The urgent drill to test the combat readiness of the western and central military districts and the command of the airborne troops started on February 26 under the Russian president's order. It involves about 150,000 personnel of various kinds of troops and military control structures and up to 90 planes, more than 120 helicopters, up to 880 tanks, more than 1,200 military vehicles and up to 80 ships.
Over 80 combat helicopters redeployed in drills in Russia's Western Military District
The crews will participate in search and rescue operations in the designated areas. In the training, pilots will also search for and destroy "enemy" forces and armoured objects on unfamiliar grounds
Ka-52 combat helicopter (archive)
© ITAR-TASS/Yuri Smityuk