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Russian airborne force unit to get new combat gear for Arctic mission

The new outfit is to ensure comfortable conditions for the body in the Far North and transpolar regions’ landing missions at air temperatures minus 50 degrees Celsius

MOSCOW, March 31. /TASS/. Paratroopers of the Airborne Forces formation in Ivanovo (Central Russia) will get new combat garments for the Far North and transpolar missions, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman for the VDV Lieutenant Colonel Yevgeny Meshkov said on Tuesday.

"The new outfit is to ensure comfortable conditions for the body in the Far North and transpolar regions’ landing missions at air temperatures minus 50 degrees Celsius," Meshkov said.

According to him, the paratroopers’ combat garment comprises several elements in which soldiers can take dynamic actions and also remain motionless for a long time in the cold. "Paratroopers in this garment will be able to wait out strong winds with sleet not suffering health damage even staying motionless. The uniform is designed for quick change and putting on of any of the garment element depending on the conditions," the spokesman said.

The Ivanovo paratroopers were among the airborne formations involved in a surprise inspection of the troops’ combat readiness in the Arctic that was conducted in the period from March 16 to 21. During the maneuvers they landed, in particular, on the Novaya Zemlya and Franz Joseph Land archipelagos and then took part in an exercise to defend the Olenegorsk airfield and the Northern Fleet headquarters from a simulated enemy.