Baltic Fleet's army air defense units to practice live firing in Kaliningrad region

MOSCOW. March 2 (Interfax) - Army air defense and marine units of Russia's Baltic Fleet will practice destroying a simulated enemy's aircraft during a field exercise.

"Practical training will be conducted at several ranges in the Kaliningrad region," the Baltic Fleet said in a statement on Wednesday.

"At the final stage of the field exercise, the units will practice fire control within battalions and live firing with standard weapons," it said.

"Combat units will practice destroying aerial targets imitating a simulated enemy's planes, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles flying at various altitudes and speeds. Planes and helicopters of the fleet's naval air force, as well as special imitative devices and aerial targets, should be engaged to simulate an enemy air raid," the fleet said.

In providing air defense, the units involved will employ Tor-M2 air defense missile systems, Igla and Verba man-portable air defense systems, Tunguska air defense artillery and missile systems, and Shilka artillery anti-aircraft systems, which the army air defense units have in service, it said.

The army air defense is a component of Russia's Ground Forces designed to protect ground units and facilities outside of combat areas (rear) from enemy air attacks.

"During the field training, the service members will practice marches to planned areas, the placement of army air defense units on high alert, combat duty, and the protection of troops and critical military and civilian infrastructure facilities from massive airstrikes by a simulated enemy," the Baltic Fleet said.

Involved in the exercise are over 500 service members and over 100 items of combat and special hardware.