MOSCOW, August 14. /ITAR-TASS/. The active phase of the scheduled command-staff exercise of the 76th Guards Air Assault Division of Russia’s Airborne Forces (VDV) has kicked off in the Pskov region on Thursday.
Belarusian special operation force’s unit takes part in the exercise.
“The exercise involves about 2,600 troops, including a unit of the Belarusian special operation force, 12 armored vehicles (airborne combat vehicles, the Sprut and Nona self-propelled artillery weapons), the Strela-10 air defense missile systems, as well as about 30 military-transport aviation planes and army helicopters,” Russian Defense Ministry’s press service told ITAR-TASS.
In the drills of actions “to seize and destroy strategic facilities of the simulated enemy” the paratroopers will be supported from the air by the Sukhoi Su-34 fighters, Kamov Ka-52, Mi-28N, Mi-24 and Mi-8 helicopters, the ministry said.
The exercise is “actually an exam in the organization of comprehensive concerted action” for reconnaissance, air assault, engineer, artillery units, signals, air defense and logistics support units, crews of the military-transport and army aviation in the scheduled combat training drills, the ministry said.
During the active phase of the maneuvres on August 14-15, airdropping of air assault units in unknown terrain will be carried out and day and night weapons training exercises will be conducted.
The Airborne Forces exercise will end on August 16.