Stability 2008
Encyclopedia
"Stability 2008" was a major strategic
military exercise
initiated in late September 2008 involving the Russian military
estimated to last for around one month. The exercise was a rehearsal of the deployment of Russia's conventional armed forces, and also its ground-, sea- and air-based nuclear deterrent.
The exercises involved mobilization and deployment to forward positions of forces in the Moscow
and Far East
Military District
s and the deployment of the navy in the North Sea
, the Atlantic (Northern Fleet), the Baltic Sea
(Baltic Fleet
), and the Pacific
(Pacific Fleet). Three air armies and one air defense corps, the Strategic Rocket Forces, strategic bombers, and Space Forces were involved as well as Belarusian military formations. The exercise involved all of Russia’s nuclear forces, most of the battle-ready navy, and the Air Force, but only some of 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 took part in the exercise. On October 8, Japanese F-15s
intercepted Russian Tupolev Tu-22M
3s over the Sea of Japan
.
As part of the exercise, two Tupolev Tu-160
strategic bombers were deployed to Venezuela.
Russian Embedded journalists were on board the nuclear cruiser Pyotr Velikii which was underway to the Syrian port Tartus, broadcasting daily bulletins from the exercise to Russian broadcast audiences.The Pyotr Velikii was destined for Venezuela where it took part in naval exercises.
Grand strategy
Grand strategy comprises the "purposeful employment of all instruments of power available to a security community". Military historian B. H. Liddell Hart says about grand strategy:...
military exercise
Military exercise
A military exercise is the employment of military resources in training for military operations, either exploring the effects of warfare or testing strategies without actual combat...
initiated in late September 2008 involving the Russian military
Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are the military services of Russia, established after the break-up of the Soviet Union. On 7 May 1992 Boris Yeltsin signed a decree establishing the Russian Ministry of Defence and placing all Soviet Armed Forces troops on the territory of the RSFSR...
estimated to last for around one month. The exercise was a rehearsal of the deployment of Russia's conventional armed forces, and also its ground-, sea- and air-based nuclear deterrent.
The exercises involved mobilization and deployment to forward positions of forces in the Moscow
Moscow Military District
The Moscow Military District was a military district of the Soviet Armed Forces and the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. In 2010 it was merged with the Leningrad Military District, the Northern Fleet and the Baltic Fleet to form the new Western Military District.-History:In the beginning of...
and Far East
Far Eastern Military District
The Far Eastern Military District was a military district of the Russian Ground Forces. In 2010 it was merged with the Pacific Fleet and part of the Siberian Military District to form the new Eastern Military District....
Military District
Military district
Military districts are formations of a state's armed forces which are responsible for a certain area of territory. They are often more responsible for administrative than operational matters, and in countries with conscript forces, often handle parts of the conscription cycle.Navies have also used...
s and the deployment of the navy in the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
, the Atlantic (Northern Fleet), the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
(Baltic Fleet
Baltic Fleet
The Twice Red Banner Baltic Fleet - is the Russian Navy's presence in the Baltic Sea. In previous historical periods, it has been part of the navy of Imperial Russia and later the Soviet Union. The Fleet gained the 'Twice Red Banner' appellation during the Soviet period, indicating two awards of...
), and the Pacific
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
(Pacific Fleet). Three air armies and one air defense corps, the Strategic Rocket Forces, strategic bombers, and Space Forces were involved as well as Belarusian military formations. The exercise involved all of Russia’s nuclear forces, most of the battle-ready navy, and the Air Force, but only some of the army. Tupolev Tu-22M3
Tupolev Tu-22M
The Tupolev Tu-22M is a supersonic, swing-wing, long-range strategic and maritime strike bomber developed by the Soviet Union. Significant numbers remain in service with the Russian Air Force....
; Tupolev Tu-95MS
Tupolev Tu-95
The Tupolev Tu-95 is a large, four-engine turboprop-powered strategic bomber and missile platform. First flown in 1952, the Tu-95 entered service with the former Soviet Union in 1956 and is expected to serve the Russian Air Force until at least 2040...
; and Tupolev Tu-160
Tupolev Tu-160
The Tupolev Tu-160 is a supersonic, variable-sweep wing heavy strategic bomber designed by the Tupolev Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. Although several civil and military transport aircraft are larger in overall dimensions, the Tu-160 is currently the world's largest combat aircraft, largest...
strategic bombers, Sukhoi Su-27
Sukhoi Su-27
The Sukhoi Su-27 is a twin-engine supermanoeuverable fighter aircraft designed by Sukhoi. It was intended as a direct competitor for the large United States fourth generation fighters, with range, heavy armament, sophisticated avionics and high manoeuvrability...
fighters, Mikoyan MiG-31
Mikoyan MiG-31
The Mikoyan MiG-31 is a supersonic interceptor aircraft developed to replace the MiG-25 "Foxbat". The MiG-31 was designed by the Mikoyan design bureau based on the MiG-25.-Development:...
interceptors, Ilyushin Il-78
Ilyushin Il-78
The Ilyushin Il-78 is a four-engined aerial refueling tanker based on the Il-76.-Design and development:...
tankers, and Beriev A-50
Beriev A-50
|-See also:Related development:Ilyushin Il-76, KJ-2000Comparable aircraft:E-3 Sentry-External links:* * * * * *...
AWACS took part in the exercise. On October 8, Japanese F-15s
F-15 Eagle
The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is a twin-engine, all-weather tactical fighter designed by McDonnell Douglas to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. It is considered among the most successful modern fighters with over 100 aerial combat victories with no losses in dogfights...
intercepted Russian Tupolev Tu-22M
Tupolev Tu-22M
The Tupolev Tu-22M is a supersonic, swing-wing, long-range strategic and maritime strike bomber developed by the Soviet Union. Significant numbers remain in service with the Russian Air Force....
3s over the Sea of Japan
Sea of Japan
The Sea of Japan is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, between the Asian mainland, the Japanese archipelago and Sakhalin. It is bordered by Japan, North Korea, Russia and South Korea. Like the Mediterranean Sea, it has almost no tides due to its nearly complete enclosure from the Pacific...
.
As part of the exercise, two Tupolev Tu-160
Tupolev Tu-160
The Tupolev Tu-160 is a supersonic, variable-sweep wing heavy strategic bomber designed by the Tupolev Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. Although several civil and military transport aircraft are larger in overall dimensions, the Tu-160 is currently the world's largest combat aircraft, largest...
strategic bombers were deployed to Venezuela.
Russian Embedded journalists were on board the nuclear cruiser Pyotr Velikii which was underway to the Syrian port Tartus, broadcasting daily bulletins from the exercise to Russian broadcast audiences.The Pyotr Velikii was destined for Venezuela where it took part in naval exercises.