Countermeasures against enemy subversive-and-terrorist units.

The potential threat of the subversive-and-terrorist acts resorted to by the enemy at all stages of the operation (the battle) imposes on the Commanding General (the Commander) and the Staff the need for undertaking the adequate countermeasures for their prevention.

The Commanding General (the Commander) usually obtains from the Operations Directive the initial data for decision-making and planning of countermeasures against the subversive-and-terrorist units (STU) of the enemy. At the same time, he takes in: the operational-and-tactical situation, which forms itself in the defense zone (the offensive sector); the concept of the Senior Commander of disrupting the activity of subversive- and terrorist units; the role of the Large Formation (the Body of Troops) in the general system of countermeasures against the subversive-and-terrorist units of the enemy in the operation; what counter measures are undertaken by the Senior Commander to prevent the acts of sabotage and terrorism; where and in what line (area) the main efforts are concentrated; what combat methods are used; what missions are assigned to the Air Force, the Missile Forces and Artillery, the Attack Echelon, the Support Echelon and the Reserves for identification and destruction of subversive-and-terrorist units; how direct air reconnaissance support, combined arms surveillance, electronic intelligence collection, artillery and engineer reconnaissance are to be carried out; what is the mission and makeup of other power agencies--the MVD Interior Forces, the FSB Frontier Service, the Area Defense, the EMERCOM--which are engaged to combat subversive-and-terrorist units; how is interaction organized between them; how is command, control and support realized.

The assessment of the enemy capabilities for deployment of subversive-and-terrorist units represents the major decision-making problem. It is critical to determine at what stage of the operation, in what size and with what mission the enemy Commando Units can be committed in the event of the deliberate offensive (prepared defense), what military facilities and installations may be subjected to assault in the first place, and what adequate countermeasures against subversive and terrorist actions can be worked out on this basis. As a rough guide, during the time of the Army Defensive Operation, the defense zone of the Large Formation can be the site of operation of up to 100 air mobile and air assault landing groups, of up to 200 subversive-and-terrorist groups (STG) with 12-14 men each, and of 10-15 non-regular (bravo) units of up to company (battalion) strength. They are capable of knocking out of action not less than 25 major facilities and installations (Unit Command Points, Communications Nodes, Radio Detection and Ranging Equipment, etc.), to throw into disarray the Troop Command and Control System, to disorganize Logistics, which will significantly reduce the Large Formation capabilities. By the experience of NATO operational- and tactical exercises, the drop shipment of subversive- and terrorist units by the decision of the Army Group Commander-in-Chief takes place 30-45 days prior to the start of combat actions, by the Corps Commander's decision--10-12 days, and by the Division Commander's decision--2-3 days.

The stepping-up of subversive actions of non-regular units should be expected one or two days prior to the start of enemy incursion. The number of these units in the sector of up to 150 km in width and of up to 100 km in depth can amount to 8-13 (sometimes more) resistance detachments of 200-250 men each. To collect information about them, close interaction should be organized with MVD Interior Forces, FSB Frontier Service, Railroad Commandant's Offices, and civilian authorities in the zone of responsibility of the Large Formation.

The analysis of the makeup of the group of subversive-and-terrorist units in the defense sector of the Large Formation shows that after the start of combat actions, about 80 reconnaissance groups, subversive-and-terrorist groups and reconnaissance-and-subversive detachments can be delivered to the depth of up to 70 km; subsequently, 30 reconnaissance groups and subversive- and terrorist groups can be airshipped to the depth of up to 100 km, as well as three-four airmobile assault landing groups.

It is possible that the enemy will commit the major portion of the forces of subversive-and-terrorist units during the seizure of the First Line of Defense. During this crucial period of the operation, the enemy will, most probably, allocate up to one-third of subversive-and-terrorist groups and will airland two-three airmobile assault landing groups. At the same time, during the defense preparation by out troops, 17-18 enemy subversive-and-terrorist groups will be delivered to the intermediate space between the first and the second defense lines. This supposition is based on the enemy's ultimate intent to conduct reconnaissance in strength aimed at reconnoitering the defense posture system. The subversive-and-terrorist groups can assault the following installations and facilities: the strongpoints of the units, command and control centers, communication hubs, radio detection and ranging equipment, the launch sites of missile and antiaircraft defense units. The airmobile assault landing group will aim at assaulting the support echelons (the seizure of critical communication facilities) for disruption of the defenders' support system.

In the course of the offensive, to assist the strike force group, the enemy can airland 20-22 subversive-and-terrorist groups in the location area of the second echelon (of the combined arms reserve) of the Large Formation to undermine its maneuverability.

