Stability 2008

"Stability 2008" is a major strategic military exercise initiated in late September 2008 involving the Russian military estimated to last for one month. The scenario of the exercise according to commentators is a global nuclear confrontation between Russia and Belarus on the one hand and the United States and NATO on the other.cite news |first= Pavel |last= Felgenhauer |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= Russia's Global War Games |url= http://jamestown.org/edm/article.php?article_id=2373395 |work= Eurasia Daily Monitor |publisher= |date=2008-09-25 |accessdate=2008-09-25 ] [ [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article4891656.ece Russia to test fire cruise missiles for first time since 1984] , Times OnlineOctober 6, 2008 ]

The exercises will involve mobilization and deployment to forward positions of forces in the Moscow and Far East Military Districts and the deployment of the navy in the North Sea, the Atlantic (Northern Fleet), the Sea (Baltic Fleet), and the Pacific (Pacific Fleet). Three air armies and one air defense corps, the Strategic Rocket Troops, strategic bombers, and Space Troops will be involved as well as Belarusian military formations. This exercise involves all of Russia’s nuclear forces, most of the battle-ready navy, and the Air Force, but only partially the army. Tupolev Tu-22M3; Tupolev Tu-95MS; and Tupolev Tu-160 strategic bombers, Sukhoi Su-27 fighters, Mikoyan MiG-31 interceptors, Ilyushin Il-78 tankers, and Beriev A-50 AWACS will take part in the exercise. [http://www.kommersant.com/p-13346/military_exercises/] On October 8, Japanese F-15s intercepted Russian Tupolev Tu-22M3s over the Sea of Japan. [http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601101&sid=aP68ED.W2DZo]

As part of the exercise, two Tupolev Tu-160 strategic bombers have been deployed to Venezuela. [http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iXGUfK1ouWB85xEXoaANmgTftopA]

Russian Embedded journalists are on board the nuclear cruiser Pyotr Velikii which is currently underway to the Syrian port Tartus, broadcasting daily bulletins from the exercise to Russian broadcast audiences. The Pyotr Velikii is destined for Venezuela where it will take part in naval exercises. [http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iXGUfK1ouWB85xEXoaANmgTftopA]

ee also

*Able Archer 83

References