ukrainian army numbered about 800 thousand people, and the troops were fully equipped with the most modern military equipment. At one time, Ukraine ranked fourth in the world in terms of military potential; it was rumored that if a war broke out between Russia and Ukraine, it was still unknown who would win. However, within 20 years this powerful force was squandered. Military equipment was stolen, rotted or sold. The total sale of the army brought Ukraine into the group of the world's leading arms exporters. About 6 thousand tanks and 1 thousand combat aircraft remain in service.

The Turkestan Military District became the basis of the armed forces of Uzbekistan. The country's army employs 65 thousand people, and it is rated as the most combat-ready in Central Asia. The weapons are Soviet, from the early 80s, their reserves are large, there are more than 2 thousand tanks in storage alone, however, not all the equipment is in working order. But there are agreements on the supply from Russia of modern artillery systems, transport and combat helicopters, air defense systems and ammunition. There are no problems with recruiting, it is prestigious to serve in the army, there are still benefits, the service is a social lift.

The basis of the Turkmen army was parts of the former Turkestan Military District. Today 34 thousand people serve. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, a large amount of military equipment remained on the territory of Turkmenistan, which belonged to units withdrawn from Afghanistan. There are more than fifty tanks in service, 300 various types airplanes. But even despite this potential, experts are skeptical about the combat effectiveness of Turkmen troops. In the republic, there is an acute issue with military personnel; Russian military specialists left the country back in the 90s, and the locals do not master military affairs well. There is a shortage of officers in the troops; even at parades, planes are flown by invited pilots from Ukraine.

The Azerbaijani army was formed from parts of the former Transcaucasian Military District and part of the Caspian Flotilla. Currently, its population is estimated at about 70 thousand people. With the help of foreign specialists, NATO standards are being implemented. At the same time, the state military department buys military equipment and weapons from Ukraine. Attempts are being made to establish our own military-industrial complex; small arms, mortars and even armored vehicles are already being produced. The main problem of the Azerbaijani army is widespread corruption.

The 6,000-strong army of Moldova is in a deplorable state. The equipment and weapons are almost completely out of order. The exodus of officers due to low salaries further aggravates the disaster. NATO has repeatedly initiated various options for “military reforms,” but the attempts only further reduced its defense capability. At the same time, the army is practically under the control of the Romanian special services.

The Latvian Air Force consists of "maize fighters"

The armies of all the former Baltic republics are members of NATO, in fact, they are potential opponents for Russia, but there is no need to fear them - the number of these armies is quite small and, like everyone else, there are problems with financing.

Lithuania is the most militarized Baltic republic; there are 10 thousand military personnel protecting the interests of the republic, of which almost 11% are women. The Lithuanian army is armed with American and Western European-made weapons and equipment, but Soviet-made examples are still found. There is even a fleet - two small anti-submarine ships and four patrol boats. The issue of purchasing combat helicopters is being resolved.

The Estonian Defense Army consists of more than 5 thousand people, divided into eight battalions and an artillery division. The fleet is a faulty corvette, two boats and four minesweepers. They are armed with a hundred guns, but the problem with armored vehicles is that during exercises they periodically rent a tank from their Latvian neighbors.

In Latvia, the army, equal in size to the Estonian one, consists of an infantry battalion, an artillery division and three training centers. It is armed with three T-55 training tanks, the main striking force of the Air Force is the An-2 “maize”, the Navy consists of patrol boats, minesweepers, mine hunting boats and self-propelled barges, in the near future local shipbuilders promise to build their own warships

The Georgian army is the only one with whom Russia had to fight today; its strength was clearly demonstrated by the results of the eight-day war in 2008. The armed forces of the republic were created on the basis of Soviet units of the Transcaucasian Military District. Now the number of Georgian armed forces is 37 thousand people. Until 2003, the Georgian army was armed with outdated Soviet equipment, but after the “Rose Revolution” its modernization began. NATO countries supplied weapons to this republic free of charge, so the country’s military budget in 2007 increased 50 times and reached a maximum of $780 million. Foreign instructors are trying to teach Georgians. After the war with Russia, almost a third of this formidable army was destroyed and put out of action. Now Georgia is actively restoring its military potential.

