KAPUSTIN YAR /Astrakhan Region/, August 29. /TASS/. A military exercise involving about 4,000 troops and 1,500 pieces of military equipment, including S-300 and S-400 systems, has begun at the Kapustin Yar proving ground in the Astrakhan Region, the deputy chief of the Western Military District’s press office, Igor Muginov, has said.

"Participating in the exercise are air defense forces, combat aircraft, radio-technical troops, radio-electronic warfare troops, and reconnaissance and mechanized infantry units - 4,000 officers and men and 1,500 pieces of military equipment, including 50 planes and helicopters of tactical and army aviation," he said.

The command staff exercise by aviation groups and air defense forces is being held under the guidance of the Western Military District’s commander Andrey Kartapolov.

The forces will practice counter-measures against a hypothetical enemy’s rocket and bomb strikes. Combat aircraft and air defence units will destroy targets simulating cruise missiles, attack and reconnaissance drones and enemy aviation.

"About 50 various targets will be used. A wide variety of weapons will be used to hit them, including air defense complexes Buk, Tor, Osa, Tunguska, Strela-10 and portable missile complexes Igla and Verba and air defense missile systems S-300 and S-400," Muginov said.