Russia is expected to deploy Iskander-M tactical ballistic-missile systems to Tajikistan for a ten-day military exercise of the Collective Rapid Reaction Force (CRRF) of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) that kicked off at five training grounds in the southern Khatlon province today.
Faridoun Mahmadalizoda, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense (MoD) of Tajikistan, says the purpose of the exercise, involving more than 5000 military personnel, along with armored vehicles, artillery, air-defense batteries, and ground-support aircraft from Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan, is in rehearsing coordination and interaction in combat mission against terrorist groups.
The exercise scenario is reportedly based on a group of terrorists penetrating into Tajik territory from Afghanistan.
The complete exercise will close on November 19 with a final phase at the Harbmaydon training ground in Khatlon featuring live-fire missions with ground-attack aircraft and combat helicopters.
Mahmadalizoda says Russia tactical ballistic-missile system Iskander-M will be used in the final stage of the exercise.
“An Iskander ballistic missile will hit a simulated terrorist camp,” the MoD spokesman said.
Recall, Russia for the first time used its Iskander-M tactical ballistic-missile systems in Tajikistan in the May 30-June 1 Dushanbe-Antiterror 2017 drills conducted by the CIS Antiterrorism Center. The Iskander ballistic missile hit a simulated terrorist camp located 15 kilometers from the Tajik-Afghan border. Russia reportedly sent 2,000 troops as well as 30 planes and helicopters to Tajikistan for the Dushanbe-Antiterror 2017 military maneuvers.
The presidents of member nations of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) gathered in Moscow on February 4, 2009 to sign an agreement to create a joint rapid-reaction force.
Collective Rapid Reaction Force is a joint combined arms task force comprising independent military units from the Collective Security Treaty Organization member nations.
CRRF currently comprises following units: Russia — 98th Guards Airborne Division (Ivanovo) and 31st Guards Air Assault Brigade (Ulyanovsk); Kazakhstan — 37th Separate Air Assault Brigade (Taldykorgan) and Marine forces battalion; Belarus — Spetsnaz brigade; Armenia — infantry battalion; Kyrgyzstan — infantry battalion; and Tajikistan — infantry battalion. The total strength of CRRF is more than 17,000 servicemen.
The first joint exercises of CRRF were held in October 2009 at Matybulak firing range in Kazakhstan near the border with China.
The Collective Security Treaty Organization groups Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.
