MOSCOW, March 22 (RIA Novosti) - Russian paratroopers will double their combat capabilities following modernization of current weaponry, the defense minister said Thursday.

"Priority tasks for the development of the Russian Airborne Troops include the improvement of their combat potential, upgrading of the current arsenal to advanced weaponry, and the introduction of automated battlefield command-and-control systems," Anatoly Serdyukov said at a meeting with senior Airborne Troops staff.

Commander of Russia's Airborne Troops, Colonel General Alexander Kolmakov, said that paratroopers will receive in the near future the BTR-MD armored personnel carrier, the BMD-4 airborne infantry fighting vehicle, the 2C25 Sprut CD self-propelled anti-tank gun and other advanced weaponry.

The Airborne Troops are considered the most capable mobile assault forces in Russia. Various estimates put the current personnel at about 48,000 men deployed in four divisions and a brigade.

According to Russia's military reform plans, the Airborne Troops will be fully manned with professional soldiers by 2011.