Subsequently, the efforts of subversive-and-terrorist units (STU), most probably, will be stepped-up in the following manner: 14-16 subversive-and-terrorist groups can be delivered in the event of the battle to seize the first defense line, and after the completion of the breakthrough of the first defense line--17-18 subversive-and-terrorist groups and the airmobile assault landing group can be air landed as part of the battalion tactical group, aimed at creating conditions for the dissection of defense units and for transition to the follow-up entrapment activities.

Thus, defending units can be subjected to unremitting exposure to enemy subversive-and-terrorist groups from the air, frontally, from the rear and flanks during the entire preparation period and the conduct of the defense operation. As a result, nearly 150-160 installations and facilities will be assaulted (simultaneously and consecutively) (on the basis of one subversive-and-terrorist group per one or two objectives). Subversive-and-terrorist acts can be carried out by using the following methods: air-assault attack, air-assault strike, the conduct of fire raid, by setting the ambush (ground-based, by aircraft, by helicopter), the remote demolition of objects, sniper blitz, the use of booby-trapped mines, etc.

In the assessment of the combat capabilities of the subversive-and-terrorist units of the enemy, their high technical equipment status (the use of helicopters, robotics, etc.) should be reckoned with, as it enables them to maneuver over vast territories, to direct reconnaissance, to select the objectives sensitive to subversive actions, and to withdraw quickly to escape retaliation. Using the Navstar satellite system, the enemy subversive-and-terrorist units are capable of identifying the objective coordinates to the precision of 5-7 meters and to sustain continuous communication with the friendly troops.

The vulnerable points of subversive-and-terrorist units are: the availability of a number of give-away signs, namely, airfields, concentration and landing places; inadequate protection against exposure to all weapons of the defenders (the attackers), as most of the time they have to be located outside the shelters; unfeasibility of rendering long resistance to the enemy in the event of STU detection.

Fighting against STU mobile groups is very difficult in enclosed and tough terrain, in the mountains, in the forest, in the settlements, where they manage to find shelters, by using the protective features of the terrain and camouflaging facilities. Under these conditions, snipers and reactive obstacles pose great danger for our troops.

In the assessment of the capabilities of the friendly troops for fighting against the subversive-and-terrorist units of the enemy, it is necessary, first of all, to determine: how to build up the defense system in order to prevent sudden fire raids, the setting of ambushes and reactive obstacles by the enemy; with whom and in what way is it necessary to interact in the event of the destruction of the enemy. Besides, assessment should be made of the capabilities of air reconnaissance, electronic intelligence collection, combined-arms in-depth surveillance, as well as of the ability of the Large Formation (of the Body of Troops) to disrupt the landing of subversive-and-terrorist units, to destroy them in flight and on the ground in the event of their concentration in the base area by using friendly aviation, missile and artillery forces and weapons. On this basis, the Commander-in-Chief (the Commanding General) takes the decision on: how to build up the system of fire of all kinds; what methods should be used to deliver selective strikes against subversive-and-terrorist units by using strike-and-fire systems and reconnaissance-and-strike complexes immediately after the identification of objectives; what objects in the zone of responsibility should be protected by the concentration of major efforts; what forces and facilities should be allocated to fight against subversive-and-terrorist units, how to train and equip those forces.

At the same time, it is necessary to take into consideration the strike capabilities of the troops for the blocking, entrapment, dissection, pursuit and destruction of subversive-and-terrorist units; the maneuvering capabilities of the units and subdivisions in the implementation of hit-and-run raid acts, maneuver by fire, by setting-up obstacles, moving screens and fixed screens, ambushes, and kill zones.

To be able to combat subversive-and-terrorist units successfully, the troops should be trained well in advance, as early as in peacetime, during all the command-and-staff training exercises and tactical training lessons to war-game various scenarios for countering raiders' assault. Relevant planning documents should be drafted and issued in the headquarters. The calculation of forces and facilities to counter subversive-and-terrorist units should proceed from the assumption that one-two reconnaissance combat groups numbering 8-10 men each are roughly required for the search and destruction of one enemy subversive-and-terrorist group. Assuming that the enemy, as was stated above, will air land up to 200 subversive-and-terrorist groups in the defense (attack) sector of the Large Formation, the Army will have to allocate 6-7 Battalions for their destruction, and additional 8-10 Battalions to counter air mobile assault landing groups.

