MOSCOW, August 06. /ITAR-TASS/. It is planned to double the numerical strength of Russia’s Airborne Forces — up to 72,000 personnel, a source in the Russian General Staff said on Wednesday.

According to the high-ranking official, these plans are to be implemented in 2019.

“The corresponding proposals of the Airborne Forces command have been approved by the leadership of the Russian Defense Ministry,” the source said.

He added that the doubling of the Russian paratroopers’ number would be carried out by means of the Russian army’s current troops.

“The Airborne Forces number will be increased first of all by the formation of third air assault and parachute regiments in the current two-regiment forces, as well as by reorganization of a number of existing units into formations,” he said. By December 2014, the 45th separate regiment of the Airborne special task force will be reorganized into a brigade.

“New formations and units that will be deployed throughout Russia are planned to be created as well,” the General Staff source added.