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Admiral Chabanenko ends preparations for Pomor exercises

The Pomor exercises are an important element of cooperation between Russia and Norway

MOSCOW, May 2 (Itar-Tass) — The Admiral Chabanenko large anti-submarine ship has completed preparations for the upcoming Russian-Norwegian exercises, Pomor 2012, spokesman for the Northern Fleet, Captain I Rank Vadim Serga told Itar-Tass on Wednesday.

“Within the week the ship’s crew has trained a series of episodes of the upcoming international exercises, including search operation with the participation of marines, intercept of pinpoint jet-propelled cutters, detention and examination of a suspect involved in a piracy attack. Crews of the Ka-27PS helicopters trained the landing on the ship’s deck and the rescue operation to provide aid to marines in distress,” Serga said.

In addition, the Admiral Chabanenko ship jointly with the Il-28 anti-submarine aircraft and the Su-33 carrier fighters dispatched missions to counter, detect and attack a submarine, the spokesman said.

The Pomor exercises are an important element of cooperation between Russia and Norway. “Both countries maintain good-neighbourly relations and express readiness to conduct joint naval operations in the priority regions of the Arctic Ocean,” Serga said.

The exercises have been held on a permanent basis since 2010. This year the Russian-Norwegian manoeuvres will take place in the water area of the Barents and Norway Seas on May 11-16. It is rather significant that the exercises are held between the two national holidays: Victory Day (May 9) in Russia and Constitution Day in Russia and Norway. “These dates stress respect for each other’s traditions,” Serga noted.

In his words, the exercises will also involve the rescue tug, anti-submarine aviation, including the Su-33 carrier fighters, the Il-38 anti-submarine aircraft and the Ka-27 helicopters.

These are the fourth Pomor exercises. Their key goal is to train interoperability of Russian and Norwegian Navies and Air Forces in the Arctic region. In 2010 the exercises took place after the 16-years-long break. Now the manoeuvres are conducted on a permanent basis. Last year they involved the Rear Admiral Kulakov ship and the Norwegian frigate as well as helicopters and anti-submarine aviation of the Northern Fleet and the Norwegian Air Force.