Dr. Romulus HÂLDAN^*

Abstract. Since over 15 years ago, Russia resumed its rise to regain its status as a great power, and, 10 years later, all important analysts sought to demonstrate that Russia will not recover, and even more will regress constantly and become only a country covering a large territory. Other scenarios went as far as to predict the dismemberment of Russia and the outbreak of internal conflicts.

The Russian intervention in Georgia led to the labeling of the Russian army as an army poorly prepared and in a rout. The swift restructuring of the Russian army has surprised everyone and was the first signal that something is going on. In the last five years a revolution has occurred regarding the re-equipment and modernization of the Russian army which has four essential characteristics: speed, scale, the undoubted quality of the armament and the new technology and, as a new element for the Russians, standardization. Episodes like Crimea, Ukraine and, especially, Syria caught by surprise all major military analysts, yet most of them still do not realize that Russia has become a great danger. Certainly higher than the Soviet Union was. In fact, Russia is a deeply modernized and adapted to reality Soviet Union.

Key words: Russian Armed Forces, Russian Naval Forces, Military Districts, Air and Air Defence Forces, balistic missiles, surface warships, submarines, nuclear arsenal

* Clubul Amiralilor