The Combined-Arms Reserves and the Second Echelons of the Large Formation (the Body of Troops, Unit) will bear the main brunt of fighting against subversive-and-terrorist units. But, these forces and facilities may be found lacking. To solve the tasks of counter-subversive and counter-terrorist protection, the special line-of-battle elements will have to be formed in the Bodies of Troops and Units, in particular, field maneuver groups, mopping-up counter-subversive groups, strike-and-assault, strike-and-fire, aerial hit-and-run detachments (groups), as well as mine-laying groups on helicopters.

Field maneuver groups can constitute the mobile reserve of the Commander of the Body of Troops (Unit). They are designed for implementation of flash missions. In the event of detection of the air landing of the enemy subversive-and-terrorist unit, field maneuver groups are immediately advanced to the designated area and neutralize the enemy. It is advisable that the motor-rifle unit (the company or the battalion) on the armored infantry-fighting vehicle is included in the makeup of the field maneuver group. Helicopters should also support the field maneuver group actions.

Mopping-up counter-subversive detachments are required to comb the terrain and to identify hidden raiders, especially in the settlements, in the forest and in the mountains. It is expedient to include the most mission-capable and well-trained units in the makeup of such detachments. In addition to terrain combing, they can be used for setting-up moving and fixed screens and ambushes.

Strike-and-fire groups are designed for the destruction of subversive-and-terrorist units and air assault landing groups, if these forces manage to consolidate on the terrain, to come into perimeter defense and to build-up the system of fire. Such groups can be included in the makeup of the mopping-up, counter-subversive, blocking, hit-and-run and enveloping detachments.

Airborne hit-and-run detachments (groups) can be used for reconnoitering of the routes, where highway convoys plan to move, for identifying the ambushes, screens and obstacles on these routes. They can be effective means for preventing subversive-and-terrorist acts.

Thus, the system of countermeasures against enemy subversive-and-terrorist units in the defense and attack operations must include the mix of mutually agreed measures, including the field, special, operational-and-tactical, recon-naissance-and-combat, restrictive-and-limiting, strike-and-fire and blocking actions for their support under the uniform concept and plan. In this connection, the special planning document (plan) needs to be worked out in the defense and attack operations, which should reflect: the definition of zones of responsibility and of areas (lines) for the concentration of main efforts to counter subversive-and-terrorist units; the procedure for the implementation of reconnaissance-and-combat, strike-and-fire, strike-and-assault and blocking actions; the missions for the leading echelon, support echelon, the combined-arms reserve of the Large Formation (the Body of Troops) in fighting against subversive-and-terrorist units; the tasks for the missile and artillery units to destroy subversive-and-terrorist units; the organization of control and command system; the procedure for interaction and all-round support.

The plan is worked out on the basis of the decision of the Commander of the Large Formation (the Commander of the Body of Troops). The Decision on the Defense Operation envisages: the tasks for air reconnaissance support, combined arms surveillance, electronic intelligence collection to identify the landing of subversive-and-terrorist groups, of airmobile assault landing groups; additional measures for building-up the custodial guard of command and control centers, military troop dispositions, fire positions, the location of logistic facilities, objectives on communication lines; the boundaries of the responsibility zones of the Large Formation (the Body of Troops), the regimental zones of responsibility; the tasks for the blocking and fire destruction of the identified subversive-and-terrorist units; the joint action procedure for mopping-up detachments, field maneuver groups with MVD Interior Units, FSB Frontier Service, Territorial Defense in the implementation of reconnaissance-and-combat, raid-and-assault, blocking actions, the entrapment and destruction of subversive-and-terrorist units; the procedure for the armed escort of highway convoys of ammunition and materiel, their protection against raider assault; the procedure for the incorporation of aviation direction layers, artillery fire officer-spotters in the battle formations of strike-and-assault groups; the procedure for command, control and interaction while conducting combat actions aimed at destroying of subversive-and-terrorist units; the procedure for the restrictive-and-limiting regime and camouflage measures to conceal the Body of Troops; the procedure for interaction with aviation and with missile-and-artillery forces to identify and destroy subversive-and-terrorist units.

