Subunits of the Armed Force of Tajikistan have begun preparations for this year’s International Military Games (ArMI 2021). 

Tajik Defense Minister, Colonel-General Sherali Mirzo, has signed the plan of preparations for participation in ArMI 2021.

According to Colonel Faridoun Mahmadalizoda, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense (MoD), Tajik servicemen will participate in the following competitions:  tank biathlon; airborne platoon; sniper line; artillery fire masters; honors in military intelligence; and military medical relay.  

A number of innovations, including in what concerns the use of weaponry, are planned to the International Military Games this year.   

Recall, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu noted in September last year that the innovations are aimed at improving the training of personnel and the use weapons and military equipment.  

Meanwhile, the first international conference on the preparation and holding of the International Army Games 2021 with the participation of representatives of the host countries of ArMI 2021 and diplomatic corps of foreign states took place on December 17 under the leadership of the Chief of the Main Directorate of Combat Training of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Colonel-General Ivan Buvaltsev, according to Russian Defense Ministry’s official website.  The event was held via videoconference.

The conference was reportedly attended by delegations of the military departments of Belarus, India, Kazakhstan, China, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Armenia, Pakistan, as well as more than 50 military attaches from Asia, Africa, Europe and America.

Representatives of the host countries of the Games informed their colleagues about the measures taken to hold competitions in national territories.  The meeting participants highly appreciated the ArMI 2020 and noted that, despite the difficult epidemiological situation, ArMI 2021 will become the key to the further development of international military cooperation between the military organizations of the participating countries.

The participants also discussed the features and procedure for holding new competitions.  It was proposed to hold Meridian contest for specialists of the military topographic service and Tactical Shooter contest, which is based on elements of army tactical shooting from various small arms, during International Army Games 2021.  The “Army of Culture” competition of creative teams was further developed. In total, 34 competitions are planned to be held within the framework of the International Army Games 2021.  The first of them, the Sayan March, will take place from April 14 to 17 in the Krasnoyarsk Territory at the Ergaki mountain training base.

The International Army Games 2021 will be held from August 22 to September 4. During the Games, it is planned to hold 34 international competitions with the maximum expansion of their geography. Invitations to participate in ArMI 2021 were sent to the military departments of 95 countries.

About 20 states (Azerbaijan, Algeria, Armenia, Belarus, Vietnam, Iran, India, Israel, China, Qatar, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Russia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Sri Lanka) are considering the possibility of holding Army Games 2021 competitions.

Recall that following the results of the International Army Games 2020, the Russian national team took the first place, the second - the team of Belarus, the third - the national team of Uzbekistan.

156 teams from 32 countries took part in 30 Games competitions. The Russian national team won 25 competitions, the Belarus national team won four, the Uzbekistan national team won three.

The International Army Games is an annual Russian military sports event organized by the Ministry of Defense of Russia (MoD).  The event, which was first staged in August 2015, involves close to 30 countries taking part in dozens of competitions over two weeks to prove which is the most skilled.  The games have been referred to as the War Olympics.  In addition to the competition, the International Army Games includes a military theme park, a recruitment station, and souvenir shops.