Hello dears.
Some time ago, you and I had a series of posts about the armies of the countries of the so-called Warsaw Pact. Well, it is quite logical that at least a few words should have been said about the most powerful, strong and combat-ready army in the entire history of mankind - the Soviet armed forces. For I am deeply convinced that an army like ours in the mid-80s of the 20th century has never been stronger and more powerful (despite the beginning of centrifugal forces both within the state and within the Armed Forces) and never will be in terms of the totality of its strength, numbers and capabilities.

As the son and grandson of an officer, my destiny should have been connected with the Soviet army, but from childhood I firmly decided that this was not mine. Despite respect for officers, and communication with soldiers from a very tender age, and love for weapons and everything military in principle. I have never regretted my choice.
But I decided to launch a series of posts :-)) And I hope you will find it interesting.
And I propose to start from the macro level. And then little by little we figure it out. The most extensive :-))))
So, as I said above, in my deep conviction, by the mid-80s the Armed Forces had reached the peak of their power. It was a monstrous organization


The number in 1985 reached as many as 5,350,800 people. Incomprehensible... We had more tanks than all the countries combined, a huge nuclear arsenal, strong aviation and an ocean-going fleet.
Despite its size and complexity of missions, the USSR's armed forces were managed quite well.
All armed forces of the Soviet Union were divided into the following types
- Ground Forces (SV)
- Air Force (Air Force)
- Air Defense Forces
- Strategic Missile Forces (Strategic Missile Forces)
- Navy (Navy)
And Certain types of troops and services of the USSR Armed Forces which included:
- Civil Defense Troops (CD) of the USSR
- Rear Front of the USSR Armed Forces
- Border troops of the KGB of the USSR
- Internal troops of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs

De jure, the highest governing body of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union was the Defense Council of the USSR, chaired by the General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee
Members of the Armed Forces under the SO USSR were: the Chief of the General Staff, Commanders-in-Chief of the branches of the Armed Forces, commanders and heads of branches and services, some heads of the main and central departments of the USSR Ministry of Defense, a number of commanders of military districts and fleets.


Direct leadership of the USSR Armed Forces was exercised by military command and control bodies (MCB).
The system of military command and control bodies of the USSR Armed Forces included:
control bodies of the SA and Navy, united by the USSR Ministry of Defense, headed by the USSR Minister of Defense:
General base Armed Forces USSR (General Staff of the USSR Armed Forces):
controls Border troops, subordinate to the Committee state security USSR, headed by the Chairman of the KGB of the USSR;
control bodies of the Internal Troops, subordinate to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR, headed by the Minister of Internal Affairs of the USSR.


That is, the daily activities of the Armed Forces were de facto managed by the Minister of Defense with the help of the General Staff and related structures, but under the watchful supervision of the party and government :-)

In the USSR, universal conscription was introduced, enshrined in the Constitution. Defense of the socialist Fatherland is the sacred duty of every citizen of the USSR, and military service in the ranks of the USSR Armed Forces - an honorable duty of Soviet citizens (Articles 62 and 63 of the USSR Constitution).
The uniform conscription age for all Soviet citizens is 18 years;
The term of active military service (command military service of soldiers and sailors, sergeants and foremen) is 2 - 3 years.
Afterwards they could stay for extra-urgent periods.
By the mid-80s, the armed forces of the Soviet Union had the following ranks:
Soviet army:
Privates and sergeants
Soldiers
Private
Corporal

Sergeants
Lance Sergeant
Sergeant
Staff Sergeant
Sergeant Major

Ensigns
Ensign
Senior Warrant Officer

Junior officers

Ensign
Lieutenant
Senior Lieutenant
Captain

Senior officers
The military ranks of officers of the medical service and justice have the corresponding name.
Major
Lieutenant colonel
Colonel

Senior officers
The military ranks of generals of medical service, aviation and justice have the corresponding name.
Major General
Lieutenant General
Colonel General

Marshal of Artillery, Marshal of Engineers, Marshal of Signal Corps, Marshal of Aviation
army General
Chief Marshal of Artillery, Chief Marshal of Air
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Generalissimo of the Soviet Union

