MOSCOW, August 01. /ITAR-TASS/. Belarusian paratroopers will join Russian troops next year on the Barneo polar drifting station in the Arctic, Commander of the Russian Airborne Troops Colonel General Vladimir Shamanov said on Friday.

“The next expedition (to Barneo station in the Arctic) will be international. Two special operation force groups of the Belarusian army have been invited to take part in it,” he said. According to the VDV commander, a training centre for ground troops, marines and paratroopers will be built in the area of the polar city of Pechenga in the northwest of Russia. However, he said, no permanent deployment of Russia’s Airborne Troops in the Arctic was planned.

“At this stage, we will act relying on the existing national defense network.” “We don’t plan permanent deployment there yet,” Shamanov said, adding that the air defense and naval systems were being restored in the Arctic, “and we will act in our traditional way, including air dropping.”

Shamanov said the Airborne Troops in co-operation with the industry already started the development of equipment and outfits for effective operations in northern latitudes. “We shall advance in this direction,” said the commander.

He said the paratroopers were 80% satisfied with the equipment and outfits for Arctic operations. “We are generally - 80% satisfied with the equipment for actions at large distances from base camps, provided by the army logistics services, and the remaining 20% - footwear, heating appliances, food warming devices need improvement,” he said.