The armed forces of Turkey and Russia: a comparison. Ratio of the Armed Forces of Russia and Turkey

In recent years in Turkey, Turkey has become associated primarily with cheap resorts. However, the image of the country, carefree living only in the tourism industry, is not entirely true. The armed forces of Turkey correspond to the status of a regional power, which has its strategic interests in the Middle East and the Black Sea.

Number of armies

The economic stability of the 2000s allowed Russia to increase military spending. In 2014, Russia's military budget was 84 billion dollars. In Russia, there are 146 million people. At the same time, there are 770,000 officers and soldiers in the country. In addition, the state has a two-million-strong human reserve. According to Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, the spring draft of 2015 led to the army of 275,000 conscripts.

The Turkish Armed Forces look a little more modest for demographic and economic reasons. The country has a defense budget of 22 billion dollars. The population of the republic is 80 million people. At the same time, the army includes 500,000 troops, and about 370,000 are in reserve. The armed forces of Turkey are basically composed of conscripts.

Black Sea Fleet

The strategic balance of the armed forces of Russia and Turkey makes sense to analyze first of all in the field of the fleet. Countries do not have land borders. But between them lies the Black Sea, which was formerly the arena of conflicts between the two powers.

This water area is of great strategic importance. Russia has a Black Sea fleet here, which is based in Sevastopol. The missile cruiser "Moscow" occupies a special position in the shipbuilding, which, among other things, carried out missions in 2015 near the Syrian coast, where the Russian military base is located. The ship still remains powerful, although it is not so new (launched in 1982, back in Soviet times).

On the "Moscow" there is anti-ship weapons, including the Vulkan missile launcher. They have a range of a thousand kilometers and if they wish they can reach out to the Turkish coasts. Another Russian ship of the first rank on the Black Sea is Kerch. However, it is still older than the "Moscow" and is currently under repair. The sea ratio of the armed forces of the Russian Federation and Turkey will not do without mentioning Russian landing craft. They can not only transport personnel, but also help them with their own weapons.

The armed forces of Turkey against Russia can take advantage of the fact that the rest of its fleet is scattered over remote water areas. The fragmentation into several parts reduces the speed and efficiency of the interaction. Russia, in addition to the Black Sea, has three more fleets, as well as a separate flotilla in the Caspian Sea. All of them, except for the Pacific group, can be transferred to the aid to the south. In Syria, on the shores of the Mediterranean, the Russian Federation has a military base. It can become an important staging post.

Submarines and small vessels

Until recently, only one diesel submarine of "Alrosa" remained in the Black Sea Fleet. The Russian leadership in recent years has done everything to ensure that this ship was not the only one on the southern borders of the Russian Federation. The design of a new series of submarines "Varshavianka" is already underway. Six of them should be in service in 2017. On November 28, 2013, the first submarine of this modern series (Novorossiysk) was launched. It has unique weapons and the latest technology. Undoubtedly, such a combat unit affects the balance of the Armed Forces of Russia and Turkey.

Analyzing the state of the Black Sea Fleet, you can not fail to mention the watchdogs - it's "Ladny", "Smart" and "Inquisitive". Today, six more modern frigates are being built and tested. In total, the fleet has 47 ships, most of which are auxiliary and small vessels.

For a long time in monarchic Russia the idea of fix was a plan to seize the straits. The Bosporus and the Dardanelles are the only arteries from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean. These strategic geographical objects are controlled by Turkey. Therefore, the Black Sea Fleet of Russia is in a closed water area, which reduces its maneuverability.

Turkish fleet

The Turkish Maritime Armed Forces have significant advantages as well as serious shortcomings. The fleet of this country is modern and balanced, but it does not have such large ships, as, for example, the Russian missile cruiser "Moscow". The Turks have excellent technical support in the form of assistance from NATO allies. The republic has been in this association for many years and uses modern Western military technologies.

What is the correlation between the Turkish and Russian naval forces? Comparison can not fail to mention the submarines. Ankara has fourteen diesel-electric submarines. These vessels were bought in Germany. Most of them were built in the 2000s. Turkish submarines have not only torpedo weapons, but anti-ship missiles. Small size and quiet make them dangerous opponents for any army.

