A tree-day tactical exercise the special units of the Collective Security Organization (CSTO) Collective Rapid Reaction Forces (CRRF) began in Tajikistan today.
The exercise, dubbed Cobalt-2021, involves the special force units of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan as well as subunits of Tajikistan’s Border Troops and Emergencies Committee.
The purpose of the exercise that is being held at the Fakhrobod training ground in Khatlon province is to rehearse coordination and interaction in combat missions being conducted in the areas of collective security.
According to the press center of the Central Military District of the Russian Federation (CMD), Russia is represented in the war game by servicemen of the CMD special force unit and the reconnaissance battalion of the Russian military base deployed in Tajikistan.
In all, 60 servicemen, ten military assets and two MI-8MTV5-1 helicopters of the air group of the Russian military base deployed in Tajikistan reportedly represent Russian in the ongoing exercise.
The military exercise is being conducted in two phases. The second phase that will be conducted on November 19 will feature a mission to block and storm a building hypothetically seized by hypothetical militants with the use of reconnaissance technical means and helicopters.
The Collective Security Treaty Organization is a Russia-led military alliance created in 1992, grouping the six former Soviet republics of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.
The Collective Rapid Reaction Force is a joint combined arms task force comprising independent military units from the CSTO 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 reportedly 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.