Navy
Ratings
Sailors and soldiers
Private Sailor, private
Senior sailor, corporal

Sergeants and petty officers
Petty Officer 2 articles, junior sergeant
Petty Officer 1st article, sergeant
Chief Petty Officer, Senior Sergeant
Chief petty officer, petty officer

Ensigns and midshipmen
Midshipman, warrant officer
Senior midshipman, Senior warrant officer

Junior officers
Ensign
Lieutenant
Senior Lieutenant
Lieutenant Commander, Captain

Senior officers
Captain 3rd rank, major
Captain 2nd rank, lieutenant colonel
Captain 1st rank, colonel

Senior officers
Rear Admiral, Major General
Vice Admiral, Lieutenant General
Admiral, Colonel General
Fleet Admiral
Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union


This is, so to speak, everything at the macro level... Next time we’ll go to the micro level, and then we’ll go into detail about each of the genera and species :-)
To be continued
Have a nice time of day.

The main military potential of the Department of Internal Affairs was the USSR Armed Forces. Their development after 1945 can be roughly divided into 3 periods. 1st period - after the end of the Great Patriotic War until the creation of a new type of armed forces - the Strategic Missile Forces (Strategic Missile Forces) in the late 1950s; 2nd period - late 1950 - early 1970s; 3rd period - from the beginning of 1970 to the beginning of the 1990s. After the end of the Great Patriotic War, the Soviet Union began to reduce its armed forces. A massive demobilization of soldiers and officers was carried out, as a result of which the number of armed forces decreased by almost 3.4 times (from 11,365 thousand people in May 1945 to 2874 thousand people by the beginning of 1948). September 4, 1945 By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the State Defense Committee was abolished. The Supreme Command Headquarters also ceased its activities.

In February - March 1946, the People's Commissariats of Defense and the Navy were united into the Ministry of the Armed Forces, and in February 1950 the latter was divided into the Ministry of War and the Ministry of the Navy. The Supreme Military Council, created in March 1950 under the Council of Ministers, became the highest state body for the management of all armed forces. In March 1953, both ministries were reunited into the USSR Ministry of Defense. The Main Military Council was formed under him. This structure existed until the collapse of the USSR.

JV Stalin remained the People's Commissar and then the Minister of the Armed Forces until March 1947. From March 1947 to March 1949, the ministry was headed by Marshal of the Soviet Union N.A. Bulganin. From April 1949 to March 1953, the Minister of the Armed Forces, and then the Minister of War, was Marshal of the Soviet Union A. M. Vasilevsky.

One of the main directions in the military development of the USSR was the creation and improvement of new means of armed struggle, and above all atomic weapons. On December 25, 1946, it was launched into the USSR atomic reactor, in August 1949 - an experimental explosion was carried out atomic bomb, and in August 1953 the world's first hydrogen bomb was tested. At the same time, the creation of means of delivering nuclear weapons and the formation of missile units was underway. The first of them - special purpose brigades equipped with R-1 and R-2 missiles in conventional equipment - began to be created in 1946.

1st period. The USSR Armed Forces in 1946 had three types: Ground Forces, Air Force and Navy. The country's Air Defense Forces and Airborne Forces had organizational independence. The Armed Forces included the Border Troops and the Internal Troops.

In connection with the end of the war, associations, formations and units of the USSR Armed Forces moved to areas of permanent deployment and were transferred to new states. In order to quickly and organizedly reduce the army and transfer it to a peaceful position, the number of military districts was significantly increased. The administrations of the fronts and some armies were directed to their formation.

The main and most numerous type of armed forces remained the Ground Forces, which included rifle, armored and mechanized troops, artillery, cavalry and special troops (engineering, chemical, communications, automobile, road, etc.).

The main operational unit of the Ground Forces was the combined arms army. In addition to combined arms formations

V its composition included units of army anti-tank and anti-aircraft artillery, mortar, engineer and other army units. With the motorization of divisions and the inclusion of a heavy tank-self-propelled regiment in the army's combat structure, it essentially acquired the properties of a mechanized formation.

The main types of combined arms formations were rifle, mechanized and tank divisions. The rifle corps was considered the highest combined arms tactical formation. The combined arms army included several rifle corps.

