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Russian and Chinese pilots to train together during Peace Mission 2013 drill

Tank brigades of the two armies will also be taking part in the drill

CHEBARKUL, August 12 (Itar-Tass) - Russian and Chinese pilots will train together within the scope of the Peace Mission 2013 counter-terrorist drill. On Monday, pilots of the Russian Central military District and their Chinese colleagues from the Shenyang Military Region arrived from the Shagol air base in Chelyabinsk to the Chebarkul firing range for joint training.

Tank brigades of the two armies will be taking part in the drill. Tank crews are to destroy the imaginary enemy who "has gained a foothold" in a village set up at the firing range. Commander of Russia's Central Military District Nikolai Bogdanovsky and deputy chief of staff of the Shenyang Military Region Shi Xiangyuan who leads the delegation of China's People's Liberation Army at the drill will monitor the training.

The press service of the Central Military District told Itar-Tass that previously pilots of the two armies had flown separately. Adverse weather conditions in the Chelyabinsk region made the military adjust their plans, and pilots trained according to reduced schedule.

Peace Mission 2013 is held from July 27 to August 15 and involves more than 1,500 servicemen and 250 units of military equipment, including 20 warplanes and helicopters.