Hundreds of aircraft from Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan simulate destruction of hostile strategic bombers
MOSCOW. Oct 26 (Interfax-AVN) - Three Tupolev Tu-160 and Tu-95MS strategic bombers and two Tupolev Tu-22M3 long-range bombers of the Russian Aerospace Forces have departed for the East European and Central Asian regions for training, the Russian Defense Ministry's information and mass communications department told Interfax.
"The bombers engaged in drills of commands and air defense alert units of the CIS joint air defense network simulated targets for air defense alert units of Belarus and Kazakhstan and the Aerospace Forces and air force and air defense formations of the Western and Central Military Districts of the Russian Armed Forces," a department representative said.
Alert units of radio-technical and air defense missile forces of the central and western districts of Russia, as well as Belarus and Kazakhstan, timely detected the targets and simulated their destruction.
"Air defense alert crews of Mikoyan MiG-31 and MiG-29 and Sukhoi Su-27 aircraft took off from military airfields of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Armenia; targets were designated, the aircraft conducted aerial reconnaissance, entered the intercept zone and simulated destruction of the targets," he said.
In all, about 100 planes and helicopters of the armed forces of CIS member countries took off for the drills, he said.
Units of aviation, radio-technical and air defense missile forces attached to the joint air defense system from Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are participating in the check of combat readiness of air defense alert units on October 26.
Commands of the participating sides are practicing the engagement of air defense alert units against aircraft, which violate the airspace rules and trespass the airspace of CIS member countries, actions in case of aircraft hijacks, and assistance to flight crews in distress.