There was a military-technical and organizational strengthening of rifle regiments and rifle divisions. The number of automatic weapons and artillery in units and formations was increased (standard tanks and self-propelled guns appeared in them). Thus, a battery of self-propelled guns was introduced into the rifle regiment, and a self-propelled tank regiment, a separate anti-aircraft artillery division, a second artillery regiment and other units were added to the rifle division. The widespread introduction of motor transport equipment into the troops led to the motorization of the rifle division.

Rifle units were armed with hand-held and mounted anti-tank grenade launchers, which ensured effective combat against tanks at ranges of up to 300 m (RPG-1, RPG-2 and SG-82). In 1949, a set of new small arms was adopted for service, including a Simonov self-loading carbine, a Kalashnikov assault rifle, a Degtyarev light machine gun, a company RP-46 machine gun, and a modernized Goryunov heavy machine gun.

Instead of tank armies, mechanized armies were created, which included 2 tank, 2 mechanized divisions and army units. The mechanized army fully retained the mobility of the previous tank army with a significant increase in the number of tanks, self-propelled guns, field and anti-aircraft artillery. Tank and mechanized corps were transformed into tank and mechanized divisions, respectively. At the same time, the combat and maneuverability of armored vehicles has increased significantly. The PT-76 light amphibious tank was created, the T-54 medium tank, and IS-4 and T-10 heavy tanks, which had stronger weapons and armor protection, were adopted.

Under the conditions of the technical revolution, cavalry units did not develop and were abolished in 1954.

The military artillery and reserve artillery of the Supreme High Command have undergone major changes. Development was carried out mainly in the direction of increasing the number of guns and mortars in artillery units, units and formations, as well as improving artillery fire control. At the same time, the number of anti-tank, anti-aircraft and rocket artillery formations within combined arms formations and operational formations grew. Moreover, along with an increase in firepower, artillery units and formations acquired high maneuverability. Equipping engineering, chemical and other special forces with new, more advanced equipment entailed a change in their organizational structure while simultaneously increasing the number of formations. In the engineering troops, this was expressed in the inclusion of technical units in all units, units and formations, including the reserve brigades of the Supreme High Command. In the chemical forces, under the influence of the real threat of the enemy using weapons of mass destruction, units and units intended to carry out anti-chemical and anti-nuclear defense measures have been strengthened. Formations equipped with radio relay stations and other modern control equipment arose in the communications troops. Radio communications covered all levels of troop command and control, up to and including the platoon and combat vehicle.

The country's air defense troops became an independent branch of the armed forces in 1948. During the same period, the country's air defense system underwent reorganization. The entire territory of the USSR was divided into a border strip and an internal territory. Air defense of the border strip was assigned to district commanders, and naval bases to fleet commanders. They were subordinate to military air defense systems located in the same zone. The internal territory was defended by the country's Air Defense Forces, which became a powerful and reliable means of covering the country's important centers and troop groups.

Since 1952, the country's Air Defense Forces began to be equipped with anti-aircraft missile technology, and the first units were created to service them. Air defense aviation was strengthened. In the early 1950s. The country's air defense forces received a new all-weather night fighter-interceptor Yak-25. All this has significantly increased the ability to combat enemy air targets.

The Air Force was divided into front-line and long-range aviation. Airborne transport aviation was formed (later transport airborne, and then military transport aviation). The organizational structure of front-line aviation was improved. Aviation was re-equipped from piston aircraft to jet and turboprop aircraft.

The Airborne Forces were withdrawn from the Air Force in 1946. On the basis of separate airborne brigades and some rifle divisions, parachute and landing formations and units were formed. The airborne corps was a combined arms operational-tactical formation designed to operate behind enemy lines in the interests of troops advancing from the front.

The Navy consisted of branches of the force: surface ships, submarines, naval aviation, coastal defense units and marines. At first, the development of the fleet went mainly along the path of creating squadrons of surface ships. However, subsequently there was a tendency to increase the proportion of submarine forces, which have great prospects for conducting combat operations in the vastness of the World Ocean, far from their main bases.

