MINSK, June 21. /TASS/. The Belarusian Air Force and Air Defense Force have completed a stage of a joint command and staff exercise with Russia to drill command and control of aircraft air defense military units included in the Joint Regional Air Defense System of Belarus and Russia, the Belarusian Defense Ministry reported on Tuesday.

"The exercise involved the Sukhoi Su-27 and Su-34 warplanes of the Russian Aerospace Force", the Defense Ministry said.

According to the ministry, it is a scheduled event that will improve the level of training of the command staff of the Belarusian Air Force and Air Defense Force and the Russian Aerospace Force "in command and control of the subordinate formations and units, as well as interaction of the two countries’ flight crews in joint operations."

At the present time, the Defense Ministry said, the second phase of the exercise continues, involving the Air Force aircraft and Air Defense troops of Belarus.

The agreement between Russia and Belarus on the joint protection of the external border of the Union State in the airspace and the creation of the joint regional air defense system was signed and ratified in 2009.