The number of Turkish armed forces at sea is reduced to more than two hundred ships, much of which are light vessels. The frigates are frigates. Also allocated are the corvettes of the Ada class. They have the technology of low visibility and carry "Harpoons" - high-quality anti-ship weapons. Turkey has many ports on both the Black and the Mediterranean. This geographical advantage makes the country's fleet operational and maneuverable.

Summarizing, we can say that the main advantage of the fleet of this country are frigates and submarines. There are also shortcomings in the form of the absence of large ships.

VCS of Russia

To compare the Armed Forces of Russia and Turkey, it is also necessary to look at the Air and Space Forces of the Russian Federation. To date, they are among the largest in the world and remain the pride of the entire army. A significant increase in aviation in recent years has done its job. Russia is now the second most powerful in the world.

The most effective is long-range aviation. Its strategic basis is bombers "Tu-160". These machines can climb to a height of 22 kilometers. They have modern and modernized weapons. Turkish air defense systems against such aircraft are powerless. "Tu-160" allows Russian aircraft to deliver strategic strikes at any point, without fear of an effective return fire.

Also affects the professionalism of the pilots. Military education regularly receives subsidies and financial injections. They allow you to conduct exercises and other activities necessary to ensure that the personnel are recruited the necessary experience in peacetime. On average, Russian pilots have 100 hours of departures per year, which remains a high international figure. In total, Russian aviation has 1,400 combat vehicles. About a hundred of them appeared in the ranks in the last year, which eloquently speaks about the modernity of the VKS.

Russian aviation tested its combat capability in 2015-2016. In the autumn, an operation began against Islamists and terrorists from IGIL in Syria. It involved mainly bombers that hit targets on the ground. Critical infrastructure facilities belonging to the radicals were attacked. The operation lasted several months and ended at the end of March 2016. The pilots received invaluable combat experience. Many of them were awarded state orders and medals. Was tested and technology. Russian-made aircraft demonstrated their high precision and efficiency.

Russian Air Defense

Russia has a military air base in Syria. Recently, one of the world's most powerful air defense systems arrived in Khmeimim. "C-400" can simultaneously attack up to 35 targets at the highest speeds. The fire range of the installation is 250 km, the altitude is 27 km. One such complex can cause an unmanned zone on a large space. Even a simultaneous attack of a full-fledged aviation regiment of this air defense is not terrible.

An important part of the Russian anti-aircraft defense is the "Rubella" complex. It is necessary for electronic warfare against the enemy. The complex began to enter the army only in 2012 and is one of the most modern elements of all the domestic Armed Forces. Information about him is for the most part classified, which only increases rumors about the importance of the complex in combat. The composition of the Turkish Armed Forces does not have such facilities. "Rubella" can hit radars of enemy aircraft and at a distance of 300 kilometers.

Turkish Air Force

The basis of Turkish aviation are F-16 fighters. In total, Ankara has more than two hundred such machines. They are purchased from the United States and have modern technical support. The fighters have air-to-air missiles. The training of Turkish pilots is no worse than that of their Russian colleagues. However, the rest of the country's air park is already visibly obsolete. In total, Turkey has 350 aircraft. Most of them are "Phantoms", which are much inferior to competing cars in their main characteristics.

The weakest place in Turkey, of course, is the air defense system. The army has mainly anti-aircraft guns of the 60's and 70's of production. These complexes are considerably outdated. At the same time, Turkey can not agree with partners on the supply of modern technology. For example, a deal with China, which could help replace the SAM, unexpectedly failed.

Therefore, in the case of air strikes, the Turkish Armed Forces will become the only defense against bombers and fighters. Photos F-16 now appear in many media analyzing the military readiness of Ankara.

Army of the Russian Federation

In 2008, Russia began a cardinal military reform. It was organized after the headquarters analyzed the results of another war in the Caucasus. The administrative system was updated. The old chain of districts and corps underwent structural changes. The number of exercises that allowed to give the necessary experience to the regular military personnel has increased.

