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YEKATERINBURG, August 26. /TASS/. A field aerodrome for heavy cargo aircraft has been established in Russia’s Central Military District that encompasses the Volga region, Siberia and the Urals, military aide Col. Yaroslav Roshchupkin said on Wednesday.
The aerodrome is located in the Totsky military firing range some 40 kilometers to the east of Buzuluk in the Orenburg region, Roshchupkin said, stressing this is for the first time in the past 30 years.
The facility has a 1,800 meter long and 40 meter wide runway, as well as 12 helicopter landing pads. "This aerodrome has been used for such heavy aircraft as Il-76," the military aide said.
The aerodrome was set up as part of special exercises on the comprehensive support of forces on the Central Asian strategic direction which are now underway in the Western and Central military districts and involve six Russian regions.
The drills come in preparation for the Center-2015 strategic command and staff exercise to begin in September. Some 6,000 troops and up to 750 pieces of equipment take part in the drills.