MOSCOW, January 21. /TASS/. A surprise check of aviation units and formations has started in Russia’s Southern Military District, the district’s press office reported on Thursday.
"A surprise combat readiness check led by Commander of the 4th Air Force and Air Defense Army Lieutenant-General Viktor Sevostyanov has started in the Southern Military District for aviation units and formations stationed in the Rostov and Volgograd Regions," the press office said.
The check involves over 40 aircraft, including Sukhoi Su-24M and Su-34 bombers, Su-24MR reconnaissance planes, as well as about 1,000 servicemen.
"As part of the sudden check, the military pilots practiced missions to switch to high alert, carried out air reconnaissance of an imaginary enemy’s facilities and drilled delivering bomb strikes against ground objectives at the aviation range in the Krasnodar Territory," the press office said.
"The crews of a composite air regiment from the Volgograd Region formed in December 2015 performed combat training tasks for the first time at an unknown range in the Krasnodar Territory," the press office said.
The pilots flied over 20 sorties during the combat readiness check and delivered about 20 bomb strikes, using high-explosive fragmentation aviation bombs.
The pilots flew over 30 hours during the snap combat readiness check, the press office said.