As a rule, after the adoption of the Decision, the Commander-in-Chief (the Commanding General) assigns the tasks to the subordinate units, which should reflect the questions concerning the struggle against enemy subversive-and-terrorist units (STU). At the same time, in conformity with the Commander-in-Chief directions, the Chief of Staff must:

* spell out in the planning of measures to counteract subversive-and-terrorist units, the detailed procedure for interaction with the Headquarters of MVD Interior Troops, FSB Frontier Service, Territorial Defense in the implementation of restrictive-and-limiting measures, in the organization of the Commandant's Service, joint patrol work, the posting of blocks, bivouac outposts, screens, in the protection of communications and logistic objects;

* determine in the planning of reconnaissance-and-combat, strike-and-assault, hit-and-run actions their goals, missions and techniques, the outside forces and facilities, the procedure for the implementation of reconnaissance actions using aviation and ground-based reconnaissance-and-combat groups, the timeframes, the procedure for fire, engineer and materiel support;

* determine in the planning of strike-and-fire, blocking actions aimed at destruction of subversive- and terrorist units the participation of other power structures, the procedure for the setting-up of moving and fixed screens to shut off enemy routes, to immobilize enemy actions;

* specify in the organizing of interaction with aviation the methods for conducting of aerial reconnaissance, the procedure for detailing of aircraft direction layers for combined arm units, the procedure for the air escort of highway convoys;

* establish uniform warning, identification and target indication signals.

At the same time, directions are given to the Intelligence Officer for the organization of round-the-clock monitoring in the zone of responsibility of the Body of Troops of the potential landing of enemy subversive-and-terrorist units, as well as for area surveillance and detailed surveillance; the organization of the concerted efforts of combined arms surveillance, air reconnaissance support, electronic intelligence collection, artillery and engineer reconnaissance and of other types of reconnaissance to identify subversive-and-terrorist units, and to organize constant exchange of information between the above echelons.

The following tasks are assigned to the Commanders of Subordinate Bodies of Troops (Units), who must:

* in the building-up of fire system and in the setting-up of obstacles, envisage fire denial for the landing of subversive-and-terrorist units in the intersectoral (intertrench) sites, at the junctions, at the flanks, in the rear, and in communication lines; dovetail the actions of the combined arms reserve, of the mopping-up groups and anti-terrorist detachments with friendly combat helicopters and artillery; envisage the blocking and destruction of the identified subversive-and-terrorist units by building-up engineer-and-fire preventive lines (sectors, zones);

* in the building-up and engineer equipment of the positions, organize the perimeter defense of the fortified strong points of the Companies (Platoons), the dummy positions and areas; to equip the firing lines for the increased protection of command and control centers, communication hubs, radars, the firing sites (launch positions) of missile and artillery forces, of air defense and of logistic subdivisions;

* in the planning of the fire destruction of enemy subversive-and-terrorist units, assign the zones of responsibility to the Regiments (Battalions) taking into consideration their fire capabilities; plan the provision of the fire support by the subdivisions on service duty for the outposts, the blocks, for countering of ambushes, and rebuffing the fire raids of subversive-and-terrorist units. To destroy the identified enemy subversive-and-terrorist units, use should be made of the following methods of countermeasures by fire--the zone-and-object. barrier-and-fire, blocking-by-fire, combing-by-fire and skirting-by-fire techniques;

* envisage the organization of interaction with combat helicopters and with assault aviation and bombers for terrain fire combing, the blocking and entrapping of subversive-and-terrorist units;

* to prevent surprise fire attacks by subversive-and-terrorist units, the organization of the direct protection of the command and control centers. artillery fire positions, air defense weapons, logistic facilities; for the protection of critical objects in communication lines in intersectoral areas, the allotment of the strengthened section-size (platoon-size) guards on armored personnel carriers.

To coordinate the efforts of combined arm units with Internal MVD Forces, FSB Frontier Service, EMERCOM, Territorial Defense, it is expedient to work out the interaction plan, which is to determine:

* the procedure for concealed actions to mislead enemy subversive-and-terrorist units, as well as for maintaining curfew restrictions, for securing access control in the zone of combat actions, for monitoring transport vehicles, conducting joint patrols, and the combat escort of highway convoys;

* the procedure for joint actions in the event of the identification of the landing of subversive-and-terrorist units, for the execution of reconnaissance-and-combat, strike-and-fire, hit-and-run, blocking actions, and the actions to entrap and to destroy subversive-and-terrorist units;

* the procedure for the deployment of missile and artillery forces, of air defense, for the combat actions of the Air Force (the Aviation of the Ground Forces), the missions for countering by fire the subversive-and-terrorist units in the zones of departure, during the transfer by aircraft and in the landing;

* the procedure for engineer support, in particular, the questions of the radar, thermal and lighting camouflage and deception of the objects of the Large Formation (the Body of Troops), as well as the set of measures to mislead the enemy;

* the procedure for guarding, defending and protecting command and control centers, the assigned forces and facilities;

* measures for aerosol interference with the optical-and-electronic means of reconnaissance and control of enemy weaponry, the questions of the interaction of agencies, units and subdivisions of radio chemical and bacteriological protection in the event of joint countermeasures against enemy subversive-and-terrorist units.

