AL-UMAED, Egypt, October 24. /TASS/. In the course of the main phase of the anti-terrorist exercise Defenders of Friendship-2016 Russian and Egyptian paratroops have parachuted themselves from Ilyushin-76 and Casa planes to regain a community from hypothetical militants, the Russian Defense Ministry’s press-service has said.

"In the course of the main phase of the anti-terrorist exercise Defenders of Friendship 2016, underway in Egypt, Russian and Egyptian paratroops are conducting joint exercises to practice localization and elimination of militant groups in desert conditions," the Defense Ministry said.

More than 15 planes and helicopters are involved in the exercise. Ten pieces of military equipment were parachuted. Some 300 paratroops of both countries participated in the airdrop.

"The personnel parachuted themselves over two sites from altitudes of 600 meters, 1,800 meters and 2,200 meters. The main airborne group used the parachute systems D-10 and T-10V and also special purpose parachute systems Arbalet-1, Arbalet-2 and MS-5," the Defense Ministry said.

All units involved in the drills used a common system of communication. A joint operation group ran the exercise from a command center at the El-Hammam base.

The exercise near Alexandria has been underway since October 15. It will end October 26.