Russian fighter jets intercept mock airspace intruder at exercise in Rostov region

ROSTOV-ON-DON. Feb 25 (Interfax) - More than 20 fighter jet pilots from an aviation regiment of the Russian Southern Military District's Air Force and Air Defense Army practiced intercepting a mock airspace intruder during an exercise in the Rostov region, the military district's press service said.

"The crews of [Sukhoi] Su-27 and Su-30SM fighter jets, acting in pairs, were scrambled to intercept airborne targets. After regrouping into units, the servicemen simulated an air-to-air encounter, also performing maneuvers to win air superiority," the press service said.

During the exercise, the planes flew at very low altitudes and at altitudes of no more than 5,000 meters, spending over 200 minutes in the air, it said.