MOSCOW, February 27. /TASS/. A Russian aerospace base near Moscow has been converted into a special aviation division responsible for airlifting personnel and equipment, the Russian Defense Ministry’s press-service said.

"The task of the special purpose aviation division is to airlift personnel, equipment and cargoes of the Russian armed forces, provide logistics services during search, rescue and evacuation operations and other special tasks," the news release said.

The division’s fleet consists of transport and passenger planes and helicopters, including Tupolev-154, Tupolev-134, Ilyushin-62, Ilyushin-76, Ilyushin-18, Antonov-148, Antonov-12, Antonov-26 planes and Mi-8 helicopters.