Russia Deploys Drones To Arctic Region Forces, Trades Bombers To Argentina In Exchange For Food

Russia's military force in the Arctic region will be given Orlan-10 drones by the end of the year as part of the country's improvements on its national defences. The Eastern Military District in Chukotka will receive the drones after the command staff and operators have completed their training at the drone control centre in Moscow.

The district's press service told TASS that the specialists will arrive at the permanent base at the Anadyr-Ugolny aerodome. According to a district official, the first test flights for the drones will be conducted in low-temperature conditions in early 2015.

The drone unit will be used to organise a trial combat duty in Chukotka. Each unit will perform objective terrain monitoring and combat training tasks in the near maritime zone. The drones will also be performing flights in the area where the Arctic units of the military district are stationed.

The military district official explained that the drones will ensure the security of sea navigation and conduct reconnaissance flights over Russian territorial waters. Russia's combined Arctic strategic command officially began operating on Dec 1. The formation of the Arctic military forces is part of Moscow's extensive programme to build up its naval presence in the Arctic.

Earlier reports in March indicated that Russian President Vladimir Putin had directed the military to increase armed forces training and boost the combat component of the Arctic group. Russia's Defence Ministry has since taken measures to strengthen the military. It is now planning to build 13 airdomes and 10 radars in the Arctic. Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu has previously said that Russia will have complete radar coverage of the Arctic region within the year. Shoigu had warned that Russia's Arctic forces will be ready to "meet unwanted guests" coming from the north and the east.

Meanwhile, defences on the Falklands are currently under review after it was discovered that Russia is planning to offer long-range bombers to Argentina in exchange for beef and wheat. Russia's long-range bombers have the ability to mount air patrols over Port Stanley.

According to Express.co, UK Ministry of Defence officials are worried that Argentina will take the delivery of the bombers before the deployment of the British Navy's 65,000-tonne aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth and F35B fighter planes which will leave open a "real window of vulnerability."

Due to budget cuts, the Falklands only have less than 1,200 troops, four RAF Typhoon fighters and Rapier surface-to-air missiles. Mr Putin's visit to Argentina in July laid the foundation for the agreement to exchange Russian military planes for beef, wheat and other goods the country lacks because of Western sanctions.

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