SOCHI, May 11. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has highly praised the work of Russia’s newest Sukhoi Su-30SM, Su-34, Su-35 aircraft that have been used in an operation in Syria.

"The work of the newest aircraft systems, such as Su-30SM, Su-34, Su-35, the Mi-28 and Ka-52 helicopters is worthy of high praise," he said on Wednesday at a meeting with the military commanders on the national defense industry complex development. "The high-precision munitions, cruise missiles have confirmed their combat characteristics," the president said.

According to Putin, "Long-range airborne and sea-based high-precision weapons were used in combat in the Syrian Arab Republic for the first time."

Opening the meeting, Putin said that it will focus first of all on the advanced samples of high-precision weapons. "We will focus on the tactical employment issues", he said. According to the head of state, more than 70% of funds under the State Armaments Program are allocated for the production of such weapons.

Putin said that the gained experience of tactical employment of Russian weapons should be comprehensively studied and optimal steps should be determined on the basis of the made conclusions aimed at the further improvement of the weapons systems and boosting combat power of the Russian Army and Navy. He asked the military commanders to report first of all on the issues of concern and assumed ways of solving them. Russia takes an active part in the Syrian settlement effort. It helps Syria's authorities fight terrorists and has conducted mine clearing work in the ancient city of Palmyra. Russia’s Aerospace Forces started delivering pinpoint strikes in Syria at facilities of Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra, which are banned in Russia, on September 30, 2015, on a request from Syrian President Bashar Assad. On March 14, 2016, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered to start, from March 15, withdrawing the main part of the Russian Aerospace Forces’ group from Syria. Putin said the tasks set before the military "have been fulfilled on the whole." Russian Deputy Defense Minister Nikolai Pankov said strikes on terrorists will continue to be delivered.