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Russian aircraft scrambled in training to intercept airspace violator

Guidance of fighters on the purpose was carried out from the plane of distant radar detection and A-50 maintenance

© © Archive ITAR-TASS/Panov Alexey

MOSCOW, June 14 (ITAR-TASS) - Russian Air Force Su-27 fighters were placed on air defence duty in the Kaliningrad region during training when they were scrambled after a simulated airspace violation.

The warplanes with weapons were in ten-minute readiness to take off, the Russian Defence Ministry's press service told ITAR-TASS on Saturday.

After receiving a signal that an unidentified aircraft crossed the state border, a pair of Su-27 heavy fighters took their course to a Baltic Sea area where they conducted air reconnaissance, detected a violating plane and forced it to land onto an airfield in the Kaliningrad region.

An A-50 airborne early warning and control plane guided the fighters to the aim. The Su-27s took off and detected the violator quickly.

The violator's role was played by an An-26 plane.

The Su-27s took off for seven times. After the tactical training, the aircraft remained on duty, the press service said.

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