PRODBOI PROVING GROUND /Volgograd Region/, June 22. /TASS/. A national stage of the tank biathlon contest has begun at the Prudboi proving ground in the Volgograd Region.

As the chief of the ground forces’ combat training, Major-General Aleksandr Peryazev, has said the winners will represent Russia at the International Army Games in August.

"The tank crews are now competing in individual races, doing three loops each. The Prudboi tank biathlon course is in no way different from that of last near’s competition in Alabino, near Moscow. The crews of the T-72B3 main battle tanks will compete in artillery, anti-aircraft machine gun and coaxial machine-gun fire. The targets will be identified by the chief referee," Peryazev said.

Also, the crews will race each other on a special track equipped with anti-tank barriers - a hill, escarp, treadway bridge, ford and slope.

"Each military district will delegate a team of referees to judge the performance of their rivals for the sake of maximum objectivity," Peryazev said.

Mechanized infantry crews on BMP-2 mechanized infantry combat vehicles will hold their own contest using basically the same route and obstacles, but different types of targets.