To realize protective measures against the assault by subversive-and-terrorist units and to counter those units, it is necessary, under the current command and control format of the Large Formation, to set up the special body--the group for planning and control of anti-subversive protection. It is advisable to include in this group: the Commanders of the Combined Arms and Support (the officers, who are assigned by their directives from the Communications, Missile and Artillery Forces, Air Defense, Electronic Warfare, Radio Chemical and Bacteriological Protection, Engineer Forces), the officers of the Operation Branch, the representatives of aviation, internal MVD troops, FSB frontier service. It is reasonable to implement the grouping of the above persons for solving the tasks of protection and struggle against subversive-and-terrorist units on the information level, rather than "physically" (the officers detailed by the Combat Arms and Services will be available in their specific workplaces and at the definite periods of time). Each Officer included in the above-mentioned group, being available at his workplace and fulfilling his functions, must at the same time participate in the drafting of proposals for the revealing and destruction of subversive-and-terrorist units in conformity with his profile, and must have his proposals approved by the general planning group.

It is reasonable to entrust the group for planning and control of anti-subversive protection with the following duties: the assessment of the probable nature and scale of the actions of subversive-and-terrorist units deployed by the enemy at various stages of the operation; the elaboration of proposals to counteract enemy reconnaissance; the definition of initial protective data; the working out and amendment of the object protection plan; the definition of tasks for aviation, missile and artillery forces, combined arm formations (units), airborne forces to identify and destroy enemy subversive-and-terrorist units; the definition of interaction, command and control organization and of multifarious logistic support in countering enemy subversive-and-terrorist units.

The procedure and format of the deployment of forces and facilities for identification and destruction of subversive-and-terrorist units in the course of the defensive operation largely depends on the method and the sequence of the actions of the enemy, on the forces and facilities deployed by it. The measures for protection against subversive acts and acts of terrorism will be implemented in the context of attaining operational objectives, the critical ones among them are as follows: participation in the struggle for gaining information superiority (the prevention of acts of information sabotage of the enemy); the implementation of special anti-subversive and anti-terrorist missions in countering the enemy air (air-and-space) attack, in delivering the massed retaliatory (retaliatory-and-backfire) strike, in the destruction of enemy formations during their deployment and transition to attack, in the event of the battle for retaining the first line of defense and other lines of defense and in the denial of enemy in-depth penetration; the destruction of enemy wedged in units, and the conduct of the Army counterstrike.

The protection against pre-programmed electronic counter measures is a critical task in the process of informational confrontation. With this aim in view and in conformity with radiofrequency environment at hand, the measures planned to protect radioelectronic command and control systems will be implemented; monitoring will be carried out concerning the observance of the set modes of radioelectronic means of the command and control system, and the location, makeup and possible operating procedure will be identified concerning the major command and control centers of enemy subversive-and-terrorist forces; all channels and communication lines will be revealed, which were assigned for the transmission of reconnaissance information in the interests of subversive-and-terrorist units.

Alert fire capabilities should be deployed in the tentative launch (fire) position to defeat the pre-programmed electronic counter-measures of the enemy within the covering force area. After Large Formation units start participating in delivering massed retaliatory (retaliatory-and-backfire) strike, the missile and artillery forces, and aviation will attack the most critical targets of the enemy system of command and control, of reconnaissance and EW, among them recon-naissance-and-fire complexes (ROK), reconnaissance-and-strike complexes (RUK), reconnaissance-and-strike systems (RUS), aviation command and control centers and the posts designed for the landing of enemy subversive-and-terrorist units; the air defense units, combined-arms units, assigned to the counter-assault landing reserve, to mopping-up detachments and to field maneuver groups, will attack reconnaissance aircraft, unmanned airborne vehicles, air mobile assault landing groups, reconnaissance-and-subversive groups in the air and during their landings. Specially trained groups will conduct the search and destruction of the electronic counter-measures transmitters delivered by the enemy in the location areas of the command and control centers and in the deployment areas of the missile and artillery forces, air defense, reconnaissance and EW.

All this should be reflected in the Decision on the Operation (on the Battle) in the event of planning of combat actions, the organization of enemy destruction by fire, defeating the interaction system, command and control and all-round support systems, in other words, in the Overall Action Plan for defense (attack) preparation.

Maj. Gen. I.N. VOROBYOV (Ret.)

Doctor of Military Sciences, professor

Col. V.A. KISELEV

Doctor of Military Sciences, professor