The press, analysts, and officials took close notice of the Russian strategic-level field-exercise (FTX) organized in mid-September 2018. Of note was its immense geographic size. It ranged from the Southern Military District, across nine distinct training ranges, with naval operations in the Sea of Okhotsk, the Bering Sea, and in the Avacha, and Kronotsky bays in Kamchatka. Whilst many commentators focused on the challenge of effecting span-of-control over the exercise; or debated the actual number of troops, Defense & Security Analysis asked a number of experts of the Russian army whether they detected any hint of experimentation in the areas of mission-command and free-play in the FTX-phase of the exercise. Five experts contributed short analytical essays on whether such approaches were detected, let alone actually used. Clearly, a Russian army that uses free-play FTXs and allows commanders to exercise mission-command is qualitatively different from its legacy Red Army ancestor. Given that the Russian army continues to use conscription, such developments would be more than merely ambitious. The writers support their views from a variety of original Russian sources, history, military and political culture, as well as quoting the views of other analysts. The views range from not possible, to a highly qualified yes, with caveats. Defense & Security Analysis is pleased to offer this debate amongst experts to the readers of the journal. Your views and impressions of this debate are more than welcome by the editorial team. Indeed, we are keen to receive ideas of other short debate topics that could be showcased in the journal. Please direct your ideas, critiques, or suggestions of this format directly to the editor-in-chief: tdyoung@nps.edu.

中文翻译：

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发起辩论的社论：VOSTOK 2018：俄罗斯武装部队是否正在试验任务式指挥？

媒体、分析师和官员密切关注 2018 年 9 月中旬组织的俄罗斯战略级实地演习 (FTX)。值得注意的是其巨大的地域规模。它的范围从南部军区，跨越九个不同的训练范围，在鄂霍次克海、白令海、阿瓦查和堪察加半岛的克罗诺茨基海湾进行海军作战。虽然许多评论员关注影响对演习的控制范围的挑战；或就实际部队人数进行辩论时，《国防与安全分析》询问了俄罗斯军队的多位专家，他们是否在演习的 FTX 阶段发现了任务指挥和自由游戏领域的任何实验迹象。五位专家撰写了关于是否检测到此类方法的简短分析文章，更不用说实际使用了。清楚地，使用免费 FTX 并允许指挥官执行任务式指挥的俄罗斯军队与其传统的红军祖先有着本质的不同。鉴于俄罗斯军队继续使用征兵制，这种发展将不仅仅是雄心勃勃的。作者从各种原始俄罗斯来源、历史、军事和政治文化以及引用其他分析家的观点来支持他们的观点。意见范围从不可能，到高度合格的“是”，但有警告。国防与安全分析很高兴将专家之间的辩论提供给该杂志的读者。编辑团队非常欢迎您对这场辩论的看法和印象。事实上，我们渴望收到可以在期刊中展示的其他简短辩论主题的想法。请指导您的想法，批评，