MOSCOW, March 15. /TASS/. Russia’s Space Troops making part of the country’s Aerospace Force will practice detecting ballistic missiles during launches conducted by the Strategic Missile Force, Aerospace Force Commander-in-Chief Colonel-General Viktor Bondarev said in an interview with Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper on Wednesday.
"The Space Troops will team up with other branches and services of the Russian Armed Forces to practice detecting ballistic missiles, using the forces and resources of the (Special Designation) Aerospace Army during the demonstrative launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles by the Strategic Missile Force," the commander said.
Over 100 staff drills have been planned to train the space forces’ governance bodies of various level. As many as 40 tactical drills with subordinate military units will be held under the direction of the commanders of space troops’ formations, the general said.
Russia’s Aerospace Force plans to carry out 15 launches of carrier rockets in 2017, the general said.
"For the purpose of building up the orbital grouping of satellites, 15 launches of space carrier rockets have been planned to deliver more than 20 satellites into orbit," Bondarev said.
Also, highly compatible early missile warning radar stations will assume combat duty, the general said.
Russia’s Aerospace Force will also hold live tests with the launch of an anti-missile, the commander said.
"Live tests have been scheduled in anti-ballistic missile defense units with the launch of an anti-missile, as well as over ten joint drills for ABM system crews to prepare counter-missiles for combat use, and also measures to detect and track the launches of domestic carrier rockets and to monitor space vehicles," the commander said, without specifying the anti-missile.