The basis of the ground forces consists of 3 tank brigades, 30 motorized rifles and several brigades of special purpose. They are supported by artillery units. On their armament there are more than two thousand combat installations.

The elite remain Kantemirovskaya and Taman divisions. The armed forces of Turkey and Russia differ from each other in the ratio of contract soldiers and recruits. In Russia, reforms and increased funding have made the service in the army more popular and prestigious. Thanks to this, more recently, the number of contractors exceeded the number of conscripts.

Reforms were also carried out in the Airborne Forces. Now this formation includes 4 divisions, a special regiment and an assault brigade. The mobile rapid reaction forces necessary for conducting special operations have increased.

The technical armament of the Russian army continues to grow. In the service there are 2500 tanks. Basically these are the T-72 and their modifications. Although by age this series is obsolete, thanks to the modernization of the model, they have improved their characteristics (communication, surveillance, fire control). The army has more than 17 thousand armored combat vehicles. There are among them new items of production, including "BMP-3".

Turkish Army

The fact that the Turkish military budget is less than Russian, most of all it was reflected on the ground forces. The army retains some archaism in organization and structure. This is due to the fact that the ground forces remain less prestigious and popular than, for example, the fleet or aviation.

What is the difference between the Armed Forces of Turkey and Russia? A comparison of the structure shows that Ankara has fewer forces on the earth than Moscow. The Turks have at their disposal a tank division, several tank brigades, and two brigades of artillery. There are forces in the army intended for special operations. These are five highly professional brigades. They are the most elite parts in their country. Turkish special forces have considerable experience. His fighters regularly participate in special operations in Kurdistan.

The technical armament of the ground forces is diverse and heterogeneous, which, of course, does not benefit the effectiveness. For example, the republic has 2500 tanks. But only 300 of them are modern German cars "Leopard-2". The rest of the park consists of obsolete models, which need upgrading to fight a strong opponent. In the tank troops there are real veterans, collected in the 50's and fighting in the hot spots of the Cold War.

An experience

A qualitative comparison of the composition of the Armed Forces of Turkey and Russia will not be complete unless we compare the combat experience of the armies of the two powers. The Russian Armed Forces have more than enough. The last full-scale operation of the Russian Armed Forces was the war in South Ossetia. Then the army had to face resistance of various parts. These were air defense systems, aviation, artillery, etc.

Do not forget about the two Chechen campaigns in the Caucasus. In addition, after the onset of peace, spetsnaz often had to participate in counter-terrorist operations. Therefore, Russian troops have tremendous experience in terms of prompt response to the emergence of threats to national security. And although more than 15 years have passed since the time of Chechnya, many military men who visited the front and fought against radicals and Islamists are now generals or senior officers. Their knowledge and skills are invaluable for the Russian army.

The strength of the Turkish Armed Forces is 500,000 troops. At the same time, special purpose brigades are constantly involved in a slow conflict in the east of their country, where the mutinies of Kurdish guerrillas periodically break out. At the same time, the effectiveness of Turkish measures in this case is contentious. For several decades the regular army has not managed to get rid of the "Kurdish problem".

In 2008, the troops even undertook a raid on the territory of Iraq. In the north of this country also exists its own Kurdistan. The operation ended in nothing. After several days of fighting, the army left Iraq, and rebel attacks in eastern Turkey continued.

Complex relations

Today, the main focus of tension between the two countries exists because of the situation in Syria. When in November 2015, the Turkish F-16 shot down a Russian plane, which killed the pilot, a diplomatic scandal broke out. The reason for the attack was the violation of the border near Syria.

After that, the "commercial" war and sanctions began. Russians were banned from traveling to Turkey, which markedly changed the entire tourist market. And although now there is no talk of an open armed confrontation between the two countries, tensions remain.

Whatever the size and composition of the Armed Forces of Turkey, Ankara always has a trump card in the event of a hypothetical conflict. These are the straits of the Bosporus and the Dardanelles. Their closure will lead to the isolation of the Black Sea Fleet of Russia. The domestic Armed Forces have a military base in Syria. In the case of overlapping straits, it will become inaccessible.