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Over 100 warplanes engaged in Russia’s snap combat readiness check — defense ministry

Aircraft of Russia’s long-range aviation are practising strikes with cruise missiles against ground targets while fighter planes are drilling interception of those missiles
Russian warplanes (archive) ITAR-TASS/Donat Sorokin
Russian warplanes (archive)
© ITAR-TASS/Donat Sorokin

MOSCOW, May 27. /TASS/. Over 100 Russian warplanes have made training flights as part of a snap combat readiness check of aviation and air defense troops in the Central Military District that kicked off on Monday, the Defense Ministry press office said on Wednesday.

The units and formations involved in the surprise check "have switched directly to the planning and organization of the grouping’s combat deployment," the press office said.

In particular, the military "are practising tasks for flight practical exercises and the preparation of aircraft for combat use," the Russian Defense Ministry said.

As part of practical flights, the crews are practising the tasks of conducting reconnaissance, intercepting and destroying simulated enemy aircraft in close and maneuver air fights, anti-missile maneuvering and repelling massive missile air attacks of an imaginary enemy," according to the Defense Ministry’s statement obtained by TASS news agency.

The crews of aircraft also flew at altitudes of 100 to 10,000 meters to take part in the check of the air defense troops of the Central Military District, the ministry said.

"Over 100 aircraft were involved in controlling practical exercises," the statement said.

The active phase of the snap check is scheduled to take place on May 28 as part of preparations for the Center-2015 strategic military exercises.

Specifically, aircraft of Russia’s long-range aviation are practising strikes with cruise missiles against ground targets at the Pemboi range in the Russian Far North while fighter planes are drilling interception of those missiles.

The combat readiness check involves about 12,000 troops, up to 250 aircraft and helicopters and about 700 pieces of armaments and military hardware, Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said earlier.