Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov announced plans on October 14 to cut staffing levels in the Russian Armed Forces to 1 million personnel, including 150,000 officer posts by 2012. As part of the restructuring program, more than 100,000 serving warrant officers are expected to be discharged or absorbed into other ranks by the end of 2009.
"This issue needs to be thoroughly worked through. We cannot completely abolish the rank of warrant officer as professionals are wanted in every army," the source said.
It is likely that a compromise will be reached on the issue, the source said, with some warrant officers being transferred into the reserve, and the remainder being promoted to junior officer ranks or becoming contract-based NCOs.
Russia has already downsized its Armed Forces from Soviet-era levels of 4.5 million personnel to the current figure of about 1.2 million, which includes 310,000 officers.
"By global standards, officers should comprise 7% to 20% of staffing levels, but the current ratio in the Russian Armed Forces is 32%," Serdyukov said.
The minister said the posts of more than 1,100 generals in the Russian military and around 200 generals would be cut during the same period, while junior officer numbers will increase.
In addition, staffing levels at central headquarters and high-level command structures are expected to be slashed by 60% from 22,000 personnel to 8,500 by 2012.
The reforms will also include drastic changes to the structure of Russia's Armed Forces with the number of military units, currently comprising military districts, armies, divisions and regiments, to be streamlined, the minister said. The Russian Air Force plans to reduce the number of units from the current 340 down to 180 as part of the reforms.
"We are planning to have military districts, operational command units, and brigades to improve the effectiveness of all operational-level command structures in the Armed Forces," Serdyukov said.
In addition, each military district will have an airborne brigade as a quick-reaction operational-level unit.
Russia is currently divided into six military districts.
