More Than 47,000 Troops From Eight Countries Take Part in Russia's Center-2026 Exercise

Russia's Center-2026 strategic military exercise has concluded after bringing together more than 47,000 troops and forces from eight participating countries for a large-scale series of drills across Russia.

The exercise was held from September 28 to October 3, with activities taking place at 11 training ranges and in the Caspian Sea region. More than 2,000 pieces of military equipment were reportedly involved. The participating countries included Russia, China, Belarus, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia and Tajikistan.

The exercises focused on intelligence and reconnaissance, command and control, firepower operations and comprehensive logistical support. Participating forces also conducted operational planning and live-force exercises in a multinational environment.

China's participating forces were drawn from the PLA Central Theater Command. According to Chinese military sources, troops and equipment were transported to Russia's Chebarkul training area through a combination of motorized movement, railway transportation and airlift.

Chinese forces established a three-level command structure consisting of an exercise directorate, a joint operational command and mission units, and conducted coordination training with foreign forces before the live exercises began.

Unmanned systems were among the notable features of the drills.

According to Chinese military reports, drone swarms were used to provide battlefield intelligence, while tactical drones, armed helicopters and unmanned ground vehicles were incorporated into coordinated operations. The use of multiple unmanned systems added complexity to the battlefield environment and tested troops' ability to collect information, coordinate forces and make rapid decisions.

The exercise also placed considerable emphasis on long-distance deployment.

For Chinese forces, moving personnel and equipment from China to an unfamiliar training environment in Russia represented a broader test of strategic mobility. The exercise required coordination among different transportation systems as well as logistical support under unfamiliar geographical conditions.

Chinese military authorities said the drills emphasized field-based, streamlined and combat-oriented training. They were designed to test capabilities including long-distance strategic deployment, cross-border logistical support and joint operational command. After completing their mission, the Chinese contingent began withdrawing from the Chebarkul training area and is expected to return to China by air and rail.

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Chebarkul training area on October 2 to observe the final live phase of Center-2026 and inspect military equipment.

Russian authorities said the exercise was intended to improve command and operational capabilities in response to external security threats and to test the use of new weapons and equipment.

The exercise was also coordinated with the Collective Security Treaty Organization's Interaction-2026 command-and-staff exercise. Russian sources said representatives from dozens of other countries also attended related activities, with delegations from 41 countries reportedly involved.

The scale of Center-2026 was significant, but its importance also lies in the changing nature of modern military exercises.

Rather than focusing solely on the concentration of conventional forces, the drills highlighted increasingly important capabilities such as unmanned systems, long-distance mobility, information support and multinational coordination.

The extensive use of drones illustrates how battlefield reconnaissance and targeting are becoming increasingly integrated with firepower and maneuver. At the same time, multinational exercises place additional demands on command structures, communications and logistical coordination.

For China's participating forces, operating in unfamiliar terrain alongside troops from several other countries provided an opportunity to test joint planning, long-distance deployment and multinational coordination under realistic training conditions.

Russian officials have said the exercise was conducted according to a previously established plan and was not directed against any specific country or linked to an immediate security challenge.

With Center-2026 now concluded, participating forces are beginning their return movements.

For observers, the deployment of more than 47,000 troops, more than 2,000 pieces of equipment and forces from eight countries demonstrates the growing importance of multinational coordination and large-scale operational mobility in modern military training.

For the Chinese contingent, the exercise also provides an opportunity to review experience gained in joint planning, strategic deployment, logistical support and multinational operations, contributing to further improvements in military readiness and coordination capabilities.