Thus, in the first post-war years, a major reorganization of the Soviet Armed Forces was carried out, caused by the reduction of the army and navy, their transfer to a more advanced material and technical base, as well as the need to increase the combat readiness of the troops. The improvement of the organization proceeded mainly along the path of creating new and improving the structure of existing types of armed forces, increasing the combat power of military formations.

The introduction of nuclear weapons into the troops, fundamental changes in views on the methods of unleashing and the nature of a future war required significant adjustments to be made in the development of the army and navy. The main work in this direction was assigned to the USSR Ministry of Defense, headed by the Minister of Defense.

2nd period. Since the mid-1950s. special attention was paid to equipping the army and navy with nuclear missile weapons. The most important organizational event was the creation in December 1959 of a new branch of the USSR Armed Forces - the Strategic Missile Forces. The 2nd period in the development of the aircraft began.

Organizationally, the USSR Armed Forces began to include the Strategic Missile Forces, Ground Forces, Air Defense Forces, Air Force, Navy, and Civil Defense Forces. Border troops of the State Security Committee of the USSR and Internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR.

With the development of the Strategic Missile Forces, the main thing was not the buildup of conventional weapons, but their reduction to a level of reasonable sufficiency for defense, which was supposed to ensure savings in forces and resources.

The ground forces continued to be the largest branch of the armed forces. The main striking force of the Army was tank troops, and the basis of firepower were missile troops and artillery, which became a new unified branch of the military. In addition, the Army included: air defense troops, airborne troops and army aviation. Special troops were replenished with units intended for electronic warfare (EW).

Air defense systems of the Ground Forces developed rapidly. A fundamentally new weapon was created - highly mobile anti-aircraft missile systems "Krug", "Cube", "Osa", providing reliable cover for troops, as well as man-portable anti-aircraft missile systems "Strela-2" and "Strela-3". At the same time, ZSU-23-4 Shilka self-propelled anti-aircraft guns entered service. New radio equipment made it possible not only to detect, identify and monitor a target, but also to provide data on the air situation, aim weapons at a target and fire control.

The change in the nature and methods of combat operations necessitated the development of army aviation. The speed and carrying capacity of transport helicopters have increased. Transport-combat and combat helicopters were created.

The Airborne Forces continued to be equipped with new weapons and military equipment while simultaneously improving the organizational structure of their formations and units. They received air transportable self-propelled artillery, rocket, anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons, special automatic small arms, parachute equipment, etc.

The technical equipment of special troops, primarily communications, engineering, chemical, and electronic warfare units, has changed significantly, and their organization has become more advanced. Electronic warfare units and subunits have received new jamming stations for short-wave and ultra-short-wave radio communications, as well as on-board radars of enemy aircraft.

The chemical troops had units for chemical protection, special control, degassing and disinfection of the area, radiation and chemical reconnaissance, flamethrowers, smoke emission, etc. They received a small-sized radiometer-roentgenometer “Mete-or-I”, a radiation and chemical reconnaissance device “Electron-I”. 2" and other equipment.

The engineering troops consisted of engineer-sapper, transport-landing, pontoon, road-engineering and other units and units. Engineering equipment was replenished with minelayers, track mine trawls, high-speed trench vehicles, a regimental earth-moving machine, a machine for clearing debris, track-laying machines, bridge-laying machines, excavation machines, a new pontoon-and-bridge park and other equipment.

The Air Force consisted of long-range, front-line and military transport aviation. Long-range aviation was part of the strategic nuclear forces. Its units were armed with Tu-95MS strategic bombers and Tu-22M long-range missile-carrying bombers. Aircraft missiles, both nuclear and conventional, could hit enemy targets without aircraft entering the range of their air defense systems.

The structure of front-line aviation has been improved and its share has increased. Fighter and bomber aviation established itself as a new kind of aircraft. Aviation units of front-line aviation were equipped with increasingly advanced fighters (from MiG-19 to MiG-23, Yak-28), Su-17, Su-7b fighter-bombers, reconnaissance aircraft, as well as combat and transport helicopters. Combat aircraft with variable sweep wings and vertical takeoff and landing did not require complex runway equipment and had a long flight duration in subsonic modes. The aircraft were equipped with missiles of various classes and aerial bombs in nuclear and conventional configurations, remote mining systems and other weapons.

