The United Kingdom is preparing to combat countries with more powerful armed forces, including Russia, via unmanned flying drones during its Saif Sareea-3 military exercise, The Times reported, citing the commander in charge of the UK land forces during the drills.
According to the newspaper, the UK-Omani Saif Sareea-3 exercise started in Oman in early October and will last until November 3. During this large-scale drills, qualified as UK "biggest war games," a fleet of drones is being used, each of which costs less then $1300. The UK Army has never deployed drones during its military exercise before.
The troops are reportedly going to study the Russian tactical strategies, and then simulate fights with the Russian Armed Forces. They will combat the UK Armed Forces' Household Cavalry lightly-armored vehicles, imagining that these are the Russian T-72 battle tanks.
"During the exercise a 150-strong squadron from the Household Cavalry will take on the role of the enemy after studying Russian tactics, according to the newspaper.
"We are trying to put ourselves against those that might be the best equipped, those that might have the best training and those who would give us our toughest challenges," Brig. Zac Stenning, commander of the land forces during the Saif Sareea-3 drills, told the newspaper.
The Saif Sareea-3 involves 5,500 servicemen, 200 armored vehicles, six warships, an assault carrier, eight Typhoon fighters, and a 30 tonnes-armored tractor designed for mine clearance.
A military observer of the TASS news agency, retired Colonel Viktor Litovkin, speaking with Vestnik Kavkaza, noted that such exercises are more likely a political move. “The UK cannot seriously prepare for battles against Russia. When we speak of UK or other NATO countries, it must be understood that the war of these countries against Russia will inevitably develop into a nuclear missile war. These exercises will have no impact on the Russian armed forces," he stressed, adding that any clashes with the UK are possible now only at sea.
Head of the Analytical Section of the Institute of Political and Military Analysis, Alexander Khramchikhin, in turn, suggested that London may have serious plans for the practical preparation of troops for battles with the Russian army. "I admit that they are seriously preparing for battles against our forces. In general, the whole West is preparing for these battles, because they expect further actions from us, all which are perceived by Western countries as military aggression. At the same time, there are no locations where our and British troops could start armed clashes, unless London wants to supplement or replace the Americans in Syria,” the expert said.
