The Russian Army disbanded division-size units and partially staffed units and established eighty-five brigades. In the western region, three new divisions were set up to prepare for the increasing threat posed by NATO22) forces deployed along the western border area. In 2014, the Russian Navy established the Arctic Joint Strategic Command with the Russian Northern Fleet at its core. In 2015, the Navy conducted an amphibious exercise in the Arctic islands for the first time, as Russia seeks to strengthen the effective control of the Arctic region. The Russian Aerospace Forces were founded in 2015 by merging the Air Force and the Space Force to swiftly and effectively respond to potential aerospace attacks. In 2016, the Strategic Missile Troops conducted sixteen rounds of ICBM test fire exercises to enhance its combat readiness posture and field adaptability capabilities. Also, Russia is currently developing a ‘railway-based combat rocket system’ with the goal of completing the project by 2020. In December 2015, the Eastern Military District located in Khabarovsk fielded advanced SU-35 fighters for the first time. Weapons modernization is also in progress with the field deployment of the Alexander Nevsky, the nuclear ballistic missile submarine, the Iskander-M ballistic missile system, and the S-400 surface-to-air missile system. 22) North atlantic treaty Organization. 20 Chapter 1 Changes and Challenges in the Security environment