Specifically, he highlights five areas: the development of high-tech weapons, new communication means, intelligence, automated command and control, and radio-electronic warfare. Fourth, he notes that Russia’s military capabilities have been improved via the balanced development of all services and branches. Third, he lists tasks for the Academy of Military Science to study, to include the current forms of confrontation and the methods to oppose them, the development of counters to hybrid warfare means used by the West against Russia, the development of forms and methods of operations under various conditions, and the problems associated with organizing force regroupings. Second, he discusses hybrid operations and the “flip side,” which he labels as a new perception of peacetime, when security and sovereignty are threatened by means other than violent measures, (i.e., nonmilitary means). They include noncontact operations, weapon costs, the use of robotics, various forms for employing forces, the use of information-psychological and information-technical effects, and other factors. First, he lists the features that characterize contemporary military conflicts. Gerasimov discusses several elements that characterize war today and what tasks to tackle.

This speech is presented here in direct translation (without conversion to vernacular English).

In March 2017, Russian General Staff Chief Valery Gerasimov spoke on the topic “Contemporary Warfare and Current Issues for the Defense of the Country” at a conference held at the Academy of Military Sciences. (Photo courtesy of Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation) Foreword General of the Army Valery Gerasimov, Chief of Staff of the Russian Federation Armed Forces, congratulates servicemen and veterans during a speech 1 October 2016 on Russia’s Ground Forces Day, noting their significant contribution to the protection of Russia’s national interests.

Analysis of current us armed conflicts