Shamanov: Russia may speed up rearmament of Airborne Troops

Russia may speed up rearmament and reorganization of its Airborne Forces over the tense international situation, the Head of the State Duma Defense Committee, Vladimir Shamanov, said.

Russian paratroops are being rearmed with a new model range of combat hardware. In particular, two battalion tactical groups of the 137th Ryazan regiment have been rearmed with BMD-4M airborne fighting vehicles and Rakushka armored personnel carriers, TASS reports.

Shamanov had been commander of the Russian Airborne Forces from 2009 to October 2016 when he became head of the State Duma Defense Committee.