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Russia's defense industry

Russian, Iranian, Chinese navies run joint drills, practice destroying sea, air drones

On Wednesday, the exercise participants are expected to practice scenarios for freeing a vessel seized by pirates, using helicopters and landing boarding groups

MOSCOW, March 13. /TASS/. Naval vessels from Russia, Iran and China practiced destroying maritime and aerial drones during an ongoing trilateral exercise dubbed Marine Security Belt 2024 in the Gulf of Oman in the Arabian Sea, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

"Apart from maneuvering, the three countries’ warships conducted live firing drills using large-caliber machine guns and small-caliber naval guns at surface and aerial targets imitating unmanned maritime and aerial vehicles," the statement reads.

On Wednesday, the exercise participants are expected to practice scenarios for freeing a vessel seized by pirates, using helicopters and landing boarding groups. The exercise is slated to wrap up on shore at the southeastern Iranian port of Chabahar on March 14.

The Marine Security Belt 2024 drills mark the sixth time this particular exercise has taken place since 2018. The drills always involve vessels from the navies of Iran, China and Russia. This year, over 20 ships, supply vessels and combat boats are taking part in the drills. The goal is to practice ensuring the safety of maritime economic activities. Observers from the naval forces of Azerbaijan, India, Kazakhstan, Oman, Pakistan and South Africa are present at the exercise for the first time.

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China Iran Russian defense industry

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