ABSTRACT
Reform of the Russian military became a pressing need with dissolution of the Soviet Union. One of the largest problems facing the Russian military has been its inability to follow through with announced needed structural reforms. The Russian army's poor performance in the 2008 war with Georgia reinforced the critical need for reforming and reorganizing all branches of the Russian military. The Air Force is the second largest military arm in Russia. By 2012, reform and reorganization of the navy has resulted in closure of 240 naval units, a decline of active naval bases to 123 and discontinuance of all naval reserve units. A goal of Russian military reform advocates since the 1980s was reduction in the number of officers and men in all branches of service. Reform of the Russian military not only included restructuring and downsizing but also rearming all branches.
