By Han Xudong, professor, Strategic Teaching and Research Department, National Defense University

Russia and the United States have clarified the development direction of their military reforms, which have entered a new phase of structural adjustments in order to upgrade combat effectiveness.

On April 5, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Moscow will start a National Guard, dominated by internal security forces of the interior ministry, to conduct anti-terrorism missions.

Russian armed forces will undergo dramatic changes. The combat capacity of the National Guard will be enhanced, playing a positive role to maintain domestic security and stability, while, its domestic security system will be reconstructed. Functions of Russian military forces power sector may also be relocated.

Even after becoming a more independent sovereignty, Russia still continued on with the Soviet power structure, which included strategic rocket forces, Air Defense Forces, army, navy, and air forces, constituting five armed services.

Moscow has transformed its power structure into three military services and three arms of services. Russian space forces have built up several divisions that would be placed into other armed services units. 

The Russian power structure is designated as land forces, navy, air forces, and strategic rocket troops, three services of airborne troops and two armed services.

Meanwhile along the vigorous game of virtual battle space, the US has upgraded its cyber command to a separate unit, running parallel to the other strategic commands.

Cyberspace is deemed the 7th war zone of the US. The US regards virtual space as a battlefield, and preparing forces for virtual space field operations.

The US may become the first country to start a virtual war. Additionally, China is promoting military reforms. The Chinese army has formed a new theater of war, army command and strategic support units.

These adjustments adopted in many countries are designed to allow the military to run a new power structure, reflecting the necessity for military reform after the Cold War. Militaries are transforming from focusing on combat forces to boosting combat capability quality via structural changes.

The military forces combat capacity will improve dramatically and become an indisputable reality. After settlement of structural adjustments, the "unit" functions will have new changes.

The network power of the US will make the world cyberspace as its virtual battlefield, regardless of cyberspace at home and abroad, meaning all will become a US fighting space.

Compared with internal security forces, the functions of Russian "National Guard" will present new changes. Putin can use the National Guard as both anti-terrorism forces at home and abroad.

The National Guard could become a major operations team of anti-terrorism outside of Russia. China's strategic support will maintain national interests from a number of strategic levels.

The adjustments have become a major means of upgrading combat effectiveness, resulting in formation changes of military power.  The military reform may go mainstream for many military units all over the world in the future.

 Han Xudong, professor, Strategic Teaching and Research Department, National Defense University

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