Military transport aviation, armed with modern long-range military transport aircraft of various payloads - An-8, An-12, An-22, was capable of quickly transporting troops and heavy equipment, including tanks and missile systems, over long distances.

The Navy was a balanced system of various branches of forces, including submarines, surface ships, naval aviation, coastal missile and artillery forces, marines, and various special forces. Organizationally, the Navy consisted of the Northern, Pacific, Black Sea, Baltic fleets, the Caspian military flotilla, and the Leningrad naval base.

The development of the Navy followed the path of creating within the fleets formations of submarines and naval aviation, armed with missiles of various classes and purposes. Their nuclear missile weapons constituted an important component of the nuclear potential of the Armed Forces.

As a result of the widespread introduction of new types of weapons and military equipment, radio electronics, nuclear power on submarines and the improvement of the organizational structure, the combat capabilities of the Navy have sharply increased. It has become an ocean-going one, capable of performing strategic and operational tasks not only in coastal waters and closed seas, but also in the vastness of the World Ocean.

3rd period. The main attention was paid to building a diversified army and navy, maintaining the harmonious and balanced development of all types, branches of troops and forces, equipping them with the latest weapons and military equipment. By the mid-1970s. military-strategic (military) parity was achieved between the USSR and the USA, the Warsaw Department and NATO. Until the end of the 1980s. In general, it was possible to maintain the organizational structure of the Armed Forces at an optimal level, corresponding to the level of technical progress, the development of military affairs, the quality of weapons and the requirements of the time.

Taking into account the trends in the development of weapons in the US and NATO armies, the Soviet Union continued to improve its nuclear missile weapons - weapons of deterrence: missile systems were improved and modernized, their reliability and combat effectiveness increased, the power of nuclear charges and the accuracy of hitting monoblock and multiple warheads on the target increased. Strictly observing the provisions of the SALT II Treaty, the Soviet Union redistributed nuclear weapons among the components of the strategic “triad”. In the mid-1980s, up to 70% of the nuclear weapons in the USSR were ground-based ICBMs. The number of nuclear weapons deployed on strategic missile submarines has increased. The Strategic Missile Forces as a whole, the strategic forces of the Navy and Air Force were in constant readiness to launch a retaliatory strike.

In accordance with the country's defense plans, other types of armed forces were also improved - the Ground Forces and Air Defense Forces, as well as the general purpose forces of the Air Force and Navy, and the structures and weapons systems were optimized.

Particular attention was paid to the equipment of the Air Defense Forces. The development of air defense systems was focused on increasing their effectiveness in the fight against both aircraft, and with enemy ballistic missiles, which led to the creation of a new generation of highly effective anti-aircraft missile systems “S-300”, “Buk”, “Tor”, the “Tunguska” anti-aircraft missile and gun system and the “Igla” man-portable anti-aircraft missile system. Air defense systems of the Ground Forces had high mobility, could be used in any weather conditions, quickly detect and reliably hit air targets at various altitudes.

Generally combat power The USSR Armed Forces were in no way inferior to the potential capabilities of the armies of the United States and other NATO countries.

Despite all the attempts of the USSR and other Eastern European countries to create a reliable system for ensuring international security based on UN principles after the end of World War II, the Western powers refused to cooperate with the socialist countries. The former allies of the USSR in the anti-Hitler coalition took the path of escalating military-political tensions and creating a military-political alliance (NATO) directed against the USSR and other socialist countries.

Achieving a military-strategic balance between the USSR and the USA, NATO and the Warsaw Division played a positive role in ensuring the security and political stability of the countries of the socialist camp. This was a factor in curbing the aggressive aspirations of the leading Western powers, led by the United States, towards the countries of Eastern Europe and the USSR.

Achieving military-strategic parity in the 1970s. made it possible to prevent the threat of a third world war and concentrate the efforts of socialist countries on economic development and political system. However, the Cold War and the threat of a global nuclear military conflict caused a radical redistribution of capital investments in favor of the defense industry in all allied countries, which affected other industries and the material well-being of peoples.

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