The global market for private military services exceeds $ 100 billion. Questions about the need to form full-fledged private military companies in Russia periodically arise on the agenda.
Challenges Solved by Private Military Companies in the World
Many believe that private military companies and classic mercenary units are one and the same. However, it is not. In fact, it is a commercial structure that is controlled by the state. Private companies are becoming more widespread in the world. So, if at the beginning of the 1990s there was one private for 50 military personnel, today this ratio has decreased to 10: 1.
Today, more than 450 private military companies operate in various fields of activity in the world.
Private military organizations can solve a wide range of tasks, including:
- military services, tactical support during the hostilities (they took part in operations in Iraq, Afghanistan);
- consulting military services, strategic planning, army training;
- military logistics;
- private security services.
Another new area of activity for private companies is the fight against piracy.
Today, most military companies are not directly involved in military conflicts. It is believed that this type of business is a very profitable enterprise.
Advantages and disadvantages
Among the advantages of private military companies are called more flexible management and responsiveness, which manifests itself in the absence of bureaucracy. It is also believed that such troops are distinguished by a higher professional level compared to regular troops. Sometimes it is more profitable to sign a one-time contract with a private military company for a specific task than to maintain a whole army for these purposes. Finally, the involvement of private military companies causes less discontent among the population, and the losses of their personnel are not taken into account in government reports.
However, the attitude to attracting military companies in the world is ambiguous. Their shortcomings include the lack of an ideological component (they are aimed at making a profit), a single control center and plan, incomplete operational data. Finally, the cost of private companies is often extremely high.
